Harry J. Breithaupt, Jr.
Harry Breithaupt graduated from Salem High School on Broad Street in 1931. He was a member of the Latin Club, Declamation Club, Hi-Y, and Botany Club. He also served as vice president and president of the Literary Society, sports editor of the school newspaper, and associate editor-in-chief of the Wolverine Yearbook. Entering Roanoke College that fall, he graduated with honors in 1935 with a BA degree in Political Science. His extra-curricular activities at Roanoke College included athletics and editor-in-chief of the yearbook. He was also a member of the Kappa Alpha Order and was elected to the Blue Key Society.
In 1935, Harry entered Washington and Lee University and the following year graduated with a Master of Arts degree in English. At W&L, he was initiated into Phi Delta Phi and elected to membership in the Order of the Coif, national legal honor society. He next entered the Law School of George Washington University and graduated in 1941 with the degree of Juris Doctor. While attending law school, Harry was employed in various capacities by the General Accounting Office. After law school, he accepted an appointment as an attorney with the Chicago Ordinance District of the War Department in connection with the War Procurement Program.
In 1942, Harry enlisted in the United States Naval Reserve and was appointed Midshipman, U.S.N.R. He received training at the Midshipmen’s School in New York and was commissioned as Ensign. In 1944, he was ordered aboard the U.S.S. New York operating out of Norfolk, and later Savannah, as an instructor for training other officers and was promoted to Lieutenant (j.g.). Harry was next ordered to the Pacific Theater aboard the U.S.S. California where he participated in the pre-invasion bombardment of Leyte in the Philippines, the Battle of Leyte Gulf, and surface engagements in the Surigao Straits. He also participated in the pre-invasion bombardment of Luzon. On January 6, 1945, Harry was injured when a Kamikaze pilot successfully crashed his plane into the U.S.S. California. At the hospital in Bethesda, Maryland, he was commissioned Lieutenant, U.S.N.R.
Harry retired from the Navy on April 1, 1947. He was awarded the Purple Heart and Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two stars, and entitled to wear the American Theater Ribbon, Asiatic Theater Ribbon with two stars, the Victory Medal, and Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation Badge.
After World War II, Harry practiced law in the District of Columbia and in 1950, accepted appointment as an attorney with the Law Department of the Association of American Railroads in Washington. In 1952, he was appointed Assistant General Solicitor for the AAR, General Attorney in 1956, and General Solicitor in 1968. In 1971, Harry was elected General Counsel of the AAR and in 1975, elected Vice President and General Counsel. At the time of retirement on June 30, 1981, he held the position of Vice President-Law with the Association.
Harry’s professional memberships included the Bar Association of the District of Columbia, the American Bar Association, the Virginia State Bar, and the Virginia Bar Association. He was admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States. He served as direct of the Bar Association of the District of Columbia, chairman of its Junior Section, and District of Columbia Chairman of the Junior Bar Conference of the American Bar Association. For a number of years, he was chairman of the Committee on Interstate Commerce Commission of the Administrative Law Section of the American Bar Association. Harry retired to his summer home in Virginia Beach, Virginia. He died on November 11, 1998, and was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery.
In recognition of his outstanding career achievements, Harry James Breithaupt, Jr., is posthumously inducted into the 2003 Salem Alumni Hall of Fame established by the Salem Educational Foundation and Alumni Association.
