World War II Honoree

Preston 'Pug' Harris

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Hunt County, Texas

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: PRIVATE 1ST CLASS. INDUCTED INTO THE ARMY JUNE 27, 1942 AT DALLAS, TEXAS. SERVED WITH ECHO COMPANY, 2ND BATTALION, 405TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 102ND INFANTRY ‘OZARK’ DIVISION. REPORTED MISSING IN ACTION WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1944 DURING A BATTLE IN BEECK, GERMANY. HE WAS MEMORIALIZED AT THE NETHERLANDS AMERICAN CEMETERY LOCATED AT MARGRATEN, NETHERLANDS. A PRIVATE CONTRACTOR DISCOVERED HIS REMAINS NEAR BEECK, GERMANY IN 2003 DURING A LAND MINE REMOVAL. THE U.S. ARMY POSITIVELY IDENTIFIED HIS REMAINS AND THEY WERE RETURNED TO TEXAS MARCH 12, 2005 FOR BURIAL WITH MILITARY HONORS AND INTERRED IN THE VAN SICKLE CEMETERY GREENVILLE, TEXAS. DECORATIONS AND MEDALS: BRONZE STAR AND THE PURPLE HEART WERE AWARDED POSTHUMOUSLY, ARMY GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND THE COMBAT INFANTRY BADGE. THE BRONZE STAR WAS AWARDED TO THE SOLDIER FOR BRAVERY, ACT OF MERIT AND MERITORIOUS SERVICE.