Pfc. Garriet Harms 1930-1951

HARMS, PORTER, STEURI, FOLKERTS, DELANEY, KREMER, ULFERTS, AMBUEHL, HARBAUGH

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 11/21/2021 at 08:44:40

1 November 1951 - Monticello Express

Monticello's first death in the Korean war was reported indirectly this week when word was received of the death of Pfc. Garriet Harms, son of Mr. and Mrs. Garriet Harms, sr.

Word was received in a letter written Mr. and Mrs. Harms by one of their son's buddies in Korea that he had seen Garriet killed in action on Bloody Bulge ridge. The report indicated that Garriet's partner in their machine gun crew was also killed.

As of Tuesday morning the family here has not received notification from the war department concerning Garriet's death. Inquiry was being made through the American Red Cross here, however, to verify the report.

Tuesday morning Mrs. Harms told the Express that they had feared something had happened to Garriet when they received no letter from him since October 6. She said that he had always been a good letter writer. The letter from his buddy didn't tell the exact date on which Garriet was killed, but Mrs. Harms judged it to have been between the 10th and 16th of October.

Garriet Harms, jr., was born in Lockhart, Minn., on June 11, 1930. He spent his early years in Castle Grove township where he attended Castle Grove school No. 8. He attended Monticello Public High school, being graduated with the class of 1949. In high school he was a member of the Future Farmers of America, a member of the tumbling team, the junior class play crew and the operetta crew. He was also active in 4-H club work.

Following high school, he took a job working as an arborist for the city of Cedar Rapids, and before joining the army, developed a considerable interest in the profession.

In January this year he was sent to Fort Riley, Kansas, for his training, and on May 15, left for Korea. All of the time since then, with the exception of a short rest in Japan, he had been at the front lines, attached to Co. G of the 8th Cavalry regiment.

Just 9 days prior to leaving for Korea, he was married to Iris Maxine Porter, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Porter, Anamosa. The ceremony took place at the Evangelical and Reformed parsonage and was performed by Rev. John Baumann.

Mrs. Harms has been making her home in Anamosa with her parents.

Besides his wife and parents, he is survived by eight sisters and a brother: Mrs. Otto Steuri, Center Junction; Mrs. Henry Folkerts, Scotch Grove, Mrs. Elmer Delaney, Cedar Rapids; Mrs. Nick Kremer, Cascade, and Mrs. Louis Ulferts, Mrs. Leo Ambuehl, Mrs. Beverly Harbaugh, Elaine and Henry, all of Monticello.

Garriet was confirmed on May 28, 1944 by Rev. F. H. Kehren.

He was preceded in death by a sister, Lena, a brother, John, and his twin brother, Harvey.

8 November 1951 - Monticello Express

A telegram received here Tuesday confirmed earlier reports that Garriet Harms, Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Garriet Harms, was killed in action on October 9 in Korea.

The family had received word earlier by letter from a friend of Harms' in Korea stating that he had been killed when a shell burst in his fox-hole. Receiving no government confirmation, inquiry was made and last Sunday a telegram was received stating that the government could not confirm the report.

Tuesday's telegram stated that a letter with full details would follow.