The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to First Lieutenant (Field Artillery) Harry H. Harpold (ASN: 0-966244), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Battery A, 29th Field Artillery Battalion, 3d Infantry Division, in action against the enemy in Korea. On 29 September 1951, when the 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry moved forward to seize and secure Hill 487 near Kal-ma-Dong, Korea, Lieutenant Harpold was attached to Company A as artillery liaison officer, as that unit initiated the battalion’s attack on the hostile positions. He fearlessly and repeatedly exposed himself to enemy automatic weapons and mortar fire, while calling for a barrage from his own battery which blocked hostile troop movements from the objective. After securing its primary objective, the company was moving on the final line of enemy resistance, when heavy machine gun fire from a well-placed enemy bunker halted the company. Heedless of his own safety as enemy grenades showered around him, Lieutenant Harpold boldly advanced to a distance of 10 yards from the emplacement, calling for and directing his battery’s destroying fire on nearby bunkers. Courageously maintaining this hazardous observation post, he continued to adjust blocking fire on hostile positions while exposed to all types of enemy fire until seriously wounded by an enemy hand grenade. Lieutenant Harpold’s inspiring gallantry and invaluable contribution to the ultimate success of battalion operations reflects the highest credit upon himself and the military service.

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant (Field Artillery) Harry H. Harpold (ASN: 0-966244), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Battery A, 39th Field Artillery Battalion, 3d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy in Korea. On 4 July 1951, Company B, 1st Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, dug-in on Hill 586, near Chichon, Korea, was fanatically attacked by a strong enemy force supported by heavy concentrations of small arms, automatic weapons, and mortar fire. At the height of the engagement, the company, although still furiously resisting the violent hostile charge, soon found itself threatened with encirclement due to the enemy’s numerical superiority. Cognizant that drastic measures were mandatory to relieve the unit from its precarious position, Lieutenant Harpold, the company’s forward artillery observer, radioed for artillery fire. Adjusting the barrage with pinpoint accuracy, he caused severe damage to the hostile soldiers, close upon the company perimeter, without inflicting casualties on the friendly ground troops. During the bitter struggle, swirling artillery smoke and resultant low visibility forced Lieutenant Harpold to repeatedly reveal himself to the concentrated enemy fire in order to continue to make his fire adjustments. Thus exposed, he often used hand grenades to protect his position and engage in sharp skirmishes with hostile troops who pressed close to the location. Not permitting this to interfere with his artillery direction, he continued to widen the scope of the shelled area until the enemy, confused and demoralized by the relentless barrage, retreated in disorder from the battlefield, their attack crushed. Lieutenant Harpold’s display of brilliant artillery direction and superb personal gallantry reflect the highest credit upon himself and the military service.