Harry W. Colmery

Born	Harry Walter Colmery (1890-12-11)December 11, 1890 North Braddock, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	August 23, 1979(1979-08-23) (aged 88) Houston, Texas, U.S.
Resting place	Mount Hope Cemetery, Topeka, Kansas, U.S. 39°02′25.2″N 95°44′19.6″W / 39.040333°N 95.738778°W / 39.040333; -95.738778
Nationality	American
Education	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	Minerva Harriet Colmery (m. 1919; died 1956)
Children	3

Military career
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1917–1919
Rank	First Lieutenant
Unit	Air Service
Battles/wars	World War I
Awards	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.^[1] 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.^[2]

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.^[3]

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.^[3]

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.^[3]