Oral history of Tom Maertens
Clemson University Libraries. Special Collections and Archives A video recording of an in-person interview conducted by Austin Mall with Lieutenant Colonel Tom Maertens on September 30, 2013. Born on October 17, 1948, Maertens grew up in a military family, moving frequently as his father was stationed across the United States and overseas. Following in the family tradition, he attended West Point, graduating in 1970, and commissioned into the Field Artillery Branch of the United States Army.
Maertens recounts his early assignments with the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, his transition to aviation, and his training as an AH-1G Cobra attack helicopter pilot. He deployed to Vietnam during the final years of the war, serving with F Troop, 9th Air Cavalry. Following Vietnam, Maertens continued his military career in aviation, commanding the 207th Aviation Company in Heidelberg, Germany and later transitioning to the Transportation Corps, where he worked in aviation logistics, aircraft testing, and research and development. After retiring from the Army in 1992, he pursued a second career in higher education fundraising, including six years at Clemson University.
2013-09-30