World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
Donald R. G. Harms
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
Multnomah County, Oregon
Honored By
Orville L. Kline
RANK: PRIVATE 1ST CLASS. INDUCTED INTO THE U.S. ARMY AUGUST 22, 1942 AT PORTLAND, OREGON. SERVED IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS ASSIGNED TO THE U.S. ARMY, FOX COMPANY, 2ND BATTALION, 506TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT, 101ST AIRBORNE ‘SCREAMING EAGLES’ DIVISION. KILLED IN ACTION SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1944 DURING THE INVASION OF HOLLAND, OPERATION MARKET GARDEN. HE DIED IN THE VICINITY OF UDEN, HOLLAND BY GERMAN ARTILLERY FIRE. DECORATIONS AND MEDALS: AWARDED THE SILVER STAR. THE SILVER STAR WAS AWARDED TO THE SOLDIER POSTHUMOUS FOR DISTINGUISHED GALLANTRY IN ACTION. HIS DIVISION WAS AWARDED A PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION WITH A BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTER, MERITORIOUS UNIT COMMENDATION, FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE WITH PALM, BELGIAN CROIX DE GUERRE WITH PALM, BELGIAN FOURRAGERE OF 1940 AND THE ORANGE LANYARD OF THE ROYAL NETHERLANDS ARMY FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN ACTION AGAINST THE GERMAN ARMED FORCES. HIS REMAINS WERE RETURNED TO CALIFORNIA FOR BURIAL, WITH INTERMENT IN THE GOLDEN GATE NATIONAL CEMETERY, SAN BRUNO, CALIFORNIA.