When the United States entered World War I, he was chosen as one of eight combat artists attached to the American Expeditionary Forces in France.

[3] He began his artistic service as a member of the poster section of the U.S. Navy Publicity Bureau, and from there he was selected for the Army's Art program.

While Harding produced his first mural for the Traymore Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey in 1915,[5] he gained much wider reputation as a muralist in the interwar period.

The 16x10 foot painting originally resided at the Taylor Opera House and was put into storage after it was deemed too large to display at another museum.

[7] In 1942, at age 60, he accepted a commission with the U.S. Marine Corps as a combat artist in its campaigns in the Pacific during World War II.

[9] In February 1959, his work was part of a three-man show at Lehigh University with Schilli Maier and Benton Spruance hosted by Professor Francis Quirk.