Book 'Chronicle of a WWII Army Bugler'

Pfc. Harold G. Simms

Private First Class
Harold G. Simms

Pfc. Harold G. Simms

Harold Glen Simms was born on September 27, 1925 in Boston, Massachusetts. He was the only child of William Ernest Simms, of St. Johns, Newfoundland and Ruby Luella Pentz, of Shelburne, Nova Scotia. Harold was raised in Braintree and went through their public school system, graduating from Braintree High School in 1943. He spent a half-year at Tufts College in Medford, majoring in Engineering.

During World War II, Harold Simms was drafted (#31425998) by the US Army in 1943. He was sent to Europe with the 83rd Infantry Division and assigned and joined from 15th Replacement Depot as of June 6, 1944, as a bugler and served two years with Company E, 330th Infantry Regiment. Along other decorations Harold earned the Combat Infantry Badge, the EAME Campaign Medal with 5 bronze stars for the five Campaigns and the Purple Heart Medal.

Following the war, he returned to Tufts and completed a BS in Civil Engineering in 1949. Harold traveled to Sunbury, Pennsylvania for a job in the summer of 49 with the Pennsylvania Railroad. He subsequently applied to MIT where he was accepted for admission that fall, entering their naval architecture program. After one year at MIT, Harold decided to work for his father at Simms Brothers Inc., building pleasure yachts, navy mine sweepers and crash boats. Harold met the love of his life, Jean Elizabeth Stephenson, on a blind date that a mutual friend set up in May, 1952. They were married on April 11, 1953 in New Britain, Conn. and then settled in Braintree Highlands, Mass. Harold worked at Simms Brothers Inc. from 1950 to 1957 in Dorchester. The state seized the land through eminent domain in order to build the Southeast Expressway, forcing the yacht yard out of business. He and his family then moved to Jacksonville, Florida where Harold, along with his father and uncle, took over an established marina and repaired yachts for four and a half years. The family returned to Massachusetts in 1961, settling in Norwell. The Simms Brothers bought the Wheeler Boatyard in Scituate and renamed it to Simms Yacht Yard. They sold the business in the late 70s and Harold conducted a marine survey service for a brief time. He then became a partner at Duffy Travel Agency in Hingham for two years before becoming a partner at Allen Goodwin Music in Harvard Square for several years. Harold retired in 1988.

Harold developed a retirement hobby of family history writing. He wrote three books after the age of 70. The first was about Amos Pentz, his grandfather and a well- known shipbuilder of Nova Scotia. The second was on his father, William E. Simms, a well-known yacht builder and a master builder of approximately 80 boats. The third was on Harold's personal experiences in World War II.

Harold Glen Simms, of Marshfield, passed away on Sept. 14, 2018. Harolds wife, Jean, preceded him in death in May 2012.