Anonymous
I am so sorry to be 6 years too late. Hardy was then Captain Batchelor, and my Military Science instructor at Northeastern Universtity in Boston in 1975. He introduced me to and many others to orienteering, and like everything he did, through his passion into it. I recall trips to St Bonaventure NY and West Point for meets. And the meets he set up in the Blue Hills of Milton. He was also very instrumental in my obtaining an ROTC scholarship.
An incredibly personable and accomplished man, he was humble and had a great sense of humor. I read so many memories from his mountaineering club friends and I'm sure he rarely, if ever. regaled them with his heroic military career. I noted a newspaper article dated 7/23/71, on-line profiling him as commander of the week for the 23rd Division while in Vietnam. He and Marcia had been married just 4 1/2 years at the time, their son just recently born. He told the reporter he wasn't going to be a lifer, he was getting out after 20 years.
To speak of the man's man in him, he was a little powerhouse of a guy and tough as nails. We often ran together. The guy never stopped and you didn't dare when you were with him. Not that he would ridicule you, he wasn't that kind of man. You just didn't want to let him down. He inspired you that much.
Drive on Ranger!##imported-begin##John E. Ouellet##imported-end##