HARRY W. BRYANT, WAS BORN IN 1944 AND GREW UP IN POWHATTAN, KANSAS. HE GRADUATED IN 1962 AND JOINED THE MARINES IN JANUARY OF 1963. AFTER GRADUATING FROM SAN DIEGO AND COMPLETING ITR, HE WENT TO OKINAWA TO THE 3rd  MARINE DIVISION. HIS TRAINING IN THE WESTERN PACIFIC INCLUDED FLOATING IN THE TOKIN GULF, OFF THE COAST OF VIETNAM, FOR 44-DAYS BEFORE RETURNING TO THE 1st  MARINE DIVISION IN CALIFORNIA IN OCTOBER, 1964.

IN MAY OF 1965, CORPORAL BRYANT WAS AGAIN DEPLOYED TO THE WESTERN PACIFIC WHERE HE PARTICIPATED IN THE FIRST OPPOSED AMPHIBIOUS LANDING SINCE INCHON, KOREA. CORPORAL BRYANTS SQUAD WAS PART OF A HELIBORNE ASSAULT FROM THE USS IWO JIMA IN OPERATION STARLIGHT. AS A SQUAD LEADER WITH WEAPONS PLT, LIMA 3/7, HE HAD TWO M-60 MACHINE GUN TEAMS THAT SUBSEQUENTLY PARTICIPATED IN OPERATIONS STARLIGHT, PIRANA, BLACK FERRET, AND TEXAS. AFTER BEING WOUNDED IN THE ARM, HAND, AND FOOT BY SMALL ARMS BULLETS, HE WAS EVACUATED TO CHU LAI AND SUBSEQUENTLY TO THE GREAT LAKES NAVAL HOSPITAL WHERE HE UNDERWENT MEDICAL TREATMENT AND REABILITATION FOR TWO YEARS.

UPON HIS RELEASE, HE MADE HIS CIVILIAN HOME IN TOPEKA, KANSAS WHERE HE GRADUATED FROM WASHBURN UNIVERSTIY WITH A ELEMENTARY TEACHING DEGREE. HE TAUGHT JUNIOR HIGH AND COACHED FOR 28-YEARS IN CARBONDALE, KANSAS, RETIRING IN JUNE OF 2002.

HARRY IS CURRENTLY EMPLOYED AS A DISPATCHER FOR THE WASHBURN UNIVERSITY POLCE DEPARTMENT AND FINDS TIME TO DO VOLUNTEER WORK WITH THE MARINE RESERVE UNIT IN TOPEKA.

THE FORMER MARINE HAS BEEN MARRIED TO HIS HIGH SCHOOL COACHS DAUGHTER FOR 36-YEARS AND HAS TWO BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTERS; ONE IS A CPA AND ONE WILL GRADUATE FROM SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT UNIVERSITY IN MAY OF 2004.