William Bell Harman of Bridgewater, Virginia. Harman trained at Parris Island and served at the Battle of Okinawa.
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Bill Harman

Marine Corps Service

William Bell “Bill” Harman earned the title of United States Marine at Parris Island in 1941. He initially served with a cadre responsible for training officer candidates before returning to civilian life.

Harman later reenlisted and served during 1945 and 1946 as an amphibian tractor crewman. He participated in the invasion of Okinawa, where amphibian tractors carried troops and equipment from ship to shore and sustained the fighting through supply runs over terrain that frequently became impassable to conventional vehicles.

Okinawa was the largest Marine Corps operation of World War II. Beginning April 1, 1945, III Amphibious Corps and the Army’s XXIV Corps landed along the island’s western shore. Amphibian tractor crews remained essential after the initial assault, moving supplies to frontline units during weeks of heavy fighting and torrential rain.

Baseball Career

Born in Bridgewater, Virginia, on January 2, 1919, Harman became an exceptional two-sport athlete and student leader. At the University of Virginia, he captained both the baseball and basketball teams and served as student body president. The basketball team reached the 1941 National Invitation Tournament, then one of the country’s leading postseason competitions. Harman graduated with honors and a Bachelor of Science degree.

The Philadelphia Phillies signed the 6-foot-4 catcher immediately after his 1941 graduation. Harman made his Major League debut as a pinch hitter against the St. Louis Cardinals on June 17. Eight days later, during a doubleheader in Cincinnati, he caught the ninth inning of the opening game and pitched the ninth inning of the second.

That versatility made Harman one of the comparatively few Major Leaguers used both behind the plate and on the mound. He appeared in 15 games as a batter and five as a pitcher, working 13 innings with a 4.85 earned-run average. His only Major League hit came against the Cardinals on August 2, when he singled to left and later scored on Jim Carlin’s home run.

Harman made his final Major League appearance against Brooklyn at Ebbets Field on September 28, 1941. He returned to professional baseball briefly in 1942, playing catcher and outfield for the Petersburg Rebels of the Class C Virginia League.

Later Life and Legacy

Before returning to the Marine Corps, Harman worked as a teacher and coach in Virginia. After World War II he began a 41-year career with DuPont’s textile-fibers department. His work in marketing took him to New York and Paris as the company promoted new synthetic fabrics, including Lycra. He retired in 1984 but continued working as a consultant.

Harman died in Greenville, Delaware, on September 22, 2007, at age 88. He was survived by two sons, three grandsons, and a great-granddaughter.

Sources and Further Reading

  1. Society for American Baseball Research, “Bill Harman”
  2. Major League Baseball, Bill Harman statistics
  3. Baseball-Reference, Bill Harman Major League record
  4. University of Virginia, former Cavaliers in Major League Baseball
  5. United States Marine Corps History and Museums Division, Okinawa chronology in Fortitudine
  6. United States Marine Corps, History of U.S. Marine Corps Operations in World War II, Volume V: Victory and Occupation