World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
Robert Lee Harris
Branch of Service
U.S. Marine Corps
Hometown
Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina
Honored By
Orville L. Kline
RANK: PRIVATE 1ST CLASS. HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS SEPTEMBER 21, 1943 AND PARTICIPATED IN BASIC COMBAT TRAINING AT THE MARINE RECRUIT DEPOT, PARRIS ISLAND SOUTH CAROLINA. SERVED IN THE PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS, WHERE HE EXPERIENCED COMBAT WITH INDIA COMPANY, 3RD BATTALION, 7TH MARINE REGIMENT, A SUBORDINATE OF THE FIRST MARINE ‘THE OLD BREED’ DIVISION. PARTICIPATED IN THE BATTLE OF PELELIU, CODE NAME: OPERATION STALEMATE II (INVASION DATES: SEPTEMBER 15-NOVEMBER 25, 1944). ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1944 HE WAS KILLED IN ACTION AND BURIED IN THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES CEMETERY ON PELELIU. AFTER THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES WITH JAPAN, HIS REMAINS WERE RETURNED TO HIS COUNTRY AND FAMILY, WITH INTERMENT IN THE O’NEAL FAMILY CEMETERY, WAKE FOREST, NORTH CAROLINA.