World War II Honoree

Cleo Louie Harris

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Elizabeth, Arkansas

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENLISTED IN MILITARY SERVICE IN 1932. HIS BATTALION SAILED FROM THE NEW YORK PORT OF EMBARKATION ON MARCH 24, 1944 AND ARRIVED IN ENGLAND ON APRIL 9, 1944. SERVED IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER WITH THE 344TH FIELD ARTILLERY BATTALION, 90TH INFANTRY 'TOUGH 'OMBRES' DIVISION. PARTICIPATED IN THE NORMANDY, NORTHERN FRANCE, RHINELAND, ARDENNES-ALSACE (BATTLE OF THE BULGE), AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS. TOOK PART IN THE D-DAY INVASION OF NORMANDY, FRANCE, ASSAULTING ACROSS OMAHA BEACH ON JUNE 7, 1944 (D-DAY+1). AWARDED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH BRONZE ARROWHEAD AND 1 SILVER SERVICE STAR, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, AND ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL WITH ‘GERMANY’ CLASP. AWARDED THE FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE WITH PALM FOR ACTIONS BY HIS UNIT AT THE MOSELLE AND SAAR RIVERS. ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON. CONTINUED IN U.S. ARMY SERVICE AFTER THE WAR UNTIL HIS RETIREMENT WITH THE RANK OF MASTER SERGEANT.