Passing of Long-Serving Chaplain
North Central Region is saddened to learn of the passing of Chaplain (Col.) Vernon Harms last year at the age of 98.
Former CAP Chief of Chaplains from 1991-1993, Chaplain Harms also served as a squadron chaplain in Kansas, Nebraska, and Oregon Wings, and as wing chaplain in Nebraska and Washington. He also served as the Pacific Region chaplain.
In addition to his chaplain duties, he served as a qualified CAP mission pilot and check pilot with more than 6,000 hours with land, sea, and jet aircraft qualifications, and held a Certified Flight Instructor rating in aircraft and instruments.
Chaplain Harms was born November 5, 1926 in Meade, Kansas, He joined Civil Air Patrol in April of 1953 in Hutchinson, Kansas, where he established a new inter-denominational church shortly after graduating magna cum laude from Grace University and was ordained by The Fellowship of Evangelical Bible Churches. Excepting for a brief medical interruption, he has served CAP for over 49 years.
Due to numerous throat surgeries, Chaplain Harms left the ministry and entered aircraft sales with a Cessna dealership. He then joined Lear Jet Corporation in Wichita, doing some test flying in the early models, which experience prepared him for his future job as Director of Marketing. After eight years in aircraft sales, he regained his public speaking capability and returned to founding new churches.
Lt. Col. Jon Morris, NCR Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications, remembered a great story involving Chaplain Harms from Morris' days as a CAP cadet:
"One of my memories of Col. Harms was when three CAP cadets were schedule for an orientation ride (O-Ride) in Lincoln. When we arrived at the general aviation area, we found out the CAP aircraft was down for maintenance. Col. Harms was sitting in Duncan Aviation and he saw us on the ramp. He asked why we were there and we advised of the cancellation.
After a phone call to Lt. Col. Harold Brissey, squadron commander, Chaplain Harms asked us if we would mind taking an orientation ride in one of the aircraft that he was going to fly to Tulsa, OK, that morning and back. After we called our parents, I and one other cadet went with him in a LEAR 21 to Tulsa and back. WOW, What an O-Ride!"
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Wall of Honor article: https://airandspace.si.edu/support/wall-of-honor/ch-col-vernon-p-harms-usaf?fbclid=IwY2xjawP-1dFleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETJkVExLdTFjRnY0VzNqdVhVc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHg3_nkk62BoHamKGws15ZqO2Id-EYwnsIx6PSmtOGSCEfSN4hhqt5wP5-OSn_aem_FSakh3xqv_yd7lMNj3qydA
