News Staff Report
David Hartline, who has a connection to Atmore, has been nominated for the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Hartline wrote The Real Tarzan, the story of legendary Arthur P. “Tarzan” White who grew up in Atmore. The two were close friends for 30 years.
The book on Tarzan White is only one of his Hartline’s books. He also wrote What a Vietnam Soldier Gives and Definition of a Hero.
Hartline lives in Cherokee County in northeast Alabama. He is a decorated wounded combat veteran of the Vietnam War. He is a former police office and police chief, college instructor, and past State Commander of the Alabama American Legion. He has been a veterans advocate for many years.
Hartline is no stranger to Atmore. He was the guest speaker at the Atmore Memorial VFW Auxiliary’s annual Vietnam Veterans Day in March 2019.
Some of Hartline’s sponsors for the Medal of Freedom include Congressman Robert Aderholt; Adjutant General Thomas Carden Jr., State of Georgia; Kenneth Davis, Rear Admiral, Commissioner of Veterans Affairs, Alabama; Senator Andrew Jones, Alabama; Senator Gerald Dial B G, Alabama; Judge Tim Burgess, Cherokee County, Alabama; Judge Tim Riley, Circuit Court, Marshall County; Kenneth Gaddy, Director Paul W. Bryant Museum, University of Alabama.