Harry's love of flying began in 1920 when he sold candy and soda pop while
his father, Ben T. Epps (Georgia's aviation pioneer) and Harry's oldest brother, Ben T. Epps, Jr. gave "barnstorming" rides. Harry joined the Navy in 1942 and became a Navy pilot in 1943. He served in the Navy during World War II and the Korean War. During that time, he logged more than 5,000 hours in various Naval aircraft. Harry reached the rank of Captain while in the Naval Air Reserve and worked as an engineer on various Air-Launched Missile and Ordinance programs for the Department of Navy Bureau of Weapons. He completed a total of 37 years in military and government service.