World War II Honoree

Neal Wesley Harris

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Norman, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

JOINED THE 45TH DIVISION, OKLAHOMA NATIONAL GUARD IN 1936 AFTER HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION. SERVED IN THE ARMY RESERVE OFFICER TRAINING CORPS AT OKLAHOMA UNIVERSITY, NORMAN, OKLAHOMA AND WAS COMMISSIONED A SECOND LIEUTENANT IN 1940. CALLED TO ACTIVE DUTY IN 1940 WITH THE 77TH FIELD ARTILLERY REGIMENT STATIONED AT FORT D. A. RUSSELL AT MARFA, TEXAS. REASSIGNED WITH HIS UNIT TO CAMP BOWIE AT BROWNWOOD, TEXAS ON JANUARY 27, 1942. SAILED OVERSEAS FROM NEW YORK PORT OF EMBARKATION WITH THE 77TH FIELD ARTILLERY ON FEBRUARY 7, 1943 AND LANDED IN NORTH AFRICA ON FEBRUARY 19, 1943. PARTICIPATED IN THE ASSAULT ON LICATA, SICILY JULY 9-11, 1943 AND LANDED IN ITALY ON OCTOBER 29, 1943. PARTICIPATED IN THE SICILY, NAPLES-FOGGIA, ROME-ARNO AND ANZIO CAMPAIGNS IN ITALY. AWARDED THE AMERICAN DEFENSE MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH SILVER SERVICE STAR AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. CONTINUED IN SERVICE FOLLOWING THE WAR AND RETIRED WITH THE RANK OF COLONEL.