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<p><em>Harry Meeth</em> was born near Baltimore in Catonsville, MD, the son of Ann and Harry Meeth Jr. He was the youngest of three children, with two sisters. With his technical mind, Harry was a very good student, graduating high school from Baltimore Polytechnic Institute in 1958.</p>
<p>Interested in the military, Harry applied for and received an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and entered with over 800 members of the Class of 1962. He quickly adapted to life at the Academy and became a standout among his Company M-2 classmates. Harry had very little problem with the academic requirements placed on him and was known for always being available to give assistance as required to others, to help them get through their classes. Harry also displayed leadership abilities early on and was recognized by both classmates and upper classmen as one of those who would excel in this area. This was borne out by his being selected to lead Company M-2 as its commander during his First Class year. Harry was also gifted athletically and participated on the Lacrosse Team in each of his four years at the Academy. </p>
<p>In addition to his other capabilities, Harry was also known for his ability to organize and conduct memorable parties. One of these occurred during a summer trip where the class was visiting various Army bases to receive briefings on different branches. Since the class was spending time close to the Baltimore area, Harry organized and invited a number of classmates to join him at his parents’ summer house on the Chesapeake Bay for an evening of fun. Not only was there plenty of food and drink but there were also females in attendance. One classmate also remembers visiting the residence in which Harry grew up, and Harry showed him a prize he received for winning the local Soap Box Derby in his younger days.</p>
<p>Having shown a great deal of interest in the technical subjects during his time at the Academy, Harry naturally chose the Corps of Engineers as his branch to serve in after graduation.</p>
<p>Following his graduation from the United States Military Academy on June 6, 1962, with President John F. Kennedy’s “Remarks to the Graduating Class” speech still fresh on his mind, Harry married Virginia “Anne” Broderick 10 days later, with Lieutenant Malcolm J. Howard as best man and Lieutenants Fred Sheaffer, Joe Johnson, William Mogan and John Schmidt as ushers. Soon after, he started his commission as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers with a tour in Germany. His career also included tours in Vietnam and Cambodia.</p>
<p>His assignments during 20 years of active duty included serving as a platoon leader, company commander, Commandant’s staff member at West Point, project manager for the XM-1 tank (now known as the M1 Abrams, the Army’s main battle tank), and project manager for the XM-1 Tank Training Simulator. </p>
<p>Harry’s awards and decorations include the Parachutist Badge, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Bronze Star Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Army Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Joint Services Commendation Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, Vietnam Civil Actions Citation, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, and U.S. Army Marksmanship Qualification Sharpshooter Badge (with rifle and pistol clasps).</p>
<p>Harry always had a strong flair for comedic drama and a very competitive nature. During his three years as the lone Army officer stationed at the Naval Construction Battalion Center in Port Hueneme, CA, the Army-Navy games were always a “special event.” Son Dave fondly remembers the year that he helped his Dad make two “cannons” from discarded buoys before their game-day pre-dawn “raid” into the base captain’s yard, into which Harry lobbed smoke bombs and M-80 firecrackers over the hedges while “The Army Goes Rolling Along” blared from a boom box. As pay back, on game-day the following year, he woke up at home to the sounds of an amphibious assault vehicle rolling into his freshly TP-ed front yard, courtesy of the base captain.</p>
<p>Lieutenant Colonel Meeth retired from the U.S. Army on June 30, 1982 and pursued a civilian career as VP of design and construction, managing new store and remodel construction and facilities programs for Red Lobster and Olive Garden, Venture Stores (a division of May Department Stores), and the Kmart Corporation. Harry retired fully in 2001 and moved in 2004 to spend the rest of his days with his beloved wife in their lakefront home in Pinehurst, NC. He was active in the Sacred Heart Catholic Church as a member of the Knights of Columbus, in the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) program, as a Eucharistic minister and a lector, and as a member on the Parish Council and the Finance Council.</p>
<p>Anne and Harry had four children (Dave, LuAnn, Scott and Kelly) and six grandchildren (Jake, Eley and Catie Meeth; Derrick, Shelby and Emily Vergolini) and were faithfully married for over 60 years before Anne passed away in early 2023. Harry maintained his sense of discipline, sense of humor, and devotion to his family throughout his entire life. He was laid to rest, next to Anne, in Southern Pines, NC on September 26, 2023.</p>
<p>Harry was known by all as “one of the good guys” who could be counted on to assist whenever needed. He is remembered fondly by his classmates with a great deal of respect and thanks for having known him. His M-2 classmates and others who knew Harry congratulate him on a job “Well Done” and join together to tell him “Be Thou at Peace.”</p>
<p><em>— Classmates and Harry’s Son</em></p>
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