Harold Imbrie was born on January 15, 1880 in Jersey City, New Jersey. He was a graduate from Princeton University, Class of 1900. Lieutenant Imbrie was one of the Princeton men who, though several years beyond the military age, felt that he should do everything in his power to help win the war. He gave up his business and volunteered for service, and was commissioned as First Lieutenant in the non-flying branch of the Aviation Section of the Signal Corps.

He was assigned to Call Field, where at first he was Assistant to the Adjutant and afterward Adjutant, a position in which his business training was of great value. First Lieutenant Imbrie died in the General Hospital at Wichita Falls, Texas on April 24, 1918 after an illness of six weeks. He was taken ill March 6 while on duty at Call Field, Wichita Falls and was taken to the General Hospital, where he gradually grew worse until his death.