Major General Harry J. Engel’s military career began on 31 October 1942 when he was inducted as a private. After graduating from Infantry Officers Candidate School he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Infantry, 26 June 1943, and assigned as a platoon leader at the Infantry Replacement Training Center, Camp Wheeler, Georgia. | Between 1943 and 1945 he served as platoon leader, special services officer, executive officer and instructor at Camp Swift, Texas; Fort Jackson, South Carolina; and Fort George G. Meade, Maryland. On 3 April 1945 General Engel was assigned for duty with the Discharge Review Board, Office of the Secretary of War, Washington, D.C., serving as Examiner, Chief Examiner, and Board Member. On 19 February 1946 he was detailed to the Judge Advocate General’s Department from Infantry. | In the summer of 1946 General Engel was transferred to the Pacific area, serving initially as Assistant Staff Judge Advocate, Army Ground Forces, Pacific, and, on 1 September 1946, becoming Staff Judge Advocate, United States Army Forces, New Caledonia. On 26 March 1947, he became Assistant Judge Advocate, Army Ground Forces, Pacific. On 13 March 1947 General Engel accepted a commission in the Regular Army. | In the spring of 1949 General Engel returned to the United States to become Deputy Port Judge Advocate at the New York Port of Embarkation.  On 10 April 1951 he became Port Staff Judge Advocate. On 10 October 1952 he was transferred to Fort Riley, where he served as Staff Judge Advocate, 10th Infantry Division, and Post Staff Judge Advocate. In June of 1954 General Engel departed for his second consecutive tour of duty in the Far Eastern Area, serving initially as Staff Judge Advocate, 7th Infantry Division, in Korea. On 28 October 1954 he assumed the duties of Staff Judge Advocate, Pusan Military Post. Following this assignment General Engel was transferred to the Korean Military Advisory Group on 2 March 1955, where he served as Staff Judge Advocate of that command and as Senior Advisor to The Judge Advocate General, Republic of Korea Army. | Upon his return to the United States, General Engel became the Staff Judge Advocate, Fort Devens, Massachusetts, a position he held until the summer of 1957 when he departed for an assignment in France. On 30 July 1957, he was assigned as Staff Judge Advocate, United States Army Communications Zone, Europe. | When his overseas assignments had been completed, General Engel returned to the United States. On 30 September 1960 he became Staff Judge Advocate, United States Continental Army Command.
On 19 February 1963 General Engel became Judge Advocate, United States Army, Europe, where he remained until nominated by the President to be The Assistant Judge Advocate General. He was confirmed on 27 February 1964. | Major General Engel was born in Brooklyn, New York. He attended St. Johns College, New York, prior to entering the St. Johns Law School, from which he graduated with a Bachelor of Laws degree (cum laude) in 1930. Following graduation he engaged in the private practice of law in New York City.