Raymond Harvey, LT Col

Raymond Harvey (March 1, 1920 – November 18, 1996) was a lieutenant colonel in the United States Army who served during World War II and the Korean War. He received the Medal of Honor for his actions on March 9, 1951.

Early years and military service

Raymond Harvey was born in Ford City, Pennsylvania and grew up in Sulphur, Oklahoma. Through his mother, Harvey was one-half Chickasaw Indian. He enlisted in the United States Army on August 16, 1939. During World War II, he served in the 79th Infantry Division, landing in Normandy, France one week after the D-Day invasion and participating in the division's campaigns in northern France and Germany. Harvey was decorated for valor several times, earning the Distinguished Service Cross (second only to the Medal of Honor), two Silver Stars and two Purple Hearts.

After World War II ended, Harvey entered the Army's Organized Reserve, and returned to active duty in 1948. He was serving with the 7th Infantry Division in 1950 when the Korean War began, and landed with the division at Inchon, Korea in September 1950. Shortly after the landing, and before the Chinese counterattack in November 1950, Harvey took command of the division's Company C, 17th Infantry Regiment. Harvey was in command of the company the following March, when it led the attack of 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment on Hill 1232 near Taemi-Dong, where Harvey would earn the Medal of Honor. Wounded in the battle, Harvey was presented a third Silver Star while in the aid station, for bravery in the fall 1950 campaign after the Inchon landings. On July 5, 1951, Harvey was presented the Medal of Honor by President Harry S Truman at a White House ceremony.

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Captain, U.S. Army, Company C, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division

Place and date: Vicinity of Taemi-Dong, Korea, March 9, 1951

Entered service at: Pasadena, Calif. Born: March 1, 1920 Ford City, Pennsylvania

G.O. No.: 67, August 2, 1951

Citation:

Capt. Harvey Company C, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action. When his company was pinned down by a barrage of automatic weapons fire from numerous well-entrenched emplacements, imperiling accomplishment of its mission, Capt. Harvey braved a hail of fire and exploding grenades to advance to the first enemy machine gun nest, killing its crew with grenades. Rushing to the edge of the next emplacement, he killed its crew with carbine fire. He then moved the 1st Platoon forward until it was again halted by a curtain of automatic fire from well fortified hostile positions. Disregarding the hail of fire, he personally charged and neutralized a third emplacement. Miraculously escaping death from intense crossfire, Capt. Harvey continued to lead the assault. Spotting an enemy pillbox well camouflaged by logs, he moved close enough to sweep the emplacement with carbine fire and throw grenades through the openings, annihilating its 5 occupants. Though wounded he then turned to order the company forward, and, suffering agonizing pain, he continued to direct the reduction of the remaining hostile positions, refusing evacuation until assured that the mission would be accomplished. Capt. Harvey's valorous and intrepid actions served as an inspiration to his company, reflecting the utmost glory upon himself and upholding the heroic traditions of the military service.

Later years

Harvey was assigned by the U.S. Army to be military technical adviser to Samuel Fuller for his Korean War film Fixed Bayonets! (1951). The two of them struck up a friendship with Harvey also acting as technical advisor on Fuller's Verboten! (1958) and accompanied Fuller and his wife to Europe at the end of the 1950s to scout locations for a projected filming of The Big Red One for Warner Bros. that did not eventuate. Harvey remained in the Army after the Korean War and rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel before retiring in 1962. After retirement, he was employed by the Northrup Corporation, then worked as an investment banker, and then served as Director of Indian Affairs for the Arizona Division of Emergency Services. He retired fully after a stroke in 1981. He died in 1996 at the age of 76 and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington County, Virginia.

Decorations

1. Medal of Honor
2. Distinguished Service Cross
3. Silver Star
4. Bronze Star with oak leaf cluster
5. Purple Heart with two oak leaf clusters
6. Croix de Guerre with palm
7. Chungmu Cordon Medal