World War II Honoree

Herbert D. Harris

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Pawtucket, Rhode Island

Honored By

Peter W. Harris

Relationship

Son

ENLISTED IN NAVY NOVEMBER 1943; WIFE AND 5 CHILDREN AT HOME. JOINED USS GOSS DE-444 AUGUST 1944 AND CROSSED 180TH MERIDIAN DECEMBER 8, 1944. PARTICIPATED IN INVASION OF LUZON, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS AT LINGAYEN GULF JANUARY 1945 DURING WHICH HIS VESSEL DESTROYED 2 JAPANESE AIRCRAFT. PARTICIPATED IN OCCUPATION OF IWO JIMA, VOLCANO ISLANDS, PRE-INVASION STRIKES, INVASION AND OCCUPATION OF OKINAWA AND OTHER ISLANDS IN THE RYUKYUS THROUGH MARCH, APRIL, MAY AND JUNE 1945. PARTICIPATED IN STRIKES AGAINST MAIN JAPANESE ISLANDS JULY AND AUGUST 1945, AND IN OCCUPATION OF TOKYO AREA SEPTEMBER 1945. WAS PRESENT IN TOKYO BAY AREA ON V-J DAY SEPTEMBER 2, 1945. AUTHORIZED TO WEAR PHILIPPINE LIBERATION RIBBON WITH BRONZE STAR, AMERICAN AREA CAMPAIGN RIBBON, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN RIBBON WITH 3 STARS AND WWII II VICTORY MEDAL, AMONG OTHERS. HONORABLY SEPARATED FROM ACTIVE DUTY AND TRANSFERRED TO U.S. NAVAL RESERVE NOVEMBER 1945; RETURNED TO HIS WIFE AND CHILDREN.