Enlisted in the Navy June 1939. Due to the Navy’s racial segregation policy of assigning African-American menial jobs, Harmon was limited to serving as a mess attendant. Following his initial training, he reported for duty about the cruiser USS San Francisco (CA-38) later that year. In 1942, during Guadalcanal, the USS San Francisco came under heavy fire from Japanese aircraft that killed many officers on the bridge. Disregarding his own safety to assist the wounded, Harmon used his body to shield a follow shipmate from enemy gunfire and was mortally wounded. He was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for his “extraordinary heroism.” In 1943, the Navy commissioned the USS Harmon, a destroyer escort warship, marking the first American warship named in honor of an African-American. Follow the links to learn more about this incredibly brave human being. official ship histories and https://tinyurl.com/5yrbcmus
