From a contemporary press report:

The second chief master sergeant of the Air Force, Donald L. Harlow, died at Arlington
(Va.) Hospital June 18, 1997. He was 76. 

Harlow served as the Air Force's senior enlisted person from Aug. 1, 1969, until his
retirement Sept. 30, 1971. He was the only enlisted person to receive the Order of the
Sword. 

Born in Waterville, Maine, Harlow enlisted in the Army Air Corps in August 1942 and first
served as an armament and gunnery instructor at Eagle Pass, Texas. He cross-trained into
personnel in 1945 and left active duty in February 1946. He was recalled to Air Force
active duty in 1950 during the Korean War and remained on active duty until his
retirement. 

Harlow served mostly as a personnel troop but also delved into club management during
his assignments, which included stints in Morocco; Stead Air Force Base, Nev.; Southern
Methodist University in Dallas; Pease AFB, N.H., and Paris. 

"The Air Force has lost one of its great leaders -- a pioneer in Air Force history who made
significant contributions to our service and our country," said CMSAF Eric W. Benken.
"Don Harlow was a sergeant major in the Air Force vice chief of staff's office when the
first chief master sergeant of the Air Force was selected. He began supporting this office
from day one and never stopped. 

"When he left active duty in 1971, he continued supporting the Air Force in every way,"
Benken said. "The chief was a regular visitor at our professional military education school
graduations and awards banquets around the country, helping Air Force people
understand our past and providing guidance to help with future challenges.

"I will always remember Don as an outstanding chief, a great American, and a dear
friend." 

Harlow once told a reporter he was surprised when he was selected serve as the chief
master sergeant of the Air Force.

"There were 20 other people in the running, but there were four chiefs that I specifically
remember. I said to myself, 'They are the best for the job as far as I'm concerned.' But, I
went through the interview and returned to work, never dreaming I would be selected," he
said. 

Once in office, Harlow said he learned some tough lessons. 

"You go out to all the bases and meet with all the chiefs and you think they're going to
jump up and do what you want because you're the CMSAF," he said. "Well, it doesn't
happen that way. 
"Those people don't necessarily admire you. Some are envious. You can see it in their eyes
when they look at you across the table. They think they should be CMSAF because they're
just as good as you. And some of them are right. They are just as good as you.

"So you have to show them why they should help you," he said. "You have to sell yourself
each time."

He also quickly found the commanders didn't trust him or his position that was still new to
the Air Force. 

"They thought I was going to spy on them, tattle and get them in trouble. (First CMSAF
Paul) Airey had a tough job, being the first, because many general officers would tell him,
'I want you to know I voted against this position. We don't need guys like you running
around the Air Force creating problems.'" 

During the Vietnam War, Harlow guided his attention where he thought itwas most needed
-- to the young troops and their problems. There were assignment concerns and promotion
problems, and he listened to them all, took good notes and reported his findings to the chief
of staff. 

He was known for his blunt honesty. When a young airmen told the chief he was getting
out because he wanted to let his hair grow long, Harlow said he told the troop, "'I wish you
well.' I think he wanted me to give him a sales pitch, but it was a stupid reason to leave the
Air Force." 

When Harlow retired in 1971, he was well armed with knowledge of the AirForce system,
and he waged war where he thought it would make the most difference -- on Capitol Hill.
As the senior lobbyist for the Air Force Sergeants Association, he took his messages to the
House of Representatives and Senate and was well known, as he had been in the Air Force,
for getting results. 

"I learned while I was in the position of CMSAF that a lot of things could not be resolved
administratively within the Air Force or the Department of Defense," he said at that time.
"They had to go to Congress. I saw problems that needed to be corrected and could only be
through legislation." 

Tenacity is among the skills he attributed to his success -- both in the military and on
Capitol Hill. 

Harlow was most proud of the fact that he served as CMSAF and as a lobbyist at a time
when someone had to fight for enlisted equality. As a lobbyist, his cause was to sell
Congress on the idea that pay and benefits of enlisted men and women must be improved. 

"I wanted to change the way that too many powerful people in Washington thought about
enlisted men and women. Enlisted people were viewed as second-class citizens by some." 
Harlow and others got congressional leaders to listen, and the quality of life for enlisted
members began to improve. His contributions were key to several victories, including
establishment of the Survivor Benefit Plan and saving the federal subsidy for commissaries.

He also relied on his sense of humor when things got tough. It is humor, Harlow said, that
helped him stay young. 

He is survived by his wife, Dorothy, and two daughters, Pamela Harlow of Hermosa Beach,
Calif., and Penny Murphy of Corvallis, Ore. 

Funeral arrangements at Arlington National Cemetery, Va., are pending.

Donald L. Harlow
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Donald L. Harlow
November 20, 1920 – October 1, 1997 (aged 76)

    

2nd Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force(1969-1971)

Place of birth Waterville, Maine
Andrews Air Force Base,
Place of death
Maryland
Allegiance  United States of America
 United States Air Force
Service/branch
United States Army Air Corps
1942–1946
Years of service
1950–1971
Chief Master Sergeant of the
Rank
Air Force
Awards Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal
Joint Service Commendation
 Medal
Air Force Commendation
Medal(2)

Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Donald L. Harlow (November 20, 1920 – October 1,
1997) was the second Chief Master Sergeant, appointed to the highest non-commissioned officer
position in the United States Air Force.

Contents
[hide]

 1 Biography
o 1.1 Major awards and decorations
 2 See also
 3 References

[edit] Biography
Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Donald L. Harlow was adviser to Secretary of the Air
Force Robert C. Seamans Jr. and Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. John D. Ryan on matters
concerning welfare, effective utilization and progress of the enlisted members of the Air Force.
He was the second chief master sergeant appointed to this ultimate noncommissioned officer
position.

The chief was born in Waterville, Maine, on September 22, 1920. He graduated from Lawrence
Academy, Groton, Mass., in 1942, and he attended California College of Commerce, Long
Beach, Calif., during 1946 to 1948. He was awarded a bachelor of science degree in business
administration by the college in 1956, when he completed requirements while assigned to the Air
Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Southern Methodist University.

Chief Harlow entered military service in August 1942 during World War II and was assigned to
the Army Air Corps. He attended Armament School and upon completion was an instructor in
the Aircraft Armament Ground School. He transferred to the personnel career field in 1945 and
advanced to the grade of staff sergeant prior to his discharge from active duty in February 1946.
He then became a member of the Air Force Reserve.

In August 1950 during the Korean War, Chief Harlow was recalled to active duty and assigned
as the personnel chief clerk, 5th and 9th Maintenance Squadrons, Travis Air Force Base, Calif.
He has held various positions in the personnel career field, increasing in responsibility. He was
promoted to chief master sergeant in April 1963 after a total of 16 years active duty. He was the
personnel sergeant major for Headquarters U.S. European Command and the sergeant major for
the executive services division, Office of the Vice Chief of Staff. In 1969 he became the chief
master sergeant of the Air Force.
From 1971 through 1981 Chief Harlow was the deputy for legislation for the Air Force Sergeants
Association. He was primary spokesperson and legislative representative for the 146,000
member organization and its auxiliary. On May 20, 1980 he was inducted into the Military Order
of the Sword by the enlisted men and women of the Tactical Air Command. He is the only
enlisted person to receive this high honor. In 1982 Chief Harlow was named executive director
of the Air Force Sergeants Association. While holding this position he continued to be the
association's primary spokesperson on legislative matters. CMSAF Harlow served as Chief
Master Sergeant of the Air Force from August 1969 to September 1971. He died on June 18,
1997.

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Retired September 30, 1971, Died June 18, 1997

Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Donald L. Harlow was adviser to
Secretary of the Air Force Robert C. Seamans Jr. and Chief of Staff of
the Air Force Gen. John D. Ryan on matters concerning welfare,
effective utilization and progress of the enlisted members of the Air
Force. He was the second chief master sergeant appointed to this
ultimate noncommissioned officer position.

The chief was born in Waterville, Maine, on Sept. 22, 1920. He

graduated from Lawrence Academy, Groton, Mass., in 1942, and he
attended California
 College of Commerce, Long Beach, Calif., during 1946 to 1948. He was awarded
 a bachelor of science degree in business administration by the college in 1956,
 when he completed requirements while assigned to the Air Force Reserve Officer
 Training Corps program at Southern Methodist University.

 Chief Harlow entered military service in August 1942 during World War II and was
 assigned to the Army Air Corps. He attended Armament School and upon
 completion was an instructor in the Aircraft Armament Ground School. He
 transferred to the personnel career field in 1945 and advanced to the grade of staff
 sergeant prior to his discharge from active duty in February 1946. He then became
 a member of the Air Force Reserve.

 In August 1950 during the Korean War, Chief Harlow was recalled to active duty
 and assigned as the personnel chief clerk, 5th and 9th Maintenance Squadrons,
 Travis Air Force Base, Calif. He has held various positions in the personnel career
 field, increasing in responsibility. He was promoted to chief master sergeant in
 April 1963 after a total of 16 years active duty. He was the personnel sergeant
 major for Headquarters U.S. European Command and the sergeant major for the
 executive services division, Office of the Vice Chief of Staff. In 1969 he became the
 chief master sergeant of the Air Force.
 From 1971 through 1981 Chief Harlow was the deputy for legislation for the Air
 Force Sergeants Association. He was primary spokesperson and legislative
 representative for the 146,000 member organization and its auxiliary. On May 20,
 1980 he was inducted into the Military Order of the Sword by the enlisted men and
 women of the Tactical Air Command. He is the only enlisted person to receive this
 high honor. In 1982 Chief Harlow was named executive director of the Air Force
 Sergeants Association. While holding this position he continued to be the
 association's primary spokesperson on legislative matters.
 

EDUCATION:

1942 Graduate, Lawrence Academy, Gorton, Mass.

1942 Graduate, Armament School, Buckley Field, Colo.

1956 Bachelor of science degree in business administration, California College of

Commerce, Long Beach

1960 Distinguished graduate, Strategic Air Command Noncommissioned Officer

Acade

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. August 1942 - October 1942, trainee, Air Force Basic Military

    Training, Atlantic City, N.J.

2. October 1942 - January 1943, student, Armament School,

    Buckley Field, Colo.

3. June 1943 - September 1944, instructor, Aircraft Armament

    Ground School, Eagle Pass, Texas

4. September 1944 - September 1945, instructor, Aircraft

     Armament Ground School, Matagorda Island, Texas

5. September 1945 - February 1946, noncommissioned officer in

    charge, personnel processing, Foster Field, Texas

6. February 1946 - August 1950, Reserve status (inactive)

7. August 1950 - July 1951, recalled to active duty; personnel

    chief clerk, 5th and 9th Maintenance squadrons, Travis Air
    Force Base, Calif. (temporary duty at Offutt Air Force Base,
    Neb., for special assignment to assist in formation of 5th Air
    Division)

8. July 1951 - July 1954, personnel sergeant major, 5th Air

    Division; custodian, NCO Club; noncommissioned officer in
    charge, special services; and steward, Officers Club, Rabat,
    Morocco

9. July 1954 - May 1955, personnel sergeant major, Air Force

    ROTC Detachment 815, Southern Methodist University, Dallas,
    Texas; noncommissioned officer in charge, cadet training and
    AFROTC Summer Encampment, Harlingen Air Force Base,
    Texas.

10. May 1955 - August 1958, detachment sergeant major, 3635th

       Survival Training Wing, Stead Air Force Base, Nev.

11. August 1958 - April 1963, directorate of personnel, 317th

      Combat Support Group, Pease Air Force Base, N.H.
      (temporary duty as student, SAC NCO Academy)

12. April 1963 - July 1965, personnel sergeant major, Air Force
      Element, Headquarters U.S. European Command, Camp
     des Loges, St. Germain, France

13. July 1965 - July 1969, sergeant major, executive services

      division, Office of the Vice Chief of Staff, Headquarters U.S. Air
      Force, Washington, D.C.

14. August 1969 - September 1971, chief master sergeant of the

      Air Force, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.

 CMSgt Harlow died 18 June 1997

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:

Legion of Merit

Meritorious Service Medal

Joint Service Commendation Medal

 Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster

Air Force Good Conduct Medal with silver clasp and loop

Outstanding Airman of the Year

American Campaign Medal

World War II Victory Medal

National Defense Service Medal with service star

Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with five oak leaf clusters

Air Force NCO Professional Military Education Graduate Ribbon

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS:

Strategic Air Command NCO Academy -- Student Commander Trophy, Gold

Key for Academic Achievement, and The Drill and Ceremonies Military
Achievement Award

Headquarters Command Outstanding Airman of the Year for 1967

EFFECTIVE DATE OF PROMOTION:

Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Au

Proposed Chief
Master Sergeant
of the Air Force
chevron 1967

After several proposed designs were considered for the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force uniform insignia,
(then) CMSgt Don Harlow had the pleasure of modeling one of the chevrons before General McConnell and the
members of his staff. One insignia on the sleeve of the blouse simply added another stripe to the existing insignia
worn by all Chief Master Sergeants. This placed three stripes at the top of the rank insignia and six below, this was
seen as “too much” and was rejected by the CSAF.5 The blouse CMSgt Harlow was modeling conformed to regular
stripes, however, the center star was surrounded by a wreath. After discussion among the general officers as to the
two proposed insignia, CMSgt Harlow was asked by the Chief of Staff which insignia he would select, never
realizing that some day he would have the opportunity to wear such. He selected the insignia on the basis of its
simplicity, décor, and one benefiting the individual to hold such a prestigious position.6