His service to the United States ended decades ago, but Jim Harmon is still serving his community any chance he can. Helping out a friend, a neighbor, anyone who needs a hand is just part of who he is. That kind of selfless commitment gets noticed.
Harmon was recently honored with Radio Mankato’s Veteran of the Month spotlight, a pat on the back showing how a veteran continues to thrive after the uniform is put away. Harmon was nominated for the award by his son, Jeff. The youngest of Julie and Jim Harmon’s four children, Jeff remembers trying on his father’s uniform and heard some of the stories of his dad’s service in Germany during the Vietnam War.
“He’s the kind of guy who when he sees people in need, he generally wants to be a part of making this better,” Jeff Harmon said. “He’s the kind of guy who can fix just about anything. If he can’t, he’ll find a way.”
Jeff Harmon felt it was necessary to nominate his dad to provide him recognition because he’s never been the guy to seek it. Growing up, all four of the boys had tremendous respect for both of their parents. As he entered into the workforce, Jeff’s respect for his father grew even further. The way that all of his employees spoke about him was always in the highest regards. This was partially due to his work ethic and ability to get things done, but the other half was because he truly cared for all of the individuals, Jeff said. He helped guide many employees to paths that bettered them both in their careers and in life.
“He always took the time to know everyone’s story and he was always the guy to solve issues. This also spilled over to helping people outside of work,” Jeff Harmon said.
Away from work, Jim Harmon’s list of activities is...
To see more on this story pick up the January 29, 2026 print edition of The New Prague Times.