Paul Harkins grew up in Jamaica Plain and
enlisted in the 110th Cavalry in 1922. He
served three years and went to West Point
and ended up on Patton’s Staff. He was
commandant of cadets at West Point and
broke the cheating scandal of 1951 to
preserve the integrity of that institution.
Later he would serve on Maxwell Taylor’s
staff in Korea at the end of the war. He had
no problem finding mentors after Patton
was gone.
Now it is 1964, he is commanding United
States Forces in Vietnam after being
personally picked by John F. Kennedy
himself. JFK knew of the general’s
connection to Boston and the 110th Cavalry.
Harkins always spoke highly of his time with
that regiment all through his life.
My assertion is that his character was
defamed for political reasons and not
tactical misfortune as claimed. He is a hero
to Massachusetts and West Point, and that
is how we should remember him.
enlisted in the 110th Cavalry in 1922. He
served three years and went to West Point
and ended up on Patton’s Staff. He was
commandant of cadets at West Point and
broke the cheating scandal of 1951 to
preserve the integrity of that institution.
Later he would serve on Maxwell Taylor’s
staff in Korea at the end of the war. He had
no problem finding mentors after Patton
was gone.
Now it is 1964, he is commanding United
States Forces in Vietnam after being
personally picked by John F. Kennedy
himself. JFK knew of the general’s
connection to Boston and the 110th Cavalry.
Harkins always spoke highly of his time with
that regiment all through his life.
My assertion is that his character was
defamed for political reasons and not
tactical misfortune as claimed. He is a hero
to Massachusetts and West Point, and that
is how we should remember him.
