Major General John Harmony was born in Kirkwood, Ohio. He graduated from Sidney High School with class of 1918. He enlisted in the United States Army thereafter. Harmony was chosen from the enlisted ranks to attend the West Point Military Academy. He was on the boxing team. He graduated in 1923, and was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant.
Harmony served during World Wars I and II and in the Korean Conflict. Gen. Harmony commanded the 69th Infantry Division and the 271st Infantry Division in the United States as well as the 141st Infantry Regiment during World War II in Italy and southern France. He also was a professor of military tactics and boxing coach at the University of Maryland. Also during his long career, he returned to West Point after World War II where he was Master of the Sword.
Harmony eventually was promoted through the ranks and became a Major General in 1955. General Harmony was a recipient of 14 commendations and honors during his career, including the Legion of Merit Medal, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart and the Cross of Military Valor. He also received the Army Distinguished Service Medal from President Truman. The citation read as follows:
“The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress
July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Army Distinguished Service Medal
to Major General John William Harmony for exceptionally meritorious and
distinguished service to the Government of the United States, in duties of great responsibility from July 1949 to October 1959.
This award supersedes the award of the Legion of Merit (Second Oak Leaf Cluster),
for service from 3 October 1955 to 1 December 1956.”
Major General Harmony retired after a 40 year career in 1959. The Army Chief of Staff L. L. Lemnitzer personally wrote a letter to Harmony in November 1959. He included this accolade:
“Throughout your career, culminating in your performance as Commanding
General of the XV United States Army Corps. (Res) your efforts have
Consistently advanced the ability of the Army to promote the security of our
Country.”