LTJG HARLEY S. HARRIS, JR., USN

Class 1948

Born July 22, 1924

Died June 28, 1951

Age 26

Hometown Maywood, California

Lucky Bag Yearbook

From the 1948 Lucky Bag:

HARLEY STAFFORD HARRIS, JR.

Harley is one of those Sunkist lads. Obviously the United States is a small part of California . . . how else? Came to Navy from the Fleet … if you can call a tug boat operating in Frisco harbor part of the Fleet . . . he does. Tall tales flew thick and thin when Harley took up his preparation for the Academy . . . branded the slush-barge sailor . . . he wore his title graciously . . . the slush wasn’t so had hut the liberty they forced on me every night was an ordeal. An amiable grin and pleasant disposition won him a following of friends. When another hand was needed at poker . . . when a baseball team was in the making . . . or when a drinking buddy was needed . . . Harley was always there. Always the rugged outdoorsman . . . Harley faithfully scrutinizes his Field and Stream with an interest found only in the sportsman. Summer leaves find Harris anywhere between Canada and Mexico … in the mountains or on the shore . . . trying his luck with a rifle or fishing rod. Harley’s mania is cowboy music . . . there being no other great music . . . however when Bing puts out with most anything his assertion weakens. That new-fangled invention . . . the automobile . . . just doesn’t hold a shine to a horse for beauty . . . comfort . . . and all-round gettin’ whar’ you’re goin_ ability.

He graduated from the 11th Company as Company Commander. He graduated with the class of 1948-B in June 1948. (The top half of the class academically, designated 1948-A, graduated in June 1947 as the last wartime-accelerated class.)

Loss

Harley was lost when the AD-4 Skyraider he was piloting was shot down by small arms fire over Korea on June 28, 1951 during a strafing run. His squadron was operating from USS Princeton (CV 37).

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

Harley was stationed at the Corpus Christi Naval base in May 1950. He married Ann Works on September 2, 1950, in the Church of the Advent, Episcopal, in Brownsville, Texas.

In May 1951, Harley completed a phase of rocket, bomb and gunner training at El Centro, California. He then reported for duty on May 18 from San Diego.

Memorial services were held on the anniversary of his birthday, July 22, 1951, in Los Angeles.

His father was a retail sash and door carpenter, mother Kate, and sister Letha Gayle.

His wife, Ann Works Harris, never remarried, and they had no children. Harley’s name is listed at the Courts of the Missing in Hawaii.

Photographs

1948-B 11th Company from the Lucky Bag

Hugh Goodwin, Jr. ‘48 and John Wick ‘48 were also in 11th Company.

Class of 1948

Harley is one of 48 members of the Class of 1948 on Virtual Memorial Hall.