West Forsyth Grad Talks Mt. Everest, Tomb Of Unknown Soldier

CUMMING, GA — A West Forsyth High School and West Point graduate recently spoke to the members of the Cumming Chapter 1030 of the Vietnam Veterans of America.

Earls, who recently returned to Georgia following his time in the Army, spoke to the members of Cumming Chapter 1030 of the Vietnam Veterans of America on Feb. 2.

The former Airborne Ranger-Qualified Captain told the veterans that serving as commander of the elite Guard Unit of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery was the honor of a lifetime. With 250 thousand headstones of heroes and those buried at the Tomb of the Unknown, Earls said, “It was the hills of Arlington that gave me a deeper appreciation for this country than I can ever explain. I feel humbled even talking about it.”

Since graduating from West Forsyth High in 2011, Harold Earls has lived a life of high
adventure and has headed one of the U.S. Military’s most prestigious and world renown units.

Soon after earning his commission at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, he led the first army team to include a combat wounded amputee to climb to the summit of Mount Everest.

The rigorous advance to the summit was completed without more than the usual adversity. However, on the way down they encountered a fierce storm with treacherous winds of 75 miles an hour, splitting up the team. Earls and his Sherpa guide made it down in one piece, but two others on the team remained unaccounted for. Exhausted but safe, he contacted his father who told him something that he said he will never forget.

His father said, “Son you need to go back up that mountain to find the missing team members or you need to die trying, because that’s what leaders do.”

As fate would have it, as soon as he started his re-ascent, he spotted the headlamps of the missing team members. Except for suffering from frostbite and being physically spent everyone returned safely.

Earls and his wife, Rachel, authored a best-selling book entitled “A Higher Calling” and have recently moved to Roswell to make a home for their two boys, with a third child on the way.

Cumming chapter 1030 of the Vietnam Veterans of America meets at 7 p.m. the first Tuesday of
each month at AA Driving Academy, 432 Canton Highway. For more information, visit online.