Page 91 - history-of-military-units-in-columbia-county-fl-(1970)-robert-gary-shields

History of Military Units in Columbia County, FL (1970) Robert Gary Shields

GENERAL ORDERS #57 ' November 1959
RETIREMENT AND PROMOTION

1. Colonel Robert Baskin Harkness, 0-245187, upon his own application, is
planed on the retired list of the Florida National Guard, by reason of

attaining maximum age in grade, and promoted to the grade of Brigadier Genera
Retired, effective 1 December 1959, in accordance with the provisions of
Section 250.22, Military Code, State of Florida, 1949, as amended.

2. Brigadier General Harkness was born in Birmingham, Alabama, 10 November
1901 and moved with his family to Lake Cityff Florida in '1911. He attended th

University of Florida, and completed courses conducted at the Infantry School
and The Command and' General Staff College.
in
3. He began his military career 12 March 1920 by enlisting the Florida

National Guard for Company H, 154th Infantry at Lake City, Florida and was
appointed Second Lieutenant, Infantry, on 6 February 1924 with assignment to

that unit which was later redesignated Company H, 124th Infantry. Promoted to
First Lieutenant on 18 May 1929, performing usual company offieers?duties
until promotion to Captain, Infantry and assignment as Company Commander on

23 November 1940 for Company G, 124th Inf. He entered active Federal Service
upon mobilization of his unit on 25 November 1940 and served with the 124th

infantry as Company Commander and Battalion Executive Officer. His special
assignment included the duties of Assistant S-3 of a Training Regiment and
Director of Operations and Training at Pittsburg Replacement Depot, Calif,

where he was promoted to Major, Infantry on 11 August 1943. He later served
as Control Officer and Fiscal Offier for Camp Callan, Calif, and Inspector
General at Fort Douglas, Utah. He was then ordered overseas for duty as

Inspector General, 41st Infantry Division and promoted to Lt. Col., IGD on
20 August 1945, and served in that capacity until his return to the United
States and release from active military service on 16 May 1946. He actively

participated in the reorganization ’of the Florida National Guard, following
World War II, with assignment as Battalion Commander, 2nd Battalion, 124th

Inf. Regiment. He was promoted to Colonel, Inf., 1 March 1952 and assigned
Commander of the 124th Inf. Regiment. Upon reorganization of the 48th Inf. D
to 48th Armored Division he was assigned Commander, Combat Command A, which

assignment he held until his retirement.

www.LakeCityHistory.com LCH-UUID: 3F68DC49-DCC7-4643-87B9-3E8A717875EF