Samuel Richard Harover III was born
in
Maysville, KY, to Samuel R. Harover II and Mae (Wilburn) Harover on 17 Feb 1931.
Sam’s family was well known in Maysville as his grand-father was a surgeon, his
father a banker, and his mother an anesthesiologist. Because Sam had a desire to
go to West Point, his parents enrolled him (at age 12) in Columbia Military
Academy, Columbia, TN, and he graduated on 31 May 1949. While there, he took his
first flying lessons.
In September, 1949 Sam entered the USMA preparatory
School at Stewart AFB, NY. He was a popular cadet candidate - everyone seems to
remember his interest in cars, particularly the Buick Roadmaster. Studying
diligently brought its rewards, and Sam entered West Point in July 1950 with the
Class of 1954 and was assigned to Company M-1.
Company mates remember Sam as an easygoing,
affable cadet whose major interests remained engines, cars, and airplanes. The
yearbook relates that “he is a walking encyclopedia on airplanes and automobile
designs, compression ratios, efficiencies, horsepower, and accelerations . . .”
He was a member of the Public Information Detail for four years. Initially, the
Air Force quota for the Class of ’54 was 25%. Unfortunately, Sam did not make
the cut, so he wrote a personal plea to President Eisenhower. Several weeks
later, some 15 or so classmates were gathered together and given an opportunity
to select that service, and Sam and several other classmates happily did. Sam’s
“reward” was confinement until graduation for “failing to go through the proper
chain-of-command.”
Following graduation on 8 Jun 1954, 2LT Harover
reported to Stallings Air Base, Kinston, NC, to undergo training with Class 55-S
in the PA-18 and the T-6. Sam aspired to be a fighter pilot and was pleased to
receive orders in March 1955 to report to Greenville AFB, MS, for jet training.
After introductory hours in the T-28, Sam began flying the T-33 single engine
jet trainer. Because of frequent bad weather, the graduation of Sam’s flight was
delayed one month, but on 31 Aug 1955 he was awarded the coveted Air Force pilot
wings.
Unfortunately, Sam’s dreams of being a fighter
pilot were altered by an Air Force decision to assign newly jet-qualified pilots
to the B-47 jet bomber as co-pilots. Thus, Sam and 14 other flight members were
assigned to the 384th Bomb Wing at a new Strategic Air Command base. Sam
accepted this unexpected career change with aplomb and dutifully reported to the
545th Bomb Squadron, Little Rock AFB. Following B-47 training at McConnell AFB,
KS, and survival training at Stead AFB, NV, he and two other members of his crew
quickly became combat ready. In September 1955, Sam was best man at a school
friend’s wedding in Wisconsin and met Sally DiAnne Caird, a member of the
wedding party. Sam and Sally fell in love and were married 23 Jun 1956 in North
Little Rock. Sally taught third grade at the Park Hill School. Sam continued
flying the B-47 and, when a slot opened, upgraded to aircraft commander and led
his own crew. These were exciting days with no-notice checks, alerts, and
all-weather simulated bombing missions.
In February 1961, Sam and Sally were blessed with
the adoption of a ten-month old baby girl, Laura Lee. After serving seven years
at Little Rock AFB, Sam was transferred in April 1962 to Sidi Slimane AB,
Morocco, where he was the unit Flying Safety Officer. He easily cross-trained to
the C-47 and flew many support missions. The next assignment was to Royal Air
Force Greenham Common, England, for one year and then to RAF Upper Heyford; at
both bases he was the unit Flying Safety Officer. January 1965 brought a move to
Minot AFB, ND, where he served in the 862nd Combat Support Group and continued
flying the C-47.
Sam’s professionalism paid off when he was
selected to attend the RAF Staff College in Bracknell, England, from 1967 to
1968. After Staff College he was assigned to Wing One Headquarters in Bawtry,
Yorkshire, as a staff officer. He cross-trained in the Vulcan II bomber and flew
with the RAF until he was reassigned in 1970 to Phan Rang AB, Vietnam. Sam and
Sally considered their time with the RAF as one of their most enjoyable tours.
Following his one-year Vietnam tour, Sam was transferred to Castle AFB, CA,
where he again became the base flying safety officer. Here he “upgraded” to the
T-29 and flew in support of the SAC wing.
In June 1972, tragedy struck when Sam was
diagnosed with bowel cancer and began chemotherapy treatments. The future looked
bleak, so Sam was medically retired on 27 Dec 1972. The many chemotherapy
treatments left him weak, but he never lost his faith, his hair, his sense of
humor, his love for books, or his great love for his family and friends. Another
unexpected tragedy occurred in December 1973. Sam’s beloved mother had come to
spend Thanksgiving with the family, but she suffered a massive heart attack and
died in their home on December 11th. Sally had to take Mrs. Harover back to
Maysville alone, as Sam could not travel.
Sam’s condition continued to deteriorate, and
after a long and brave battle, he died in the Castle AFB hospital on 5 Mar 1974.
Sam was blessed with a wonderful wife and daughter whom he loved
unconditionally. His other great loves were flying for the USAF and serving his
country with dignity and honor.
Daughter Laura gave Sam and Sally two
grandchildren: Samuel and Thomas. She lives in the state of Washington. Many
months after Sam passed away, Sally met and later married MAJ Raymond Warren
Danielson, a member of the 93rd Bomb Wing at Castle.
“Lefty” retired in 1979, and he and Sally have
remained happily together in Merced ever since.
—Sally Harover Danielson and
Jack Charles, company mate
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