Harry J. Harper
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Army
Harry J. Harper of Duluth, Minn. entered the Army on July 6, 1942.
He served as a Technician 4th Grade until he was commissioned Warrant Officer (junior grade) on July 5, 1945.
He served as a cryptographic officer in the 849th Signal-Intelligence Service, the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), and message center group at Division, Corps and Army levels in North Africa and Italy.
He also served as cryptographic officer at the message center of the 34th Signal Company and 34th Infantry Division in Oran, Algiers; Tripoli; Naples-Foggia, Rome-Arno and North Apennines of the Italian Campaign.
Mr. Harper was awarded the European-African-Middle East Campaign Medal with three bronze battle stars (Naples-Foggia, Rome-Arno, North Apennines, Italy) and
World War II Victory Medal.
He was honorably discharged Nov. 21, 1945 at Camp McCoy, Wis.
Source: Hometown Heroes: The St. Louis County World War II Project. 103.
