World War II Honoree

Jack W. Harrison

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Phoenix, Arizona

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: TECHNICIAN 5TH CLASS. HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE ARMY SEPTEMBER 16, 1942 AT PHOENIX, ARIZONA. AFTER PARATROOPER TRAINING, HE SERVED WITH REGIMENTAL HEADQUARTERS, 3RD BATTALION, 506TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT, 101ST AIRBORNE ‘SCREAMING EAGLES’ DIVISION. IN THE BATTLE OF NORMANDY, HE PARACHUTED INTO THE ST. COME-DU-MONT (BEAUMONT) AREA, ON THE FRENCH COTENTIN PENINSULA IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS, 01:40, D-DAY, TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 1944. THIS WAS THE INVASION OF GERMANY’S FORTRESS EUROPE, CODE NAME: OPERATION OVERLORD. ON THE DAY OF THE INVASION, HE HAD BEEN WOUNDED AND CAPTURED BY THE GERMANS, AND HELD CAPTIVE AT AN UNKNOWN PRISONER OF WAR CAMP. HE DIED ON SUNDAY, JUNE 25, 1944 OF HIS WOUNDS AND WAS BURIED IN A BATTLEFIELD CEMETERY. AFTER THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES IN EUROPE, HIS REMAINS WERE RETURNED TO HIS FAMILY, WITH INTERMENT IN THE GREENWOOD MEMORIAL LAWN CEMETERY, PHOENIX, ARIZONA.