Harry was born on July 28th, 1926 in Bend Oregon from Maurice and Etta Swigert. Harry grew up in Mossyrock, Washington, where he attended elementary through most of high school and graduated from Bremerton High School.
In 1943, Harry joined the Navy and moved to Bremerton, where he joined his dad was working the shipyards for the war. Harry passed a test for an engineering aid apprenticeship sponsored by the Navy, which later deferred him from being drafted into military service during WW11.
Harry postponed his apprenticeship to volunteer and in 1944 he volunteered for the Navy Reserves and took gunnery training, and ended up as a gunner on the SS Mormacwren Moore and McCormack company merchant ship converted to a troop and cargo carrier during the war. The ship was armed with 3” 50 caliber guns, with a 150” diameter.
Harry was stationed as a gunner on the Mormac, SS Gilligan, and Villa Gulf to fight against Japanese attacks from the Japanese islands IwoJima and Okinawa. He was on the Mormac to transfer troops to the Philippines, as allied forces consolidated their control over the Philippines and other Japanese islands.
In April, 1945, the Mormacwren took a load of troops to Okinawa, and island that the Allied troops wanted to use as a base to invade Japan. They arrived in the middle of a ferocious battle to liberate the island. They were anchored offshore, shelling the island with guns, when a Japaneese kamikaze suicide plane hit a neighboring merchant ship, SS Canada Victory. The Victory was carrying ammunition for the Okinawa campaign and the kamikaze struck 5 fold setting off a huge explosion of the ammunition aboard ship, blowing a huge hole into the side of the Mormacwren ship. The Victory sank within minutes.
Harry was struck by shards from the explosion. He was later awarded a purple heart. The Mormac returned to the US to pick up more troops for the Philippines about the time of the Japaneese surrender at 1945.
The war was over, Harry was assigned to the USS Sicily, an escort carrier, and was honored as the “plank owner of the USS Sicily. The ship was used to ferry aircraft around the Pacific.
In 1948, Harry returned to Bremerton to finish his apprenticeship in the sheet metal field.
Harry fell in love and married Mary Moore in 1948 at the Church of the Brethren at Ajliune, Washington.
In 1950 Harry returned back into the war zone with the Korean War, back on duty with the USS Sicily. The ship participated in the early ground war, providing air support for troops and shelling the coastline, advancing towards Seoul.
After the Korean War, Harry was back in the reserves, and was transferred over to the Seabees due to his engineering and metal working experience. The transfer allowed him to be petty officer 1st class. In 1958, he volunteered again, to train Navy recruits.
By 1965, he had attained the rank of senior chief petty officer and received a commission as a warrant officer, working as a civil engineer. He eventually obtained a degree in engineering.
In 1966, Harry volunteered for active duty again. He was shipped out to Vietnam where he worked with the Seabees at a rock crusher site.
The following are awards that Harry earned from 3 major wars: Purple Heart, from the Battle at Okinawa; Philipines Liberation Ribbon, Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Good Contact Medal, Victory Medal WW11, Naval Reserve Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal (1 star), National Defense Medal(1 star), Navy Occupation Service Medal, Philippines Liberation Ribbon(1) Armed Forces Reserve Medal. The Navy remembered him as “honorable” in his character. earning exceptional performance throughout his career.
In 1970, he did Navy recruiting and public relations for the Seabees. After his sixth active duty stint, he returned to Bremerton as a naval architect and retired from government service in July 1981. He retired from his Navy career as a Warrant Officer (CWO5) going up through the ranks from an enlisted sailor.
Harry was a professional jazz musician. Playing piano in bands with jobs all up and down the west coast including the Seattle Space Needle. In his later years he would call up and play on his piano a valentine or Mothers Day to friends and widowers. He even created his own Mothers Day song to play in celebration of them.
Harry had 4 children: Capi, Deborah, Michael, and Christine. He has 3 grandchildren: David, Justin and Adam. Harry ran 1.5 miles til he as 90 years old; he loved to chop wood, fish, mushrooms hunting, bird and wildlife watching, and travel in his RV. Harry is well known for his story telling. He always had a story for you and an incredible memory about people living in the Mossyrock area and his Navy experiences.
Harry died on November 14, at St. Anthony’s hospital, Gig Harbor, from complications while recovering from cancer. The service will be Monday, November 30 @ 1 pm at the Doss Cemetery, Mossyrock, WA.
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