Harry M. Liem

Camp Lee, Virigina; France / World War I
  • Military specialty: Unknown
  • Awards: Unknown

b. 14 Nov 1896; d. 15 Mar 1957.  Harry McKinley Liem was born in Valley Springs, SD, to Charles Albert and Laura Etta (Robbins) Liem.  Harry and his family came to Lakeside Twp., Cottonwood Co., MN in the early 1900s.  He grew up in the area and attended school in Windom, MN.  After his graduation from Windom in 1914, he graduated from Carleton College, Northfield, MN.

On 4 May 1918, Harry enlisted in the U.S. Army and was assigned to the Jefferson Barracks, MO. On 27 May 1918, he was transferred to Ft. Leavenworth, KS.  His unit, Co. A, 305th Field Signal Battalion, 80th Division, out of Camp Lee, VA, (Blue Ridge) left for Le Havre, France on 21 Jun 1918.  While in France, his unit was involved in combat at Artois Front (w/British command,) and in the St. Mihiel Offensive and Meuse-Argonne Offensive.  The division spent 17 days in active sectors.  On 20 May 1919, his unit returned to the U.S.  On 11 Jun 1919 Pfc. Liem was discharged at Camp Dix, NJ.

See the Cottonwood County Citizen issues 25 Nov 1918 and 8 Jan 1919 for letters home.

In the early 1920s, Harry was a teacher and basketball coach in Worthington, MN.  By 1926, Harry had moved to Huron, SD, where he remained for the duration of his life.  On 30 Nov 1922, Harry married Myrtle Louise Knapp  in  Worthington, MN; they had three children. During his life, Harry was the mayor of Huron from 1944 to 1947, an athletic coach, SD State Amateur Baseball Commissioner, and a state boxing commissioner.

On 15 Mar 1957, he passed away at home from a heart attack.  Harry was buried in the Riverside Cemetery, Huron, SD.

 

 

  • Obituary: Yes