William Hardin Harrison

William Hardin Harrison
LTG Harrison as I Corps commander
Born (1933-07-02) July 2, 1933
Pembroke, Kentucky, U.S.
Allegiance  United States
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service 1954–1987
Rank Lieutenant general
Commands held I Corps
Battles/wars Vietnam War

William Hardin Harrison (born July 2, 1933) is a retired lieutenant general in the United States Army. He is a former commander of the I Corps at Fort Lewis, a post which he served from 1987 to 1989. He is also a former commander of the 6th Army at the Presidio of San Francisco, and 7th Infantry Division and Fort Ord.[1][2] After his retirement from the Army, he became the first mayor of Lakewood, Washington[3]

Personal life

Harrison was born on July 2, 1933 in Pembroke, Kentucky. He attained a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from William Jewell College and a Master of Science degree in Public Administration from Shippensburg State College.[4]

Military career

Harrison entered the Army in 1954 as an infantryman. He attended basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky. After completing Officer Candidate School, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1955. Harrison left the Army in 1957 and returned in 1959. During his 37 year career, Harrison commanded companies in the 101st Airborne Division and the 7th Infantry Division, a battalion in 3rd Armored Division and a brigade in the 2nd Armored Division.[4]

During the Vietnam War, Harrison served as Sector and Regimental Advisor in the II Corps. He was commanding general of the 7th Infantry division from 1985-1987. Harrison was promoted to LTG and became the commander of I Corps and Fort Lewis until 1989. In 1989, he became the commanding general of the 6th United States Army and Presidio of San Francisco. Harrison retired in 1991.[4][3]

Harrison is a graduate of the Command and General Staff College and the United States Army War College.[4]

Awards and decorations

Among his military decorations, Harrison was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, and the Army Commendation Medal. He was awarded Order of National Security Merit Cheonsu Medal by the Republic of South Korea. Harrison earned the Combat Infantryman Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, and the Air Assault Badge. He also received Korean and Canadian parachutist badges.[4][3]

In 1977, Harrison was inducted into the Officer Candidate School Hall of Honor at the National Infantry Museum. [5]

Post military life

Harrison turned to civic service after his retirement. He was a key figure in the incorporation of Lakewood, Washington and served as the new city's first mayor.[3][6]

In 2015, the new headquarters of the 7th Infantry Division, Harrison Hall, was named for Harrison.[3]

Also in 2015, the Clover Park School District named the Lt. General William H. Harrison Preparatory School after Harrison. [3][6]

Harrison at the ribbon cutting for an exhibit at the Fort Lewis Museum

References

  1. ↑ United States. Dept. of the Army (1985). Army executive biographies. Headquarters, Dept. of the Army. Retrieved 2015-05-18.
  2. ↑ Miranda, Mark (December 18, 2014). "Bayonet Division exhibit opens at Lewis Army Museum". US Army. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Cafazzo, Debbie (March 27, 2015). "Ceremony honors namesake of Harrison Preparatory School in Lakewood". The News Tribune. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "15 RS BR 364" (PDF). Kentucky Legislature. December 16, 2015. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  5. ↑ "OCS by Name" (PDF). National Infantry Museum. October 31, 2017. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  6. 1 2 "About Lakewood". City of Lakewood. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
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