Harold Charles McCarthy was the only son of Charles P. and Nora McCarthy of Fallon, Churchill County, Nevada. He was born at Crockett, California, May 8th, 1900. After moving to Nevada, Harold entered school in Fallon, where he graduated from the High School in 1918. In September, 1918, he entered the University of Nevada at Reno. His highest ambition was to fit himself for a Mechanical Engineer. While there, he entered the Military Service of the United States as a member of the University Training Detachment. He was assigned to Section A.

In December he was taken ill with influenza. His mother went to Reno at once but was unable to do anything toward saving her boy. On December 7th, 1918, he passed away at the University as a result of pneumonia, which had developed. He was buried with military honors in Mountain Cemetery, Reno. Besides his mother, a sister, Miss Helen McCarthy of Fallon, survives the young soldier. His death came as a great shock to his schoolmates and legion of friends in Churchill County.