Jack E. Harris

Jack E. Harris

Easthampton, MA - On October 11th Jack E. "Mad Dog" Harris extinguished his last fire and was hoisted to heaven by that big HH-43 "Pedro" in the sky. Born on November 9th, 1943, in Pocatello, Idaho to the late Earl and Lilly Harris, he was the youngest of six.

Raised in Arco, Idaho, Jack joined the U.S. Air Force in 1960 at the age of seventeen and became a firefighter. He was stationed at several bases stateside until 1966 when he was assigned to Tainan, Taiwan.

In 1968, Jack was sent to training in New Mexico where he was trained to become an Airborne Firefighter on the HH-43 Huskie, call sign "Pedro". After completing his training, he was briefly assigned to Detachment 2, Western Air Rescue and Recovery Service before he was deployed to Vietnam fourteen days later.

In November 1968, Jack arrived at Pleiku Air Base in Vietnam where he assumed the role of Airborne Firefighter, 3rd Group, Detachment 9, 38th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Service, rescuing downed airmen and extinguishing fires. When he wasn't flying for the USAF, he flew the position of door gunner on UH-1 Huey's with the Army's 179th and 189th Ghost Riders Assault Helicopter Companies.

While in the Air Force, Jack was a highly decorated Non-Commissioned Officer for his contributions to the Nation. In Vietnam, he received the Airmen's Medal for Heroism as he and his crew entered a burning aircraft with fuel and munitions exploding around them to rescue four trapped Airmen. He received three Air Medals for flying 162 sorties, the Air Force Commendation for fighting a 99,000 gallon jet fuel fire.

Jack was the recipient of numerus outstanding unit and presidential citations. He was awarded permanent Aircrew Status and the perpetual wear of Aircrew Wings as recognition. He was the recipient of numerous commendation letters throughout his career.

After leaving Vietnam, he was stationed at Westover Air Base before being briefly deployed to Guam only to return to Westover.

In 1971, he met the love of his life, Alice Harris. In 1973, they married and spent 48 loving years together before her passing in 2021. They traveled throughout Europe and the US before his discharge as Technical Sergeant from the U.S. Air Force in 1976.

They settled in western Massachusetts, raising their children, Joshua, David, Kimberly, and their granddaughter Michelle.

Jack continued his service to others, as a firefighter at Westover before taking a position as a firefighter at the VA Hospital. He worked as a volunteer EMT on the Goshen Ambulance and a police officer for the Town of Williamsburg.

Jack received many lifesaving awards and commendations throughout his career; he reached the position of Assistant Fire Chief in the USAF, and Captain of the VAFD.

He retired from the VA as a police officer and he and Alice would spend many a day fishing at their favorite spot at the DAR. They are now fishing there together forever.

Jack had a love of the fire service that ran in his blood. He lived his life by his unit's motto, "That Others May Live"

Jack is survived by his son's Joshua and David, daughter Kim and Granddaughter Michelle.

Calling hours will be Wednesday November 19, from 4-6PM at the Douglass Funeral Service, Amherst.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to The Fisher House in Amherst.

Memorial guestbook at www.douglassfuneral.com