News from Adair County

"The Family of U.S. Harmon - 1917 to 1949"

Adair County News, October 31, 1917

(no headline)

Miss Mary Lee Smith, daughter of Mrs. Sallie Smith, this county, and Mr. U.S. Harmon, who is also of Adair and a soldier at Camp Zachary Taylor, Louisville, were married in Jeffersonville, ind., last Saturday night. The couple are cousins and were going together before the selective draft went into force. They have the best wishes of their many Adair county friends.

******

Adair County News, September 9, 1942

Sons Follow In Footsteps of Fathers

On September 13, 1917, just twenty-five years ago this month, two Adair County boys, Alonzo Holmes and U.S Harmon, joined the U.S. Army to serve in World War I. On Tusday of next week, September 15, their sons, Edgar Holmes and Edwin Harmon, will leave together to serve their country in World War II. They were examined September 1, in Louisville, and found physically fit for the Armed Forces. [Edwin Morris Harmon, later Sgt. Harmon, enlisted in the United States Army on September 1, 1942, his 22nd birthday. He was U.S. & Mary's oldest child and their only son.]

******

Adair County News, July 21, 1943

Sgt. E.M. Harmon Said Missing

Mr. and Mrs. U.S. Harmon received a message Wednesday night from the War Department stating that their son, Sgt. Edwin M. Harmon, of the U.S. Army Air Forces, was reported missing while on duty. The telegram also stated that further information would be sent as soon as available.

Sgt. Harmon, whose father served overseas in World War I, is a waistgunner on a Flying Fortress. He had been stationed in England a comparatively brief time, as he was sent over shortly after visiting his parents here about the middle of May.

******

Adair County News, September 8, 1943

Sgt. E.M. Harmon Is Reported Killed

Mr. and Mrs. U.S. Harmon received a message Saturday from the War Department stating that their son, Edwin M. Harmon, who was reported missing while on duty July 10, had been killed in action. He was a waist-gunner on a Flying Fortress and was stationed in England.

According to the information received here he was killed in a raid over Paris, France. Further details were not available.

Sgt. Harmon was a graduate of the Columbia High School. He entered the U.S. Army Air Forces in September, 1942, and had been overseas only a short time before he met his death. He is survived by his parents and two sisters, Misses Mildred and Vivian Harmon. His father is a veteran of World War I.

******

Adair County News, May 25, 1949

Services Sunday For Edwin Harmon

 The body of S/Sgt. Edwin Morris Harmon arrived here from Europe on Saturday and funeral services were held at the Cane Valley Christian Church at 2:00 p.m. Sunday. Rev. H.J. Conover conducted the service and interment was in the Columbia Cemetery...

Sgt. Harmon, a son of Mr. and Mrs. U.S. Harmon, was born September 1, 1920. He was reared in the Cane Valley community and belonged to a well-known family. His father is a veteran of World War I.

He was inducted into the United States Army September 15, 1942, and immediately volunteered for service in the Air Forces. He completed his training in May, 1943, and flew to England where he joined the 8th Air Force.

Sgt. Harmon lost his life in defense of his country when the bomber on which he served as a gunner, was shot down over Evereux, France, on July 10, 1943, while he was on his third or fourth mission.  He is survived by his parents and two sisters, Mrs. Lewis Rogers and Miss Vivian Harmon.