George Artman

Col. George Artman, U.S. Army, Retired, age 90, died on October 17, 2004. He was born on July 5, 1914 in Portland, IN and at age five, the family moved to Piqua, OH. He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy, Class of 1938 and later received a Masters Degree in Science Education from Texas A&M University. During WWII, he served as a War Department Combat Observer in Italy at Casino and Anzio. Later, he commanded the 58th Armored Infantry Battalion of the 8th Armored Division from Camp Polk, LA, through all the fighting with the third and ninth Armies in Northern Europe, ending in Czechoslovakia just South of Pilsen on VE Day. Subsequent to WWII, he served in various command and staff positions, including the Intelligence Division of the Army General Staff in the Pentagon, ninety days combat on TDY in Korea, the Joint Intelligence Bureau in London, England, commander of the 714th Medium Tank Battalion in the 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, NC, Assistant Chief of Staff G-2 of the 8th Army in Korea, Senior Military Attache with the US Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, the Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Headquarters 4th Army at Fort Sam Houston, TX, where he retired in 1968. In addition to seven campaign ribbons, he received six battle stars and a star for overseas service at the time of Pearl Harbor; also the Combat Infantry Badge, the Senior Parachutist Badge and the War Department General Staff Badge. His decorations were the Silver Star; the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal with V Device and the Korean Order of Military Merit, Ulchi with Silver Star from the Korean Army Chief of Staff. After retiring from the Army at Fort Sam Houston in 1968, he and his family moved to Seguin, TX. He taught Physics, Science and Math at Judson and then Seguin High School for a total of 13 years. He and his wife moved to the Army Residence Community in San Antonio in early 1994. He was a member to the ARC Protestant Chapel, Retired Teachers Association, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, National Association of Uniformed Services, Military Order of the World Wars, Retired Officers Association and the West Point Society of South Texas. He was also a former member to the Seguin and Randolph Metrocom Rotary Clubs and the Guadalupe County Pecan Growers Association. Col. Artman is survived by his loving wife, Deborah Nolte Artman; son, George Artman Jr. of Punta Gorda, FL; daughters, Pamela Campos and husband Felix of Helotes, Rita Nonmacher and husband Kevin of Austin; five grandchildren, Kimberly and Clayton Leck of Helotes, Stephanie, Jacqueline and Julia Nonmacher of Austin. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Dr. Edwin Artman and Robert Artman; grandson, Nathan Nonmacher. Visitation will take place on Wednesday, October 20, 2004 from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. at Sunset Funeral Home. Internment will be at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery with Full Military Honors on Thursday, October 21, 2004 at 11:15 A.M. A Memorial Service will be conducted at the ARC at 2:00 P.M. Memorial contributions may be made to the Betty Cheever Memorial Chapel, Army Residence Community, 7400 Crestway Dr., San Antonio, TX 78239 or to the charity of ones choice. Sunset Funeral Home.