[GMHarbison - Sep00.FTW]

Graduated from Wayne High School in 1941

Enrolled in the Tool & Die Course of the Ford Apprentice School for 1-1/2 years. As a Machinist's Apprentice, he completed 3000 hours of an 8000 hour apprenticeship course. Under supervision, setup and operated turret lathe, shaper, grinders and performed some bench work using hand and precision tools. Read some blueprints. Employed to Nov 1942 by Ford Motor Co, Dearborn, Mich.

He started Active Service in the US Army on February 4th, 1943. He was a Private for one month during Basic Training, then he was a Private First Class for 13 months as a Clerk Typist. For the remainder of his Active Duty period in the Signal Corp he was a TEC 4 Grade and a Teletype Operator. He operated a telegraphic typewriter for the transmission & deception of communications. Logged all messages received and transmitted. Familiar with Army codes, phonetic alphabet and safeguarding of military security. He was with the 3161st Signal Service Company in the American Pacific Theater Operations (APTO). He left the US for the Pacific Theater on Feb 19, 1945 and arrived on Feb 25, 1945.

His Honorable Discharge papers from list him as having qualified Expert with a rifle and involved in the RYUKYUS(sic) Battle and Campaign. They also list him as having been awarded the following Decorations and Citations: Victory Medal, American Theater Ribbon, Asiatic Pacific Theater Ribbon w/ 1 Bronze Battle Star, 2 Overseas Service Bars, 1 Service Stripe and Good Conduct Medal.

He left the Pacific Theater for the States on Jan 12, 1946 and arrived back in the US on Jan 22, 1946. He was discharged from Fort Sheridan, Illinois on February 27th, 1946

He was required to complete his Active Duty 4 years later in June of 1950, and was assigned to Fort Devens, Massachusets. He was released from the second Active Duty on Sept. 11, 1951 as a Corporal Rank (E-4).