Soldier, Vietnam Vet Father Receive Silver Stars in Long-Distance Ceremony

By Army Spc. George Welcome
American Forces Press Service

Dec. 1, 2008 - Though decades separate the Vietnam War and the war on terrorism, a common denominator in the two conflicts has been the bravery and sacrifice of the American servicemember.
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Army Chief Warrant Officer Jonathan Harris received the Silver Star Medal here Nov. 28 while his father, former Army Staff Sgt. Gary Harris, simultaneously was decorated for his valor in Vietnam during a joint long-distance ceremony.

The Harris family watched from a conference room at Fort Campbell, Ky., as the younger Harris received the Silver Star here from Army Maj. Gen. Jeffrey J. Schloesser, commander of Combined Joint Task Force 101. Meanwhile, soldiers here watched a video screen as the elder Harris was pinned with the Silver Star and a Bronze Star he earned serving in Vietnam. Neither medal had been formally presented to him before.

"It's very rare that we present the Silver Star," Schloesser said. "We have a very high standard, and we make sure that the few who do earn it have done so through selfless sacrifice. It's clear that Mr. Harris did that, and it is also clear that the nation owes a debt to [former] Staff Sgt. Gary Harris. It was almost 40 years ago that he earned it, and I hope in some small way that we can pay back that debt by presenting him his award with his son's today."

Personal courage and selfless service could be said to run in the Harris family bloodline, as both father and son reacted similarly in their encounters with enemy forces. Both risked their lives to ensure the safety of their comrades.

The elder Harris displayed this courage Aug. 15, 1969, as a squad leader in Vietnam. He and his company were patrolling a perimeter near Gol Ree and were attacked with mortars and rocket fire. He quickly directed the members of his squad to return fire on the enemy.

As the attack died down, he moved his squad closer to the perimeter, which had been weakened during the barrage. As the enemy resumed its assault, he again directed his squad to return fire, breaking the enemy attack. During the engagement, he risked his life by helping medics to aid wounded Marines and helping to bring them to safety.

The younger Harris also displayed bravery in the face of danger. On July 2, Harris, a UH-60 Black Hawk pilot assigned to Company C, 5th Battalion, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, landed his helicopter at a landing zone near Gardez, Afghanistan, to pick up soldiers for transport when his aircraft came under attack by enemies using rocket-propelled grenades, a heavy machine gun and various assault rifles.

With the aircraft on fire, Harris and crew managed to fly it a short distance before putting it down again. After safely exiting the burning helicopter, the entire crew took up a defensive position. They managed to contact a CH-47 Chinook that was in the area to help extract them from the battlefield. As the Chinook landed, the enemy resumed fire.

It was then that Harris, who was helping one of his wounded crew chiefs to the helicopter, exposed himself to fire by engaging and killing an approaching enemy combatant. He entered the helicopter only after ensuring that the members of his crew, the ground forces and the quick-reaction force were safely aboard.

"Mr. Harris has been great since the incident," said Army Sgt. DeeJay Norby, a crew chief who was also involved in the action at Gardez. "He didn't get down or anything afterward; he went right back to business doing his job. It's really awesome getting to fly with a great group of pilots and crew chiefs."

This was not the first award that Harris has received during this deployment. He also earned the Air Medal with valor device.

In his short address, Harris thanked his flight crew and the crew of the Chinook that performed the rescue operation.

"I'm so lucky to serve with so many great heroes," he said. "Without them, the outcome might not have been so good."

He also gave a heartfelt thank you to his father, whose life and service, he said, set the example for him.

"Every time people thank us for our service, I tell them to thank a Vietnam vet," he said. "So Dad, I want to thank you today."

(Army Spc. George Welcome serves with the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade Public Affairs Office.)