Damen S. HARRIS

HARRIS, Damen S.

Damen S. Harris, 86, of Sacramento, and formerly of Rolla, MO, passed away at his home on Sunday, August 15, 2010, from long term illness complications. He was born in St Louis, MO, on April 30, 1924, the son of Maurice Sr. and Elizabeth Harris. Preceded in death by his parents, brother Maurice Jr, and daughter Brenda (Lynn) Moran, he leaves behind his precious wife, Mahin; sisters-in-law Mina Mawson and Azar Partridge of England; nephew Jim Harris of Lexington, MO; three grandchildren Mark and John (Jay) Moran and Tracie Hipley; and seven great-grandchildren.

Mr. Harris served in three wars as a navigator, pilot and engineer. In World War II he became an officer and served as a navigator/pilot in the Pacific Theatre. After World War II he spent two years in the U.S. Geological Survey until the Korean War. In the Korean War, he commanded an Engineer Floating Bridge Company in support of infantry operations. In the startup of the Vietnam War, he provided logistics and air transportation support to US Army advisory teams throughout South Vietnam. Following Vietnam, Mr. Harris held various assignments in the US Army Corps of Engineers specializing in logistics and logistics training including a stint as Director of the Department of Logistics, US Army Engineer School, Ft Belvoir, VA.

Mr. Harris entered the military service as an enlisted man, rose through the officer ranks and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1969. His most treasured decorations were the Bronze Star and Legion of Merit. In retirement, Mr. Harris pursued his hobbies of flying and restoration of antique vehicles. Mechanically inclined, he was able to restore several cars, one of which, a 1962 Ford Thunderbird, was donated to the Towe Museum in Old Sacramento. In lieu of funeral services, Mr. Harris will be cremated and later interred at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery in Dixon. A Celebration of His Life will be held at a future date.

Mr. Harris will be missed dearly by family and friends.