Harry W. Colmery

{{Infobox person

|name = Harry W. Colmery

|birth_name = Harry Walter Colmery

|image = Immediate legislation needed to take profits out of war, Legion commander tells House committee. Washington D.C. Testifying before the House Military Affairs Committee today, National LCCN2016871189.jpg

|birth_date = {{birth date|1890|12|11}}

|birth_place = North Braddock, Pennsylvania, U.S.

|death_date = {{Death date and age|1979|08|23|1890|12|11}}

|death_place = Houston, Texas, U.S.

|resting_place = {{nowrap|Mount Hope Cemetery}},
Topeka, Kansas, U.S.

|resting_place_coordinates = {{coord|39|02|25.2|N|95|44|19.6|W|region:US-KS_type:landmark|display=inline}}

|nationality = American

|education = {{unbulleted list|Oberlin College|University of Pittsburgh}}

|occupation = Attorney

|known_for = Principal architect of G.I. Bill

|title = National Commander of
The American Legion

|term = 1936 – 1937

|predecessor = Ray Murphy

|successor = Daniel J. Doherty

|spouse = {{marriage|Minerva Harriet Colmery|1919|1956|end=her death}}

|children = 3

|module = {{Infobox military person|embed=yes

|allegiance = {{flagu|United States|1912}}

|branch = {{Dodseal|War|23}} United States Army

|serviceyears = 1917–1919

|rank = 7px First Lieutenant

|unit = Air Service

|battles = World War I

|awards = File:World War I Victory Medal ribbon.svg World War I Victory Medal}}

}}

Harry W. Colmery (December 11, 1890 – August 23, 1979) was an American attorney who served as the National Commander of The American Legion from 1936 to 1937.{{cite web |url=http://www.kshs.org/p/harry-walter-colmery/13317 |title=Harry Walter Colmery |website=Kansas Historical Society |access-date=December 5, 2017}} Considered an architect of the G.I. Bill, he was the first past national commander to earn the Legion's Distinguished Service Medal in 1975.{{cite web|url=https://www.legion.org/distinguishedservicemedal/1975/harry-w-colmery|title=Harry W. Colmery | The American Legion|website=legion.org|accessdate=December 28, 2017}}

Early life and education

Born in North Braddock, Pennsylvania to Walter and Flora Colmery, Harry Walter Colmery was one of four children. He graduated from Oberlin College in 1913, from law school at the University of Pittsburgh in 1916, and was admitted to the Utah bar in 1917.{{cite web|url=http://www.kshs.org/kansapedia/harry-walter-colmery/16846|title=Harry Walter Colmery - Kansapedia - Kansas Historical Society|website=kshs.org|accessdate=December 28, 2017}}

World War I

Colmery served in the United States Army Air Service during World War I as an instructor and pursuit pilot. He was honorably discharged on April 24, 1919.

Personal life

Colmery married his college sweetheart, Minerva Harriet Hiserodt, on December 20, 1919. They had three children: Mary, Harry W., Jr., and Sarah Elizabeth.