World War II Honoree

Robert Cowan Harris

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Missoula, Montana

Honored By

Betty Harris & Charles Johnson

Relationship

Wife & Cousin

RANK: COXSWAIN. ENTERED THE U.S. NAVY JANUARY 5, 1944 AND RECEIVED HIS BASIC MILITARY TRAINING AT THE U.S. NAVAL TRAINING STATION FARRAGUT, IDAHO. SERVED AS A COXSWAIN ABOARD THE BATTLESHIP, USS MARYLAND, BB-46 IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS. CAMPAIGNS AND BATTLES: SAIPAN, SOLOMON ISLANDS, PALAU ISLANDS, LEYTE GULF, THE INVASION OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS AND THE ASSAULT ON OKINAWA. HE ALSO PERFORMED SHORE DUTY WHILE ASSIGNED TO THE NAVAL MAGAZINE ON THE ISLAND OF OKINAWA. AWARDED THE NAVY GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 6 BRONZE BATTLE STARS AND THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION RIBBON WITH 2 BRONZE BATTLE STARS. HE WAS HONORABLE DISCHARGED JANUARY 21, 1947 AT THE U.S. NAVAL BASE, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.