World War II Honoree

Harold Harvey Harms

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Norman, Oklahoma

Honored By

Self

MEDICAL FIELD SERVICE SCHOOL, CARLISLE BARRACKS, PENNSYLVANIA, JULY 1942. BATTALION SURGERY, 308TH FIRST ARMY BATTALION, AUGUST 1942 TO SEPTEMBER 1943. TRANSFERRED TO MEDICAL DETACHMENT, 13TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 8TH INFANTRY DIVISION, SEPTEMBER 1943, CAMP FORREST, TENNESSEE; FURTHER TRAINING, ULSTER, NORTHERN IRELAND, DECEMBER 1943 TO JUNE 1944. COMBAT ACTIVITY: 4 CAMPAIGN STARS, JULY 1944 TO MAY 1945. NORMANDY, FRANCE; BRITTANY: THIRD BATTALION, ASSISTED IN CAPTURE OF RENNES, COMMUNICATIONS CENTER. THE 13TH INFANTRY FOUGHT THROUGH 4 MAIN LINES OF RESISTANCE, SETTING UP THE LINE OF DEPARTURE FOR 3RD DIVISION ATTACK ON BREST. ONE COMPANY OF 3RD BATTALION CAPTURED, GERMAN LIEUTENANT GENERAL HERMAN RAMKE IN CHARGE OF BREST DEFENSES. THE RHINELAND, LUXEMBOURG, BELGIUM AND GERMANY: PROMOTED TO REGULAR MEDICAL DETACHMENT AS A FLOAT. IF A BATTALION SURGEON WAS KILLED OR EVACUATED, WOULD 'FLOAT' THERE TO FILL IN AND BREAK IN THE REPLACEMENT. WAS LOANED TO THE 2ND RANGER BATTALION FOR A FEW DAYS AFTER THEIR BATTALION SURGEON WAS KILLED. WHEN 3RD BATTALION SURGEON WAS EVACUATED, BECAME 3RD BATTALION SURGEON UNTIL AFTER THE END OF WORLD WAR II. RECEIVED COMBAT MEDICAL BADGE, BRONZE STAR.