Born on November 20, 1908 in Woodruff Kansas,
Harold Bauer graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy
in June of 1930. As an officer in the Marine Corps,
Bauer entered flight training and earned his wings
February 24, 1936.

Bauer was a respected leader and after serving as
executive officer of VMF-221, Bauer was promoted
and given command of VMF-221 on February 1, 1942.
On the 28th of February he was transferred to and
given command of the newly organized VMF-212,
then based at Vila, on the island of Efate. Located
in the New Hebrides, Efate was a good distance
south east of Guadalcanal and generally out
of the combat zone.

Wanting to get into combat, Bauer managed to get
temporary duty on Guadalcanal on September 28.
On the day of his arrival he downed a twin-engine bomber.
Five days later he destroyed four Zeros and a probable,
again on temporary assignment.

October 16, 1942, found Bauer leading a group of Wildcats
and seven SBD's to reinforce the beleaguered air units
at Henderson Field, Bauer and his group found themselves
in the middle of a Japanese air attack on the transport
USS McFarland delivering a much needed cargo of
aviation fuel. Although low on fuel from his long flight,
he attacked the dive bombing Val's and destroyed
four of them. For his courage on October 16,
Bauer was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.

On November 14, while strafing Japanese transports,
Bauer and Joe Foss got into a dog fight with enemy Zeros.
After downing one Zero, Bauer realized he had another Zero
on his tail. Foss managed to get in behind the Zero and
shot it down. Despite this effort by Foss, Bauer went
into the water. Foss reported seeing Bauer floating
in his Mae West, but search parties failed to find him.
Killed in action before he could be presented the CMH,
it was awarded posthumously.