MAJ Harvey H. Storms

Recognized for his exceptional bravery and heroism at Chosin was Harvey Storms, a Texas A&M graduate, World War II veteran, and US Army Major with Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment.

Sometime in the early morning hours of December 2, as Chinese troops swarmed over trucks and jeeps, killing Americans in hand-to-hand combat, lobbing grenades into vehicles loaded with dead and dying soldiers, and spraying dazed and injured men with small arms fire, Maj. Storms, wounded and suffering from frostbite, left his vehicle and led an attack up Hill 1221, where Chinese gun positions were firing down on the exposed convoy.

Shot multiple times during the assault, the 34-year-old officer and father of four collapsed in the snow and began sliding down the ice-covered hill. “He must have had about ten or twelve bullet holes through his field jacket,” said Sgt. Bill Rowland, who fought with Storms. “I couldn’t see any blood anywhere due to the extreme cold,” he added.

Maj. Storms crawled back to the road and was once again loaded on a truck. But he refused to remain in the vehicle. According to a company commander who was with Storms in the final minutes of his life, “. . .although wounded several times, he [Storms] insisted on walking. We finally got him to ride near the last roadblock . . . he and I rode in the last truck when we tried to make a run for it and there he was killed” (Appleman).

It wasn’t until the summer of 2018 that Major Storms’ body was recovered.

Melissa Storms Cook
2 years ago Facebook Post

My dad got a phone call yesterday. It is probably one of the most important and exciting calls a person could receive. It is THE call he’s been praying would come since he was just a ten-year-old farm boy from La Feria, TX. It is THE call his mother had longed to receive 69 years ago. It is THE call that can now bring closure to the four Storms brothers and their Aunt. This call has most certainly brought tears of elated joy to all of us! This call told him “your Daddy has been returned…...he is back on U.S. soil…...he is NO LONGER MIA in North Korea…...he is HOME!”

You see, my dad’s Daddy has been MIA in North Korea since December 1, 1950. He was proclaimed KIA on December 31, 1953. THEN, in August of 2018, North Korea shipped 55 boxes believed to contain the remains of possibly well over 100 U.S., Chinese and South Korean soldiers. Yesterday’s call revealed that Major Harvey Harrell Storms has been positively identified as ONE OF THOSE SOLDIERS!

You can’t imagine our emotions, tears of joy, peace, and feelings we can’t even describe, over receiving this news! We’ve known this as a possibility, but, for it to actually come true is absolutely the most unbelievable and AMAZING news!

We don’t know what happens now or what the next steps are. I’m sure this will be quite a lengthy process. Pray for my Dad and his brothers as they go through this time.

About my Granddaddy…

He was an Aggie! Texas A&M University Class of 1939

He was of the 31st Infantry Regiment,
HQ CO 3 BN

His awards:
For his leadership and valor, Major Storms was awarded the Silver Star, the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation, the Republic of Korea War Service Medal and the World War II Victory Medal. And most recently, Ambassador for Peace medal from the Patriots and Veterans Affairs Republic of Korea. Mom and Dad were privileged to visit South Korea, as guests of the most gracious hosts, SaeEden Presbyterian Church.

I love this!
One of my favorite stories is a recollection from a US soldier, Sgt Bill Rowland, 31st I Co. Although he’d never met my grandfather, he’d been near him a few times before and during the withdrawal from the Chosin Reservoir, North Korea. At one point he heard my grandfather say “let’s take the hill” so they could go back around to get others that were pinned down on the other side of the hill. As he and other soldiers were climbing the icy hill, my grandfather, with about 10-12 bullet holes in his arm and chest area, was sliding back down the hill. He said the last words he heard from my grandfather were “I have fought a good fight; you kids go over the hill and knock out the roadblock. I’ll go back down and get the rest of them.”

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