World War II Honoree

Harry Herbert Harvat

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Omaha, Nebraska

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Baker Third Class. He was inducted into the United States Navy January 18, 1944 at Omaha, Nebraska, with recruit training at the U.S. Naval Training Station Great Lakes, Illinois. Upon his graduation from boot camp and Baker Schooling, he was transferred to the USS Bismarck Sea Escort Aircraft Carrier, CVE-95 for duty as a Baker. On February 16, 1945 the Carrier and her shipmates, along with an armada of U.S. Battleships, Destroyers, Cruisers and other Warships, arrived offshore of Iwo Jima in support of the impending invasion (Battle Dates: February 19-March 26, 1945) Code Name: Operation Detachment. The Seagoing Airbase came under attack by Imperial Japanese Bomber Pilots, dropping their ordnances on the flight deck on the evening of 21 February. After the fire fighting salt water distribution system was destroyed, the ships’ Captain ordered the crew to abandon their ship. Reported missing in action, lost at sea on the day of the attack. In remembrance of the brave, his name is permanently inscribed in the tablets of the missing, memorialized at the Honolulu National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, ‘Punchbowl’ Hawaii. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.