My father Harmon Senn Sr. was born, along with a twin sister, in Drew County, Arkansas, on May 12, 1915. Harmon's mother died in 1933 of the Spanish Flu, when he was 8 years old. He helped his father with farming and logging. He quit school at 16 and joined thousands of other young men riding the rails for two years during the Depression. There was just too many mouths to feed at home.

He worked for the Civilian Conservation Corps for a few years in different parts of the country--floated logs down river to the Louisana mills and a few other jobs. Harmon joined the Army in 1940 at Camp Robertson in Little Rock, Arkansas. He had a bad ear, but talked his way in anyway. He made Staff Sargeant, but was a PFC when he got killed. I not sure why since all his records were lost in a fire at St. Louis in 1973.

Harmon married Essie Mae Combs on January 18, 1942 at Fort Riley, Kansas. I was born there on November 28, 1942, and my brother Robert was born there January 28, 1945. My dad never saw my brother. Robert was a little over a month old when our dad was killed. Mom was nineteen with two little ones to care for alone.

Dad was killed March 3, 1945 near Dausfeld, Germany, while serving with Gen. George Patton's Third Army, 55th Infantry Battalion, 11th Armored Division, Company A, Medical Unit. He was driving a jeep on the battlefield to retrieve the injured when he was hit by a mortar fragment in the neck and bled to death. He is buried at Henri-Chapelle Cemetery in Belgium. His grave was adopted many years ago by local residents Roger and Monique Marquet, who have tended it since.

Harmon was awared the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart, Medic Combat Medal, and other medals. His Commanding Officer, Capt. David B. Dolese, M.D., said" he did his job well and bravely."

The family home with all his effects and the flag from his burial burned in the 1950's. The family says he was a man with a good sense of humor, loved to hunt and fish, was a crack shot and loved life. He will not be forgotten.

These days Harmon Senn's final resting place can be visited in Belgium, at the American Military cemetery of Henri-Chapelle. He is remembered and honored by his son Harmon Senn Jr and his entire family, by Mr. and Mrs. Roger Marquet and by everyone who visits the Henri-Chapelle cemetery and everyone who visits this website.