Former Montville Fire Chief, Vietnam Vet Dies At 71

MONTVILLE, NJ — Past Montville fire chief and former commissioner James Woltman, 71, known by most as Buster, died this week, April 27, after a long illness.

He was living in Florida with his wife and is survived also by his son.

Woltman served in Vietnam, in the army, according to Don Hatzel, who is also a past Montville Fire Chief.

When Hatzel joined, Woltman was already in the Montville fire department. He ended up following a similar path, rising through the ranks to chief and then also fire commissioner.

"The young kids paid attention to him," Hatzel said. "He was a mentor to a lot of people.'

We regret to announce the passing of Past Chief, and former Commissioner, James "Buster" Woltman, a Life Member of...
Publicado por Montville Volunteer Fire Department em Quarta-feira, 28 de abril de 2021

According to him, Woltman was an "all-around good person," who would go out of his way to help everyone around him. He has a big sense of humor, too. And asked everyone to call him Buster.

"I never knew his name was James until they had a chief dinner for him," Hatzel said of the moment when Woltman retired as chief.

For his service to the military, Woltman won the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, and the Air Medal, Woltman said.