Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient

Chickasaw Army officer to be honored by Arbuckle Museum

     Sulphur, Okla. - U.S. Army Maj. Raymond Harvey, the first and only Chickasawcitizen to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor, will be honored posthumously at the Arbuckle Historical Society Museum next month.

     The ceremony is set for 2 p.m. Friday, March 27 at the American Legion building 910 West Fifth Street, Sulphur. The museum is located adjacent to the Amercan Legion Building, at 402 West Muskogee.

     An exhibit with photographs and information will be opned to honor Maj. Harvey, a former Sulphur resident, sail Roland Earsom, former president of the Arbuckle Historical Society.

     The public is invited to attend.

      President Harry Truman awarded Maj. Harvey the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1951 for his heroic action in Korea.

     The Medal of Honor is the highes military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed on a member of the United States armed forces with distinguishes himself "conspicuoutly by fallanty and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against as enemy of the United States."

    During his long and distinguished carrier in the Army, Maj. Harvey was also awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, second only to the Medal of Honor.

     The Distinguished Service Cross recognizes extreme gallantrywhile risking one's life in combat situation.

     He also receive two Sillver Stars, two Bronze Stars and two Purple Hearts.

     Maj. Harvey was born in Ford City, Pennsylvania March 1, 1920.

     His father, Frank Havey, was in the constructino business and his mother, Frannie Thomas Harvey, was born in Chickasaw Nation near Nebo.

     The family relocated to Fannie Thomas Harvey's hometown of Sulphur in 1924.

     Maj. Harvey attended school in Sulphur and graduated from high school in Oklahoma City in 1939.

     He enlisted in the Army after high school graduation and served in the Eurpean Theatre of Operationsduring World War II. He was discharged in 1945. He joined the Army Reserve in 1947 and was recalled to active durt in 1948.

     He retired from the military in 1962 and went on to work as an investment banker for 11 years.

    He died in Arizona in 1996.

    For more information about the March ceremony to honor Maj. Harvey, contact the Arbucle Historical Society at (580) 622 - 5593.

Contributed by Dana Hudspeth, Tribal Media Relations, Chickasaw Times