Published: November 06, 2008 09:54 am         

Honored vet: Stewart carries on tradition

San Marcos — Major Harry D. Stewart, a 37-year resident of San Marcos, came from a military family. His father was a pilot in both World War I and II. His brothers were pilots in the Korean War and in Vietnam.

So it was no surprise when he joined the Air Force immediately after graduating from Thomas Jefferson High School in San Antonio in June of 1951. His 20-year military career would be followed by 23 years as manager of Corpsmen Information Systems at Gary Job Corps.

After completing basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, he was transferred to the West Point prep school at Stewart Air Base in Newburg, New York. After that, he grabbed the opportunity to become an air cadet and went to Bartow Air Base in Florida for single engine pilot training. He received his wings at Greenville Air Base in Mississippi and then was transferred to Randolph in San Antonio for training on B-29s.

In 1953, he was assigned to Mac Dill AFB in Tampa, Florida, where he was assigned to KC-97 tanker refueling aircraft. From there, he went to McGuire AFB in New Jersey where he literally lived in an aircraft for 19 days during the Cuban missile crisis.

Spending his entire military career in the Strategic Air Command, Stewart flew more than 200 missions in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War.

During his distinguished military career, he received many medals and commendations, including the Distinguished Flying Cross for saving four F-105s in an extremely critical refueling operation, as well as the Air Medal and Air Force Commendation medal.

While pursuing his military career, Major Stewart found time to marry and father five children.

During his years at Gary Job Corps, Harry found time to earn a Bachelor of Applied Science degree from Texas State University in 1985.

When he and Ellie and crew moved to San Marcos in 1971, they became very much a part of the local community, giving freely of their time volunteering on many community projects. He has served in the Vestry of St. Mark's Episcopal Church several times and has been an active member of Lions International for 29 years. Stewart sold Christmas trees for the San Marcos Evening Lions Club for many years, and is now a member of the San Marcos Lions Club. He is particularly proud of his work with the Lions' Eye Bank in Manor.

Major Stewart, U.S. Air Force retired, will join four fellow veterans in an honor guard riding on a float immediately behind the three World War II veterans who will share grand marshal honors in San Marcos' Veterans Day Parade at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 8.

     

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