Original Item. One-of-a-Kind. This is a tremendous patch group having belonged to Major General Harvey Jabo Jablonsky, a veteran of World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, as well as an American Football player. The group includes a pair of his Major General star patches, an “Old Ironsides” Armored patch, and a 13th Airborne Division patch, as well as a letter of provenance on Jablonsky’s letterhead.

The letter, which is postmarked July 30, 1985, is to Kenneth Lazier, a well-known collector of General ephemera during the 1970s and 1980s. The group is in great shape, the airborne banner is taped to the back of the 19th Airborne Divison patch. The letter is in good shape and comes with its original postal envelope and the small parcel that Jablonsky sent the patches to Lazier in. A great group ready for further research and display!

Jablonsky was born January 10, 1909, in Missouri, US, to mother Eugenia from England, and father Arthur from Germany. His parents did not have their own home; instead they lived along with Arthur's parents (Jablonsky's grandparents) in their home in St. Louis County. Missouri.

In 1927, he attended Washington University in St. Louis, and in 1929 he was made captain of the football team. He was also on the College Football All-America Team. After graduating from Washington University, he enrolled in the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, where he continued to play football as a guard from 1931 to 1933, and became Army's captain in 1933; that year Army had a record of 9-1 and outscores its opponents 227–26. He graduated from the academy in 1934, but remained at West Point as an assistant coach for nine years.

He was also married to his first wife Dorothy Jablonsky during these years, and the 1940 census shows he has had his first children, daughter Jean, born 1937 in Virginia, and son David Jablonsky, born 1939 in Panama.

On May 31, 1943, Jablonsky was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel and appointed executive officer of 515th Parachute Infantry Regiment ("Jumping Wolves") at Fort Benning, Georgia. He remained the executive officer until November 1943, when the 515th PIR moved to Camp Mackall, North Carolina. On March 7, 1944, the "Jumping Wolves" became a part of the 13th Airborne Division at Camp Mackall. On January 25, 1945, the 13th Airborne Division received their overseas orders and embarked for Europe. They arrived at Le Havre, France, on February 8. On February 12 or 13, Colonel Harvey J Jablonsky, (who had already been deployed to France) assumed command of the "Jumping Wolves".

Although the unit did prepare for combat in Operation Comet (or Operation Market Garden), the strength of the Allied forces continually negated the need for airborne operations. Redeployment began on July 18, 1945, for the fighting in the Pacific, but by the time the unit reached New York, the war in the Pacific was over. The 515th Parachute Infantry Regiment was deactivated at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, on February 25, 1946.

In 1946, he returned to West Point to serve as assistant coach.

Jablonsky is listed as a commander of the 187th Infantry Regiment from July 1948 to June 1950. In February and March 1950, he participated in Exercise Swarmer, the largest peacetime airborne maneuvers ever conducted. The 187th airborne received the highest performance scores in this exercise, which was directly related to their being chosen to deploy to Korea as an airborne regimental combat team. ("...credit for the superior performance of the Regiment must go to its commander at that time ... Lieutenant Colonel Harvey J. Jablonsky.") In September 1950, elements of the 187th were attached to the 1st Marine Division to participate in the amphibious landings at Inchon. Jablonsky served on the Joint Airborne Troop Board. Harvey commanded the 1st Armored Division at Fort Hood, Texas, during 1963. Harvey also served in the Vietnam War.

Jablonsky was sent to Tehran, Iran during 1964–65, and he became chief military adviser from 1965 to 1968. As chief military adviser, Major General Jablonsky's position was "Chief, ARMISH/MAAG, Tehran, August 1965–July 1968". Jablonsky retired from service in 1968 in Killeen, Texas, where he had previously served as the commanding general of the 1st Armored Division.

For his actions in the Vietnam War, he was awarded the Legion of Merit (for the period May 1963-February 1965) on August 13, 1965, and the Army Distinguished Service Medal (for the period August 1965-July 1968) on August 22, 1968.