Gen. Paul Harkins was born on 15 May 1904 in Boston, Massachusetts. After enlisting in the Massachusetts National Guard, he gained appointment to West Point and graduated from the academy in 1929. During World War II he served on Gen. Patton's staff in all campaigns, and in 1962 President Kennedy appointed him as Commander of US Forces in Vietnam. In 1960 Harkins served as Deputy Commander-in-Chief, US Army, Pacific.

Harkins' other significant assignments included Commandant of Cadets at West Point in the late 1940's; Chief, Plans Division G3, Department of the Army in 1951; Chief of Staff, Eighth Army at the close of the Korean War; Commander of the 45th and later the 24th Infantry Divisions; and Commander of NATO's Allied Land Forces in Izmir, Turkey from 1957-1960.

Among Harkins' many awards are the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, and the Bronze Star Medal. He died on 21 August 1984.

		Gen. Paul D. Harkins making his first inspection tour of US and Vietnamese Soldiers located in Da Nang, Vietnam, March 1962.		Third US Army staff, Harkins right rear.