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