Nov 2016: Harold David Harden
US Army, 1985-2006
Our November Veteran of the Month is Harold David Harden. Harold grew up in Jackson, TN and graduated from Jackson Central Merry HS in May 1980. Immediately following high school, he enlisted in the Tennessee Army National Guard (NG) as an Administrative Specialist. While serving in the NG, he attended Jackson State Community College and worked a full-time job at Lane College as a campus security guard. After receiving an Associate's Degree in General Studies, Harold found himself lacking funds to pursue a Bachelor's Degree. In September 1985, Harold enlisted in the U.S. Army for the Army College Fund as a Military Policeman. Harold retired in December 2006 as a First Sergeant (1SG) from the United States Army after 21 years. Including his time in the Tennessee Army National Guard, he has a total of 26 years of military service.
Prior to retiring, he served as the First Sergeant for B Company, 701st Military Police Battalion and as the Noncommissioned Officer in Charge of the Force Protection Training Division (FPTD) responsible for training Department of Defense personnel in law enforcement, physical security and antiterrorism tactics, techniques, and procedures. His other stateside assignments included a short stint at Seneca Army Depot before reenlisting for a station of choice to Fort McClellan, Alabama as an Army Instructor at the Military Police School. While at the Military Police School in Fort McClellan, he was pictured in GQ, Jet, Ebony, and other major magazines as an Army leader setting the example and leading Soldiers. He was then selected as an Army Recruiter and stationed in Tulsa, OK. After completing this tour as a Station Commander, he was assigned to the United States Army Japan command in Camp Zama, Japan.
He served a total of four overseas tours to Europe and Japan. His first tour was with the 1st Infantry Division (Forward) “the Big Red One” in Goppingen, Germany. While there, he deployed to Morocco, Africa in support of the Army's humanitarian efforts. For his second tour, he deployed a platoon of military policemen from the 716th Military Police Battalion, Fort Campbell, KY to Mannheim, Germany in support of the Bosnia and Herzegovina peace building efforts. The other overseas tours were with the United States Army Japan (USARJ) as the Command Force Protection Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) and the 17th Area Support Group (ASG) as the 88th Military Police Detachment Sergeant.
1SG (Ret) Harden has been married to the former Elizabeth Lee Dupree for 29 years. Elizabeth served as a military spouse alongside 1SG (Ret) Harden for almost 20 years of his military career. They have three daughters and 2 grandchildren.
During his military tenure, he completed his Bachelor of Science Degree in Social Science from the University of Maryland University College in Adelphi, Maryland and a Master of Science in Criminal Justice Degree from Troy University in Troy, Alabama. 1SG (Ret) Harden truly lives by his coined adage “There's always work to be done and progress to be made” and embodies strong values.
1SG (Ret) Harden's awards include Meritorious Service Medal (5 Awards), Army Commendation Medal (3 Awards), Army Achievement Medal (6 Awards), Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Overseas Service Medal, Army Superior Unit Award (2 Awards), the Gold Recruiter Badge with three Sapphire Stars, and the Air Assault Badge.
He is a member of Court Appointed Special Advocate and is currently employed with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as the Memphis District Chief of Security and Law Enforcement. He was nominated for 'Veteran of the Month' by Vietnam Veteran and May 2015 Veteran of the Month John McBride.