Sergeant 1st Class Roy Green Harris, Jr. was born on February 2, 1933, and was originally from New York City, NY. He served his country in the Vietnam War in the United States Army, with A Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division. His tour began on July 10, 1967. On September 20, 1967, he was serving in Binh Thuan province when he was killed from arms fire under hostile conditions; he was 34 at the time of his death. Sgt. 1st Class Harris was buried at Chattanooga National Cemetery in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and is memorialized on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Panel 26E, Line 96. He was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his heroic actions at the time of his death:
Citation: The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Roy Green Harris, Jr. (RA14352191), Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Second Battalion, 7th Cavalry, 3d Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). Platoon Sergeant Harris distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 19 September 1967 while serving as a platoon sergeant of an infantry platoon on a search and destroy mission near Phan Thiet. As his men left the helicopters upon infiltration, they were savagely attacked by a large Viet Cong force firing automatic weapons from well fortified positions around the landing zone. The intensity of the enemy barrage prevented his men from deploying in defensive positions quickly, but Sergeant Harris stood up in the hail of bullets and moved among his men directing their fire on the hostile positions. After gaining fire superiority, he moved to the front of his men and led the platoon in a fierce charge on the enemy fortifications, personally capturing one prisoner. Several hostile soldiers surprised him as he moved the prisoner toward his platoon leader, and he was wounded by the savage fire. He remained calm in the face of the attack and killed one to the insurgents while routing the rest with deadly fire. As he moved along a stream with the prisoner, he was seriously wounded by a Viet Cong sniper. Ignoring his own safety, he continued to direct the assault on the enemy and inspired his men to defeat the determined Viet Cong. He was mortally wounded while fearlessly leading his men in the face of overwhelming odds. Platoon Sergeant Harris’ extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army. Headquarters, US Army, Vietnam , General Orders No. 5670 (November 4, 1967)
- Rank: Sergeant First Class
- Date of birth: 2 February 1933
- Date of death: 20 September 1967
- County: Hamilton
- Service Branch: Army
- Division/Assignment: 7th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division
- Conflict: Vietnam
- Awards: Distinguish Service Cross, Purple Heart, Combat Infantry Badge, Vietnam Service Medal with One Service Star, Vietnam Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal
- Burial/Memorial Location: Chattanooga National Cemetery, Chattanooga, Hamilton County, TN
- Location In Memorial: Pillar XXIII, Top Panel
- Contact us to sponsor Roy G. Harris Jr.
