Harry grew up in Traverse City and Northport, graduating from Traverse City Central High School in June 1932. He enlisted in the regular army 6 Dec 1932 with the expressed purpose of entering West Point. He graduated from the United States Military Academy 11 June 1941 and was commissioned a second lieutenant of cavalry. His troop duty started with horse cavalry, then to mechanized cavalry and finally with armor. During World War II he was in command of the 66th Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop of the 66th Infantry Division serving in Northern France and Germany. As an intelligence staff officer he served in the U.S.F.E.T. headquarters in Frankfort, Germany and for three tours in the Pentagon. He served as an Army Attache with the French Army in Vietnam and later as an intelligence advisor to the Vietnamese Army. He was Chief of the Armor Section at the Infantry School and a Department Director at the Armor School. He is a graduate of the Armor School, the Army Language School, the Strategic Intelligence School, the Army Management School and the Command and General Staff College. He retired from active duty 31 July 1966 at Fort Knox, Kentucky as a colonel. In retirement he earned his Master's Degree in Mathematics at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton then taught mathematics at Northeast High School in Fort Lauderdale until 1979. He was worked on family genealogy since 1963. He married Mary Elizabeth Phelps, daughter of Finis Beckley and Mary Thomas (Morgan) Phelps, 14 August 1942 at Fort Knox.

Source: Col. Harry H. Ellis, Dallas, TX. - The Family of Lt. John and Elizabeth (Freeman) Ellis of Sandwich, Massachusetts, compiled by Colonel Harry H. Ellis, U.S. Army, Retired.

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"John H. Schultz, 1085 Bowen Drive West. N. Tonawanda NY 14120, sent a xeroxed copy of page from the 1941 yearbook of West Point Military Academy with picture of Col. Harry H. Ellis of Dallas, TX, who passed away suddenly in March 1991. This would have been his 50th year since graduating from West Point. Unfortunately the copy was to light to reproduce well in the newsletter. Col. Harry's newsy letters regarding the research of Lt. John Ellis/Elizabeth Freeman of Sandwich, Mass. have been greatly missed of late.
John Schultz also noted that his son Michael was graduating from West Point on June first 1991. Congratulations!"

Source: ECN Summer 1991, Page 53.

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15602 Ranchita Road
Dallas, Texas 75248-4981

21 March 1991

Dear Ed & Kay:

This is in response to your letter of 18 March, which makes it appear that I am getting around to answering sooner than usual. However, I want to clear up all correspondence before I go to work on my next "mini." Otherwise deeply appreciated material might get lost in the shuffle and go without appropriate thanks to the sender.

I have in my files much of the material you sent to me, but there is still much that I did not have. I have read through it. Some of it confirms my findings, and some contradicts it. I am uncertain as to how much of it I should actually use if and when I actually write another ELLIS book. Initially I was interested only in extending my genealogy back to the immigrant. As time went I began to collect so much data on other ELLIS lines. In the end, that produced my ELLIS BOOK. There is a limit as to how much actually belongs in my type of a genealogy.

I start each "mini" with the first know ELLIS of our line so the individual who sent the material to me will know where his line ties into the John ELLIS, Sr and Lt. John ELLIS line. Then, again, I am working around to the best presentation, particularly in the first generation of our line.

It appears that the "basement pine paneled room" has become quite and installation. You have a lot of equipment I would like to have. I never did get into ham radio activities, but some items as your photocopier make me want one more than ever.

I know you are happy to be relieved of Secretary/Treasurer of the Fourth Marine Division Association (Michigan Chapter). I have avoided volunteering since we moved to Dallas. I had more than I needed in Fort Lauderdale. I have been asked to be Treasurer of the M.O.W.W. (Military Order of the World Wars) but declined the honor. I have recently joined the S.A.R. (Sons of the American Revolution) and may find myself again involved in activities.

It is always good to hear from you.

Sincerely,

/s/ Harry

This was the last letter received from Col. Harry days before his death.