Полковник Пол Донал Харкинс: карьера и вклад в военное дело

United States Army general

Paul Donal Harkins (May 15, 1904 – August 21, 1984) was a career officer in the United States Army and attained the rank of general. He is most notable for having served during World War II as deputy chief of staff for operations in George S. Patton Jr.'s commands, and as the first Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV) commander, a post he held from 1962 to 1964.

Harkins was born in Boston, Massachusetts on May 15, 1904, the second of five children of newspaper editor Edward Francis Harkins and May E. Kelly. He decided early on a military career, and enlisted in the Massachusetts National Guard's 110th Cavalry Regiment in 1922, rising to the rank of sergeant and learning skills including horseback riding and polo. While in the National Guard, he took a competitive exam for an appointment to the United States Military Academy and received an appointment, becoming a cadet in 1925. While at West Point, Harkins continued to play polo, becoming captain of the team. He graduated in 1929 and was assigned to the cavalry branch.

Assigned initially to the 7th Cavalry Regiment at Fort Bliss, Harkins continued to hone his horsemanship and play polo. In 1933, he completed the Cavalry School's equitation course at Fort Riley, after which he remained there for several years as an instructor. Beginning in 1939, he commanded F Troop, 3rd Cavalry Regiment at Fort Myer, serving under regimental commander George S. Patton, Jr. In 1941, he graduated from the United States Army Command and General Staff College.

During the period immediately prior to U. S. entry into World War II, Harkins participated in large scale exercises, including the Louisiana and Pine Camp maneuvers. He then served with the 1st Cavalry Brigade at Fort Bliss. In January 1942, Harkins was assigned to the 2nd Armored Division at Fort Benning, serving again under Patton, who was the division commander. In August 1942, Harkins became deputy chief of staff of Patton's Western Task Force, which was preparing for the invasion of North Africa. He took part in the assault landing at Fedhala Beach on November 8. Harkins followed Patton when Patton became commander of the Seventh Army. As deputy chief of staff, Harkins played a major role in planning the Allied invasion of Sicily and in July 1943 he took part in the initial landings and combat at Gela. Harkins was then named deputy chief of staff for Third Army, serving under Patton and chief of staff General Hobart R. Gay. While in that capacity, Harkins earned the nickname "Ramrod" for his determination to fulfill Patton's desire to always keep Third Army moving during combat in France. When asked by a fellow officer who asked him "how the devil our G. I. s can remain so cheerful at the front under these frightful conditions?" Harkins is said to have replied, "Well the Old Man knows that as long as they are winning and moving forward they will remain happy and their morale will be high". Harkins was present with Patton at the famous command and staff meeting called by General Dwight D. Eisenhower to discuss the Allied response to the German attack in the Ardennes which became known as the Battle of the Bulge, in which Patton promised that Third Army could be ready to disengage his troops from their current eastward attack and move north approximately 100 mile (161 km) to counter attack in three days. This maneuver seemed impossible to those who were present, but was successfully executed once Patton received the go ahead. Harkins remained in Germany after the war and took part in the occupation of Bavaria, transferring to Fifteenth Army when Patton was assigned as commander of that unit. Harkins escorted Mrs. Patton back to the United States following Patton's death in December 1945.

From 1946 to 1951, Harkins served as deputy Commandant of Cadets at West Point and then as commandant. On April 2, 1951, he was informed by a first class cadet that a classmate had told him that a group of cadets, mainly among the football team, were involved in an academic cheating ring. Harkins had made it plain that he felt that the nationally ranked football team was not in line with his vision of the USMA. In a controversial decision, he asked cadets to gather information about the cheating. A formal inquiry was held and ninety cadets were dismissed from the academy. Some had not participated in the cheating, but knew of it and had not reported it, which was considered a breach of the Cadet Honor Code ("A cadet will not lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate those who do"). The head coach for Army at that time, Earl "Red" Blaik, felt that Harkins was "a black and white man with no shades of gray" and accused him of bias. Blaik's son was one of the cadets who knew of the cheating, but had not acted.

Harkins retired after returning from Vietnam, and was an advisor for the American Security Council Foundation. He and his wife later resided in Dallas, Texas, where he studied art and became an accomplished painter. Harkins wrote a book on General George S. Patton Jr. and the Third Army, 1969's When the Third Cracked Europe: The Story of Patton's Incredible Army. Harkins was also a technical consultant for the 1970 film Patton, and was portrayed by actor Lee Patterson in the made for TV sequel The Last Days of Patton, broadcast the year after his death.

Harkins died in Dallas on August 21, 1984.

In 1933, Harkins married Elizabeth Mae Conner. They were the parents of a daughter, Virginia. Virginia Harkins married West Point graduate Leslie D. Carter Jr., the son of Major General Leslie D. Carter.