World War II Honoree

Walter Edward Harris

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Flushing, Michigan

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: PRIVATE. HE WAS A UNITED STATES MARINE, WHO SERVED IN THE PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATION ASSIGNED TO A-COMPANY, 1ST BATTALION, 2ND MARINES, 2ND MARINE ‘SILENT SECOND’ DIVISION. PARTICIPATED IN THE BATTLE OF TARAWA, CODE NAME: OPERATION GALVANIC (NOVEMBER 20-NOVEMBER 23, 1943) THAT TOOK PLACE ON THE TARAWA ATOLL, LOCATED IN THE GILBERT ISLANDS CAMPAIGN. ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1943 HE DIED OF WOUNDS SUSTAINED IN COMBAT AND WAS BURIED AT SEA. HIS NAME APPEARS ON THE TABLETS OF THE MISSING AT THE HONOLULU MEMORIAL CEMETERY OF THE PACIFIC, ‘PUNCHBOWL’ HAWAII. DECORATION AND CITATION: THE MARINE WAS AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART FOR HIS ULTIMATE SACRIFICE IN DEFENSE OF HIS COUNTRY.