Background
Reginald C. Harmon was born on February 5, 1900 near Olney, Illinois.
Reginald C. Harmon was born on February 5, 1900 near Olney, Illinois.
He studied law at the University of Illinois College of Law receiving his Bachelor of Laws degree in 1927.
At the age of 29, he was elected as the mayor of Urbana, Illinois. After graduating from high school, he worked as a teacher in a rural school. During his time at the University of Illinois, Major General Harmon joined the Phi Delta Phi legal fraternity.
Major General Harmon"s military career also began during his undergraduate years at the University"s Reserve Officers" Training Corps (Reserve Officers Training Corps).
At the age of 29, Major General Harmon was elected as mayor of Urbana, Illinois. He held the office from 1929 to 1933.
As mayor during the onset of the Great Depression, Major General Harmon declared the nation"s first business moratorium to prevent a run on the banks. After completing the Reserve Officers Training Corps program at the University of Illinois, Reginald Harmon was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Field Artillery Reserve.
In October 1940, Mr. Harmon was called to active duty at Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio, as a major in the Officers" Reserve Corporation of the Army.
Mr. Harmon represented the United States. Government in an industrial expansion program to meet the growing needs of the Army Air Corps during World World War II from 1940 to 1945. Between 1945 and 1948, he served as the Judge Advocate of the Air Material Command where he provided legal representation for the Air Force in a billion dollar procurement program
During this period, Mr.
Harmon left the Reserve Corporation for the regular component of the military. On September 8, 1948, Mr. Harmon became the first Judge Advocate General of the United States Air Force and was promoted to the rank of Major General.
He was reappointed as the Judge Advocate General in 1952 and 1956.