Posted by Terry Powers on April 23, 2023:

Cullum No. 16939-1949 | January 26, 2002 | Died in Nashville, TN Interred in Calvary Cemetery, Nashville, TN Harry James Maihafer was born in Watertown, NY, the only child of George and Loretta Maihafer. He lived in Carthage, NY, where his father, the owner of a large bakery, died when Harry was six. Harry and his mother then moved to Syracuse, NY, where he attended parochial schools and graduated from Christian Brothers Academy in 1941. He was the captain of the tennis team and undefeated in both singles and doubles throughout high school. He was the Boys Tennis Champion of Syracuse in 1940 and the Junior Champion in 1942. These feats foreshadowed what was to become a lifetime of excelling in tennis. Harry once told his daughter Patti that "one should live three careers: one in service, one to make one's fortune, and one for enjoy­ment." Harry did exactly that. Harry started his first career in 1943 when he volunteered for the Army Air Corps. He was in training in the pre-flight school at the San Antonio Aviation Cadet Center when he received his appointment to West Point. At West Point he was on the C-Squad cross country and track teams, but his first love remained tennis. He won an "A" and gold stars for beating Navy in each of his last two years. He also was on the debate team. During his First Class year he was the second in command of Cadet Company E-1. Two days after graduation, on 9 Jun 1949, he married Jeanne Mietzelfeld. They had a joyful marriage and were blessed with four children: Veronica, Mary Patricia, Margaret Mary, and Douglas. Upon graduation he was commissioned in Armor and assigned to the Officers Basic Course at Ft. Knox, KY. The Korean War started while Harry was at Ft. Knox. He then was sent to Korea, assigned to I Company, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Division, as an infantry platoon leader. In that capacity, Harry was wounded by a rifle bullet through his left thigh. Upon return to his unit from the hospital, he became the company execu­tive officer. Early in 1951, he became aide-de-camp to MG Blackshear Bryan, command­ing general of the 24th Infantry Division. During his combat tour in Korea, Harry was awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star with "V" for valor, an Army Commendation Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge, Purple Heart, and Korean Service Medal with seven battle stars. While in Korea he had requested and re­ceived a transfer to the Infantry, because, as he said, "I was on the verge of coming home from the Far East as a captain of Armor who hadn't been in a tank, it seemed somehow logical." He left Korea at the end of 1951 for an assignment to Ft. Dix, NJ. Harry's 20-year military career was varied, fulfilling, and eventful. After Korea, he served as a company commander, battalion S-3, and regimental S-3 with the 47th Regiment, 9th Infantry Division. Next, he served as an instructor in the Department of Military Psychology and Leadership at West Point. Subsequently, he was assigned to Germany, first as a company commander with the 1st Battalion, 48th Infantry, in Nuremberg and Worms, and then as an assistant secretary of the Genera Staff in Heidelberg. Back in the U.S., he was assigned to First Army Headquarters, Governors Island, NY, as senior aide to the Commanding General, First Army, who was also Senior U.S. Army Member on the Military Staff Committee at the United Nations. Reassigned to Korea, he was secretary of the General Staff of the 7th Logistical Command. Upon his return to the States, he attended the Command and General Staff College, Ft. Leavenworth, KS. Harry then served in the Pentagon in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Chief, Business Branch, Business and Labor Division, Public Affairs. His last assign­ment was at Ft. McPherson, Atlanta, GA, as Information Officer for the Third Army. He was retired on the last day of 1969 as a colonel. He took a break in his regular military assignments to attend graduate school at the University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, where he earned a master's degree in journal­ism. Afterwards, while still on active duty, he started doing some freelance writing. He had articles published in ARMY, Military Review, Naval Institute Proceedings, The Apostle, and Catholic Mission Digest. Upon retirement from the Army, Harry launched himself on his second career as a banking executive, working for the Citizens and Southern National Bank, Atlanta, as Training Director. He later worked for Union Planters National Bank in Memphis, first as Vice President, Organizational Development, and later as Senior Vice President, Director of Personnel and Secretary of the Board of Directors. He finally worked for the Commerce Union Bank and Commerce Union Corporation in Nashville, TN, as Senior Vice President and Director of Human Resources. Harry retired from his second career in 1987. Harry's third career, his "enjoyment" career, focused upon writing and publish­ing numerous articles and seven books. The book most cherished by his classmates is From the Hudson to the Yalu, a living his­tory of the Korean War relating the firsthand combat experiences of his classmates - the Class of '49. Harry is survived by his wife of 52 years, Jeanne Maihafer of Nashville; three daugh­ters: Veronica Barnes of Charlotte, NC, Patti Thompson and Peggy Maihafer, both of Nashville, TN; and seven grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son, Douglas P. Maihafer. Harry was loved and respected by his classmates, to whom he was an inspiration, and by all who knew him throughout his life. His classmates remember him for his cheerfulness and constant high spirits. He radiated happiness, joy, and integrity. He was friendly, courageous, and was the epitome of Duty, Honor, Country. It was an honor to have known Harry, and our lives are better for having known him. We miss you, Harry. Adrian Beecher Brian classmate

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