Commander Michael Vance Hart, age 82, passed away on February 3 after a brief illness.

Commander Michael Vance Hart was born in Chicago, IL on August 30, 1940 to Helen and Lloyd Hart. Michael was raised in a loving Christian household. He graduated from Lane Tech High School and Wright Junior College.

Upon graduation from Southern Illinois University, Commander Hart reported to active duty in Pensacola to commence Navy Flight training. In January 1966, he was commissioned as Ensign, received his pilot wings in April 1967 and was stationed in Brunswick, ME. He qualified to fly the P-3 Orion patrol aircraft with major deployments to Bermuda, Spain and Iceland.

Hart was then assigned T-28 flight instructor duties with Training Squadron Six at Whiting Field, FL. He next reported to the aircraft carrier USS F.D. Roosevelt as the Aviation Fuels Officer, During this tour of duty he qualified as the ship's COD (transport) pilot, logging over 70 carrier landings.

His last active duty assignment during those years was to Naval Air Station Bermuda where he was the Assistant Airport Operations Officer. He also qualified as a Convair C-131 transport pilot. He moved to Minneola, FL in 1976.

Subsequent reserve assignments included Patrol Squadron 94 (P-3), New Orleans; Patrol Squadron 62 (P-3), Jacksonville; and four assignments at MacDill in Tampa, Joint Deployment Agency, U.S. Transportation Command, Military Sealift Command and finally, U.S. Central Command.

Hart was on active reserve during the Persian Gulf Conflict and in 1990 reported for Duty at Central Command at MacDill where he remained for 13 months assigned as a Command Center duty and Emergency Action Officer. Hart was the first reserve officer to be so assigned in this command. MacDill was the headquarters for General Norman Schwarzkopf, and when the regular members of the Command Center unit left with the General for the Persian Gulf, Hart was totally prepared to step right into his assignment.

Scud launch information was funneled through the Tampa base. Mike said that during one 12 hour shift they tracked 10 scuds. Hart served as the Chief while on duty, There were four teams of five or six Navy personnel on duty in round-the-clock shifts. Much of the activity at MacDill is still top secret.

Awards bestowed by the country to Commander Hart are the National Defense Service Medal with star, Joint Service Commendation medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation with two stars, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Hourglass and the Joint Meritorious Unit Award with star.

Commander Hart retired from the U.S. Naval Reserves in 1992 at a ceremony at MacDill Central Command in Florida after 27 years of service. During this ceremony he was awarded the prestigious Defense Meritorious Service Medal with Hourglass for his years of service to his country, which included his active participation in Desert Shield/Desert Storm.

Commander Hart was a prestigious Blue and Gold Officer for the United States Naval Academy who mentored and evaluated USNA applicants.

After Michael's retirement from the Navy, he worked for Flight Safety International in the Sales/Marketing department.

After retiring from Flight safety Mike enjoyed working for Hurst Limousine Service as a driver where he met many entertaining and interesting people. Mike had a larger than life personality and loved sharing stories with his friends and family. Mike was always available to lend a helping hand and sympathetic ear. Mike loved being in nature. He loved living on Lake Minneola and spending his time on the water. Mike travelled the world with his wife Jackie where they made a fantastic adventure every place they visited. His boundless curiosity was one if his greatest strengths and gifts to this world. In recent years, Mike and Jackie spent half the year in Jackie's home town of Maggie Valley, NC. Mike loved the mountains, hiking and driving his UTV around the mountain trails of Maggie Valley. Mike loved his family and loved spending time with them organizing family trips and events. Mike was the heart beat and the rock of his family.

Mike and Jackie were members of the Church At South Lake in Clermont, FL and Dellwood Baptist Church in Maggie Valley, NC. Just weeks ago, Mike and Jackie were able to make a bucket list trip to the Holy Land in Israel.

Michael leaves behind his wife and soul mate Jackie Sutton Hart, his children who were his pride and joy Michelle Hart-Miller and wife Christine Augello, Chad Hart and wife Lynnetta Hart, Jackie Mickelson, Monica Sadie and husband Jay Sadie and Julie Kendall and husband Mike Kendall. He also leaves behind his grandchildren Hope Johnson, Aaron Johnson, Timothy Croteau, Julia Croteau, Quinn Hill, Chloe Hill, Madison Hart, Mackenzie Hart, Connor Hart, Baeta Mishker, Dahlia Kendall, Tyler Kendall, Kayden Kendall. Mike's great-grandchildren are Brady Sandlin, Kameron Sutton, Marquis Croteau, Jordan Croteau, Ida Lee Hill. Mike also leaves his brother Jonathan Hart.

As Commander Hart would say….Fly high, fly straight, keep the shiny side up and check your six.

In lieu of flowers, please honor Michael by donating to his favorite charities Care for Pastors at www.careforpastors.org and Holy Land Orphanage which can be accessed by going to www.DellwoodBaptist.org clicking on the "give" button and clicking on "orphanage".