Raymond G. Harvey headstone at Arlington National Cemetery: Section 6 Site 8360-B-LH (Photo – arlingtoncemetery.mil)
He was one of the most highly decorated soldiers in the history of the United States Army and should be among the most famous of citizens of Pasadena. And yet today, there are no memorials, or tributes of any kind in his name to be found anywhere in the Crown City.
By William Paparian
Raymond G. Harvey’s “Home of Record” was Pasadena when he entered military service. And Pasadena was the city he returned to after service in World War II and Korea, and where he would build a home on Tropical Avenue in Upper Hastings Ranch in 1952.
Pasadena has one of the oldest historic preservation programs in California, with over 200 individual historic sites listed in the National Register of Historic Places. For the first time in over 30 years, the City of Pasadena has undertaken a survey of historically significant properties. Raymond Harvey’s home should be included.
When he returned home after the action in Korea, for which he was the awarded the Medal of Honor, his foster parents who owned a music store in Pasadena accompanied him to the White House for the ceremony at which President Truman presented him with the Congressional Medal of Honor. During his distinguished service in both World War II and Korea, Raymond Harvey would also receive the Distinguished Service Cross, three Silver Stars, three Bronze Star Medals, three Purple Hearts, the French Croix de Guerre with Palm from the government of France, and the Chungmu Cordon Medal with Gold Star from the government of South Korea.
During World War II, he served with the 79th Infantry Division and participated in that division’s campaigns in northern France and Germany. He was honorably discharged from the Army upon the surrender of the German army in 1945. He later joined the Army Reserves in 1947 and was recalled to active duty in 1948.
Harvey was part of the amphibious landing at Inchon, Korea, during the Korean War, as a Captain with the 7th Infantry Division. He took command of Company “C” of the 17th Infantry Regiment when the company commander was wounded in action before the Chinese crossed the Yalu River into Korea, forcing the 7th Division to retreat south.
Medal of Honor recipient LTC Raymond Harvey (Photo – Public Domain)
His Medal of Honor Citation reads in part:
“…When his company was pinned down by a barrage of automatic weapons fire from numerous well-entrenched emplacements, imperiling accomplishment of its mission, Capt. Harvey braved a hail of fire and exploding grenades to advance to the first enemy machine gun nest, killing its crew with grenades. Rushing to the edge of the next emplacement, he killed its crew with carbine fire. He then moved the 1st Platoon forward until it was again halted by a curtain of automatic fire from well-fortified hostile positions. Disregarding the hail of fire, he personally charged and neutralized a third emplacement. Miraculously escaping death from intense crossfire, Capt. Harvey continued to lead the assault. Spotting an enemy pillbox well camouflaged by logs, he moved close enough to sweep the emplacement with carbine fire and throw grenades through the openings, annihilating its 5 occupants. Though wounded he then turned to order the company forward, and, suffering agonizing pain, he continued to direct the reduction of the remaining hostile positions, refusing evacuation until assured that the mission would be accomplished…”
He retired from the military in 1962, having attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He later served as Director of Indian Affairs for the Arizona State Emergency Services before retiring in 1981. Lt. Colonel Harvey died in 1996 and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery with complete honors.
There are two other Medal of Honor recipients from Pasadena: Reginald Desiderio and Joe Hayashi, both of whom received the award posthumously. There is a park named after Desiderio in the Lower Arroyo and a plaque there with his Medal of Honor Citation. In Victory Park there is a plaque in honor of Hayashi. And although Harvey was recognized in 1952 as one of the Medal of Honor recipient Grand Marshals of the Rose Parade, and the Pasadena Junior Chamber of Commerce made him Man of the Year, there is no memory of him anywhere today in Pasadena.
When the City of Pasadena Planning and Community Development Department completes the review of proposed historic places, let us hope that they will deem the home of Raymond Harvey, one of the most decorated soldiers in the history of the United States Army, eligible to be listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
William Paparian is a former Mayor of Pasadena and a member of the Veterans Day Committee.
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