"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and
beyond the call of duty on 7 October 1944, in Vagney, France. At 9 p.m.
an enemy raiding party, comprising a tank and 2 platoons of infantry,
infiltrated through the lines under cover of mist and darkness and
attacked an infantry battalion command post with hand grenades,
retiring a short distance to an ambush position on hearing the approach
of the M-4 tank commanded by 2d Lt. Harris. Realizing the need for bold
aggressive action, 2d Lt. Harris ordered his tank to halt while he
proceeded on foot, fully 10 yards ahead of his 6-man patrol and armed
only with a service pistol, to probe the darkness for the enemy. Although struck down and mortally wounded by machine gun bullets which penetrated his solar plexus,
he crawled back to his tank, leaving a trail of blood behind him, and,
too weak to climb inside it, issued fire orders while lying on the road
between the 2 contending armored vehicles. Although the tank which he
commanded was destroyed in the course of the fire fight, he stood the
enemy off until friendly tanks, preparing to come to his aid, caused the
enemy to withdraw and thereby lose an opportunity to kill or capture
the entire battalion command personnel. Suffering a second wound, which
severed his leg at the hip, in the course of this tank duel, 2d Lt.
Harris refused aid until after a wounded member of his crew had been
carried to safety. He died before he could be given medical attention."
From 2d Lt. Harris' Medal of Honor citation, awarded on April 23, 1945.
May you be at peace,
Brian
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