World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
Arlin Louie Harris, Jr.
Branch of Service
U.S. Marine Corps
Hometown
Love County, Oklahoma
Honored By
Robert S. Cox
ENLISTED IN MILITARY SERVICE IN 1943, AT AGE 17. USS BLOCK ISLAND SAILED FOR PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII ON MARCH 20, 1945. WHILE IN HAWAII, THE SHIP UNDERWENT TRAINING IN PREPARATION FOR THE INVASION OF OKINAWA, IN THE RYUKYU ISLANDS. HE SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER ABOARD THE ESCORT AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS BLOCK ISLAND (CVE-106), WITH DUTIES SERVICING F6F 'HELLCAT' FIGHTERS, TBF 'AVENGER' TORPEDO BOMBERS, AND F4U 'CORSAIR' FIGHTER AIRCRAFT. PARTICIPATED IN THE OKINAWA-GUNTO, AND BORNEO OPERATIONS. SAILED FROM HAWAII ON APRIL 17, 1945 FOR OKINAWA, VIA ULITHI ATOLL IN THE CAROLINE ISLANDS ARCHIPELAGO. HIS WARSHIP CONDUCTED FLIGHT OPERATIONS AT OKINAWA FROM MAY 3-JUNE 10, 1945; THEN, DEPARTED FOR LEYTE IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. AFTER A BRIEF STAY AT SAN PEDRO BAY IN THE PHILIPPINES, THE SHIP STEAMED THROUGH THE STRAITS OF MAKASSAR FOR BORNEO. AS PART OF THE BORNEO CAMPAIGN, HIS CARRIER PARTICIPATED IN THE BATTLE OF BALIKPAPAN ON BORNEO, FROM JULY 1-21, 1945, WHICH WAS ONE OF THE LAST BATTLES OF WWII. THE WARSHIP THEN SAILED TO GUAM IN THE MARIANA ISLANDS, AND WAS THERE WHEN THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT ACCEPTED THE ALLIED UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER TERMS ON AUGUST 14, 1945. DURING SEPTEMBER, 1945, HIS SHIP TOOK PART IN THE EVACUATION OF ALLIED PRISONERS OF WAR (POW) FROM THE JAPANESE OCCUPIED ISLAND OF FORMOSA (TAIWAN). THE ESCORT CARRIER CONTINUED CRUISING IN THE FAR EAST UNTIL OCTOBER 14, 1945. THE VESSEL SUBSEQUENTLY ARRIVED AT SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA ON DECEMBER 11, 1945. THE SHIP LEFT SAN DIEGO ON JANUARY 5, 1946, TRANSITED THE PANAMA CANAL, AND REACHED NORFOLK, VIRGINIA ON JANUARY 20, 1946. AWARDED THE COMBAT ACTION RIBBON, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 2 BRONZE SERVICE STARS (2 CAMPAIGNS), AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. ALSO AWARDED THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL FOR SERVICE IN THE LIBERATION OF THE PHILIPPINES. HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN FEBRUARY, 1947, AT AGE 21, WITH THE RANK OF SERGEANT AND ISSUED THE WWII HONORABLE DISCHARGE LAPEL PIN. RETURNED TO HIGH SCHOOL AFTER HIS DISCHARGE, COMPLETED COURSE REQUIREMENTS, AND GRADUATED.