U.S. ARMY CHEMICAL CORPS
Hall of Fame
2020
Colonel Harry D. Tyson
Colonel Harry D. Tyson was born in Liverpool, England in 1897. He immigrated to the United States in 1910 and was drafted into the Army in 1918.
Colonel Tyson served in CO F, 1st Gas Regiment and was wounded during the Meuse Argonne offensive. Known as an expert in chemical preparedness, Colonel Tyson spent the interwar years as an Army Reserve officer speaking, writing and working with the Allied Chemical Company in Birmingham, Alabama.
Becoming a naturalized citizen in 1937, Colonel Tyson was placed on active duty in 1940 as Assistant Chemical Officer for the 1st Armored Division, eventually rising to the role of Division Chemical Officer.
During the Battle of Anzio, Colonel Tyson invented the MIC-LIC, a mine clearing charge that significantly reduced casualties. Ironically, Colonel Tyson was wounded during testing of the MIC-LIC. He also developed a smoke launching system for American tanks and during his retirement developed Fragmacord, in which he signed over his patent rights without payment or royalty.
Colonel Tyson would be awarded the Legion of Merit and Purple Heart with Oak Leaf. In retirement, Colonel Tyson became famous for his hand tied flies for saltwater fishing and obtained a patent for a propane filtration system.
Colonel Tyson passed away 01 August 1986 at the age of 88.
