William H. Harrison

William Hartwell Harrison (October 7, 1896 – August 19, 1955) was a decorated officer of United States Marine Corps with the rank of brigadier general. He is most noted as commanding officer of 11th Marine Regiment during Battle of Peleliu in September 1944. Harrison later commanded the Automotive Section within Service Command, Fleet Marine Force Pacific.

Early career William H. Harrison was born on October 7, 1896, at Middle River, Maryland. He attended the St. John's College at Annapolis, Maryland, before he reported for Marine Corps active duty with the rank of second lieutenant on May 24, 1917. Harrison was sent to the Basic School for additional officers training and subsequently was attached to the 13th Marine Regiment and sailed for France. He arrived in September 1918, but too late to see combat and spent almost nine months with occupation duties in Brest. Harrison was ordered back to the United States in July 1919 and following the deactivation of the unit, he was attached to the Second Provisional Marine Brigade under Brigadier General Ben H. Fuller. His first expeditionary duties came in October 1919, when he sailed with 2nd Brigade for Santo Domingo to fight rebel forces of General Desiderio Arias.

Harrison spent two years in Dominican Republic and finally returned stateside in 1921. He was assigned to the Marine Barracks Quantico, Virginia. He was assigned to the 10th Marine Artillery Regiment and participated in the maneuvers at Culebra, Puerto Rico. Lieutenant Harrison was later assigned for instruction to the Motor Transport School at Camp Holabird, Maryland.

Harrison later led 12th Defense battalion during the Battle of Cape Gloucester at New Guinea at the end of December 1944 until he was replaced by Merlyn D. Holmes and appointed commanding officer of 11th Marine Artillery Regiment within 1st Marine Division under Major General William H. Rupertus. His regiment was designated artillery group for the Peleliu Operation in September 1944 and even with a minimum of motor transportation available, Harrison coordinated artillery shelling on well entrenched enemy forces. His actions destroyed a large number of Japanese units, and this helped to win the campaign. For his actions and leadership during the battle, Harrison received the Legion of Merit with Combat "V" and also the Navy Presidential Unit Citation.

In December 1944, Harrison was ordered back to the United States and appointed officer in charge of Automotive Section within Service Command, Fleet Marine Force Pacific under Major General Earl C. Long. In this assignment, he was responsible again for the movement of personnel, weapons and supplies by trucks, air and sea. Harrison remained in this capacity until the end of the war and later received the Bronze Star Medal for his service.

Decorations Here is the ribbon bar of Brigadier General William H. Harrison: