David Arnold Hardy, 62, of Rockland, died unexpectedly on Nov. 29 after suffering a seizure.
David was born in Rockland Oct. 25, 1944, to the late Francis Arnold Hardy and the late Doris Cecelia Hardy. He grew up in Thomaston with his older sister and two older brothers. As a teenager, he worked on a local dairy farm, spent time as a short-order cook, and was known to his friends as “Squash.”
In 1962, David joined the U.S. Navy, got married and started a family. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1962 to 1973. During most of those years he was a radioman aboard the destroyer USS Forrest B. Royal (DD872) out of Mayport, Fla., where in 1968, he advanced to the rank of Radioman First Class (E-6). He was with the Royal for two major cruises to Vietnam, and a third to the Middle East.
In Vietnam, his ship participated in “Operation Sea Dragon” and numerous other actions. In 1967, the Royal rescued a U.S. Navy A-4 Skyhawk pilot who could not make it back to the Constellation and had to ditch more than five miles away. The Royal and her crew had the pilot safely aboard just 13 minutes after he ejected over the South China Sea.
In the Middle East, David and his shipmates had a very different mission from that in Vietnam. From November 1969 to May 1970, the Forrest B. Royal logged more than 40,000 miles as an ambassador of goodwill across dozens of ports-of-call throughout the nations of the Indian Ocean, Red Sea, and Persian Gulf.
In 1970, David completed U.S. Navy instructor training and finished out his third enlistment training for the next generation of radiomen in the use and repair of cryptographic and teletype equipment.
During his eleven years of service, David was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medals, Vietnam Service Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation, and Combat Action Ribbon, among other personal commendations.
Following his honorable discharge in 1973, he returned to Maine with his family, built a home in Warren, and joined the U.S. Naval Reserve and achieved the rank of Chief Petty Officer. He was also a member of the Charles C. Lilly American Legion Post and a Master Mason of King Solomon’s Masonic Lodge, both in Waldoboro.
In Maine, David worked for the Maine State Prison and local companies such as Marine Hydraulics, B.M. Clark and Moon’s Camper Sales before leaving the workforce on disability in 2002.
Some of his greatest enjoyment in life was found in family, time spent sailing with his brother Frank, his cats, and listening to country music.
David was predeceased by his father in 1958; his mother in 1998; and his nephew, Shaun Hardy of Connecticut in 2006.
He is survived by his sister and brother-in-law, Ann and Richard Hall of Poland; brothers and sisters-in-law, Frank and MaryJane Hardy of Hernando, Fla., and Paul and RoseAnn Hardy of East Lyme, Conn.; his first wife, Brenda Allenwood Miller of Camden and their children and children’s spouses, Michael and Kathleen Hardy of Union, Cheryl and Thomas LaFlamme of Lewiston, and Cynthia and Robert Cloutier of Rockland; his second wife, Dinah Hardy of Warren and her family; his third wife, Malissa Hardy and his step-daughter Celena Hardy, both of Sangerville; nieces, Deborah Hall of Arundel, Patty Benner of Warren, Marsha Hardy of Portsmouth, N.H., Tess Hall of Barrington, N.H., Carol DaPonte of Millersville, Md., Andrea Campo of Baltimore, Md., and Marleen Cassarino of Hernando, Fla.; nephews, Scott Hall of Thomaston, John Hardy of East Lyme, Conn., and Jim Dever of Key West, Fla.; grandchildren, Amanda Cloutier of Thomaston, Jessica Weaver of Altamonte Springs, Fla., Joseph Cloutier of Rockland, Stephanie Weaver of Lewiston, and Samantha Cloutier of Rockland; step-grandson, Troy Weaver of Warren; and great-granddaughter, Arianna Cloutier of Thomaston.
Committal service attended by the U.S. Navy Honor Guard 2 p.m., Tues., Dec. 12 in the chapel at the Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery at Mt. Vernon Road, Augusta. All are welcome.
Arrangements are under the direction of Coast of Maine Cremation and Funeral Service, Waldoboro.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that a tax-deductible donation be made in David’s memory to Camp Sunshine, 35 Acadia Rd., Casco, ME 04015 or www.campsunshine.org.
