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name
HARRIS, Thomas Joseph "Popeye" - Date of
birth
21 July 1920 -
Age
24 - Place of
birth
Frackville, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania -
Hometown
Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
33482264 -
Rank
Sergeant -
Function
unknown -
Unit
H Company,
2nd Battalion,
414th Infantry Regiment,
104th Infantry Division
-
Awards
Silver Star,
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
25 October 1944 - Place of
death
In the vicinity of Zundert, The Netherlands
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Henri-Chapelle
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 4 | 37 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Charles Harris (father)
Harriet (Hoffman) Harris (mother)
Charles Harris (brother)
Susanna R. Harris (sister)
Edith Harris (sister)
Blanche Harris (sister)
More information
Sgt Thomas J. Harris was a plumbers apprentice before he enlisted in Allentown, Pennsylvania on 17 November 1942.He was awarded the Silver Star Medal posthumously for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy. The citation cited: On the night of 25 October 1944, Sgt Harris' battalion encountered severe enemy machine gun fire delivered from well concealed positions. After lying for 45 minutes in open terrain swept by four bands of enemy machine gun fire, it became necessay for the battalion to withdraw. Sgt Harris, realizing that covering fire should be given to the battalion as it moved to the rear, without regard for his personal safety and in the face of the heavy enemy machine gun fire, crawled forward and attempted to set his machine gun in action. Sgt Harris was killed just as he was about to get the machine gun into operation, and, although he failed to complete his self-assigned mission, his personal valor, tenacity of purpose, and unwarering devotion to duty is in keeping with the finest traditions of the military service.
The photos were taken at Camp Carson, Colorado in 1944.
Source of information: Astrid van Erp, Raf Dyckmans, Arjan van Hassel, Peter Schouteten, John McParland, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / Harris Spong Noble Family Tree / 1930 Census
Photo source: www.findagrave.com, Peter Schouteten, John McParland