George Harding was born in Philadelphia in 1882. Harding was one of eight artists selected to serve with the American Expeditionary Forces, receiving his appointment in March 1918. He was present during the Marne, St. Mihiel, and Argonne campaigns as well as the Army occupation of Germany. He accepted reappointment to the Officers’ Reserve Corps on several occasions between World Wars I and II, achieving the final rank of captain in the Marine Corps Reserve in August 1942.