Aaron, Harold Robert, 1921-1980

<p>Harold Robert Aaron</p>
<p>Birth: June 21, 1921</p>
<p>Death: April 30, 1980</p>
<p>United States Army General. Graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1943, and was assigned as a Second Lieutenant and Company Commander in the European Theatre during World War II.</p>

<p>He served in a number of various posts in Europe and the Pacific after the war, rising in the ranks until he was promoted to Lieutenant General.</p>

<p>He served as commander of U.S. Special Forces in the Pacific from 1967 to 1969, as assistant Chief of Intelligence for the Department of the Army from 1973 to 1977, and as Deputy Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency from 1977 to 1979.</p>

<p>He was decorated with the Distinguished Service Medal and the Legion of Merit with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters during his service.</p>

<p>Lieutenant General Harold Aaron, U.S. Military Academy Class of June 1943.</p>

<p>Distinguished service in special operations and intelligence assignments.</p>

<p>Commander, 5th Special Forces Group, Republic of Vietnam; Deputy Chief of Staff, Intelligence, U.S. Army, Europe. Assistant Chief of Staff, Intelligence, Department of the Army; Deputy Director, Defense Intelligence Agency.</p>

<p>Extract from Register of Graduates, U.S. Military Academy, 1980:

Born in Indiana, 21 June 1921
Infantry, Company Commander, 259 Infantry, Theater Army Europe, 1944 to 1945
(two Bronze Star Medals; Combat Infantry Badge;Commendation Ribbon; Purple Heart)
Command and General Staff College, 1953
MA Georgetown University, 1960
Office of Assistant Secretary of Defense, 1961 to 1963
National War College, 1964
Ph.D. Georgetown University, 1964
Aide-de-camp to Commanding General, 8th Army, 1964 to 1965
Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, 1965 to 1967 Legion of Merit)
Commander, 1st Special Forces Group, 1967 to 1968; (Legion of Merit)
Commander, 5th Special Forces Group, Republic of Vietnam, 1968 to 1969 (Distinguished Service Medal; Bronze Star Medal; two Air Medals; Combat Infantry Badge)
Assistant Division Commander, 8th Division, 1969 to 1971
Chief of Staff, V Corps, Germany, 1971 to 1972
Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, US Army, Europe, 1972 to 1973 (Legion of Merit)
Assistant Chief of Staff, Intelligence, Department of the Army, 1973 to 1977 (Distinguished Service Medal)
Deputy Director, Defense Intelligence Agency, 1977 to 1979 (Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Retired in 1979 as a Lieutenant General
Senior Staff Scientist with TRW, 1979
Died at Fort Belvoir, 30 April 1980</p>

<p>Harold Robert Aaron (June 21, 1921 – April 30, 1980) was a lieutenant general in the United States Army.</p>

<p>Originally from Kokomo, Indiana, Harold Robert Aaron graduated from United States Military Academy at West Point in 1943 and served in Europe during World War II.</p>

<p>As a colonel, Aaron served as Commander, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) in Vietnam from June 4, 1968, to May 8, 1969. From November 5, 1973, to August 28, 1977, he served as the Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Headquarters, Department of the Army as a major general. He later was promoted to lieutenant general.</p>

<p>Lt. General Aaron had seven children.</p>

<p>He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.</p>

<p>General Aaron is a member of the Military Intelligence Hall of Fame.</p>