Mike Harnist

U.S. Navy and U.S. Army veteran Mike Harnist, will give the address at Minot’s Veterans Day program Tuesday, Nov. 11, at 11 a.m. in the Old Armory at the Minot Municipal Auditorium.

Others on the program include Ron Tolzin, a retired U.S. Air Force master sergeant and member of Minot American Legion Post 26; Mac McLeod; Minot veterans organizations and auxiliaries; Our Redeemer’s Brass Quintet; Kaylee Capp and Pat Schwan.

According to his biographical information, Harnist served as a sergeant first class in the U.S. Army from July 2006-February 2020. Prior to that he served in the U.S. Navy from August 1998-September 2002. He was inspired to enlist by the desire to move out of North Dakota and see the world.

During his Navy service, Harnist was stationed on the USS Nimitz (CVN-68) as an operations specialist working the surface radar’s in the Combat Information Center. After his time in the Navy he moved to Texas and worked for the TSA. However, he missed the active-duty life and chose to enlist in the Army as a radar operator in the Field Artillery. During his time in the Army he had two tours of combat to Iraq. Later years in the Army, Harnist served as a recruiter telling his Army story to hundreds in cities such as Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Sioux City, Iowa, and Springfield, Virginia, where he finished his career as an assistant station commander.

After honorably completing his service, Harnist pursued a career in property management and currently is a regional manager at IMM (Investors, Management and Marketing). He remains active in the community by volunteering with the American Legion and serving as second vice commander for Post 26 in Minot.

Harnist and his wife, Michelle, live in Minot.

Minot American Legion Post 26 is the host for the Veterans Day program. Millo Wallace is post commander.