Brother Dennis "Hondo" Harman ’62 entered the Chapter Eternal on July 29, 2020 in Phoenix. He was 79.
Brother Harman pledged Sigma Chi and during he exceled in many areas including lettering on the wrestling team and bull riding on the rodeo team. He spent summer as a “fruit tramp” to worked his way through school.
Eager to see the world and serve his country, upon graduation he enlisted in the Marine Corps, and was accepted in the Officer Training Program and commissioned as a second lieutenant. Upon completion of combat training programs, he was assigned to Camp Pendleton, California, and then stationed in Okinawa where he was promoted to first lieutenant.
In 1965, Brother Harman was part of the first combat units sent to Viet Nam. During months of search-and-destroy missions, his battalion saw combat daily. During the first eight months 35 percent of his battalion was either wounded or killed in action.
It was at this time that he was wounded from shrapnel from enemy mortars. He returned to his unit and finished his first tour. Promoted to captain, her turned to Viet Nam for a second tour in 1966, five months after his first tour was completed. He was assigned as commander of a combat infantry rifle company operating along the demilitarized zone dividing North and South Viet Nam.
Months of intense daily combat finally resulted in him being seriously wounded for a second time. On more than one occasion, he performed extraordinary acts of bravery, heroism and decisiveness under fire at great personal risk that were a great source of inspiration to his Marines and resulted in several military citations and awards.
Brother Harman’s military awards include: the Silver Star for gallantry in action, Bronze Star with combat V for valor, Navy Commendation Medal with combat V for valor, two Purple Heart” and 10 more commendation medals and awards for gallantry in service.
After five years in the Marine Corps, he attended the Thunderbird Graduate School of International Management. Upon graduation, his first employer, Eco Lab, assigned him to its Brazil operation. Through his 29 years with Eco Lab, he was promoted to the level of senior vice president of operations and worked across the globe in South America, Africa, Middle East and the Pacific Far East.
Afterwards, Brother Harman worked as real estate broker in Scottsdale.
He said about his time as a Sig, he said, “Looking back to my Sigma Chi days, the principles of friendship, integrity, close brotherhood and dedication not only laid the strong foundation for the Marine Corps but also have greatly enriched my life. I have been honored to be able to give back to Sigma Chi and to the University of Arizona.”
Services are unknown.
All Honor to His Name.
