World War II Honoree

Jimmie L. Harris

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Lexington, North Carolina

Honored By

Grandson

HE SERVED WITH THE 35TH BATTALION, 9TH ARMY, COMPANY D. WHILE IN GERMANY, IN FORMATION, HE WAS THE ONLY ONE TO NOTICE AN UNIDENTIFIABLE GERMAN PLANE. RAN TO A JEEP EQUIPPED WITH A 50-CAL RIFFLE, AND COMMENCED TO SHOOT IT DOWN. AT THAT TIME, IN HIS AREA, THERE WERE 35 AFRICAN AMERICANS WHO ENROLLED. HE WAS THE 1ST OF THE ONLY 6 ACCEPTED. PROMOTED TO CORPORAL AT THE ENGINEER UNIT TRAINING CENTER BY GENERAL DON G. SHINGLER AT CAMP CLAIBORNE, LOUISIANA.