Gerry A. Harr
CAPTAIN GERRY A. HARR MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
Gerry A. Harr was born on September 3, 1943, in Roseburg, Oregon. He graduated from Oregon State University and received his commission as a second lieutenant in December 1966.
In his book Rice Paddy Grunt, Unfading Memories of the Vietnam Generation, John M.G. Brown describes Lieutenant Harr in Vietnam as a ”leader of his men by example. The rare kind, the best kind, the one you’ll follow even though Americans aren’t followers.”
He served two tours in Vietnam and was killed in action in Quang Nam, South Vietnam on his second tour in July 1971. Captain Harr is on Panel 03W, Line 098 of the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. The following article appeared in the February 18, 1969, edition of The Ranger newspaper at Fort Lewis, Washington:
“A young platoon leader who charged and destroyed two Viet Cong positions to spring his men from a deadly enemy trap was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. Maj Gen William W. Beverley, Fort Lewis CG presentedthe nation’s second highest decoration for heroism to Captain
Gerry Harr, 25, now with the 15th Support Brigade. On April 7, 1968, the then lieutenant performed his extraordinary feat as the lead element in a reconnaissance operation near the Song Be River in the Chon Thon Province. During the sweep, contact was made with a well fortified and entrenched enemy force in its base camp. Pinned down by heavy automatic weapons and small arms fire, the platoon was halted by intense enemy fire. Explained Cpt Harr: ‘I couldn’t move forward or backward without taking heavy casualties. Something had to be done to neutralize those two positions and I took this course of action.’ He moved forward alone amid whizzing bullets to fire an antitank weapon at a key bunker. Unable to destroy the strongly built fortification, he charged headlong through the enemy fire to hurl a hand grenade into the bunker. He crawled inside to insure the Viet Cong were dead. Fire from another undetected bunker drew his attention and he attacked this one, killing one Viet Cong with a rifle and one with a grenade. With both bunkers silent his men launched a evastating assault and overran the enemy base camp. Among his decorations are four Bronze Star Medals with “V” device (Valor), three Purple Hearts, Vietnamese Campaign Medal, Vietnamese Service Ribbon and the National Defense Service Medal.”
Recognition of Captain Gerry Harr with a memorial scholarship was long overdue. This scholarship was made possible by the generous help of his widow, Pamela Harr, family, and friends who knew and served with Captain Harr.