Shelbyville Soldier Missing Since 1945 Finally Gets Red Bank Funeral
(WDEF) Friends and family of a Shelbyville soldier missing for 70 years finally say good-bye Friday in Red Bank.
Private First Class Cecil E. Harris’s platoon came under attack January 2nd, 1945 in France near the German border.
Once the smoke cleared his fellow soldiers noticed the then 19-year-old was missing.
68 years later, a French national located a possible grave marked by a rock with a crude "H" engraving.
When officials excavated the site, they found PFC Harris’s dog tags.
Sergeant First Class Brandon Gulley served as the family’s casualty officer. He said, "That was 25,426 days ago. And on day 25,424 Private First Class Cecil E. Harris finally came home."
Harris posthumously won the Combat Infantry Badge, Bronze Star and Purple Heart.
Governor Haslam declared a day of mourning with flags at half-staff on October 22nd to honor PFC Harris’s ultimate sacrifice.
Private First Class Cecil E. Harris’s platoon came under attack January 2nd, 1945 in France near the German border.
Once the smoke cleared his fellow soldiers noticed the then 19-year-old was missing.
68 years later, a French national located a possible grave marked by a rock with a crude "H" engraving.
When officials excavated the site, they found PFC Harris’s dog tags.
Sergeant First Class Brandon Gulley served as the family’s casualty officer. He said, "That was 25,426 days ago. And on day 25,424 Private First Class Cecil E. Harris finally came home."
Harris posthumously won the Combat Infantry Badge, Bronze Star and Purple Heart.
Governor Haslam declared a day of mourning with flags at half-staff on October 22nd to honor PFC Harris’s ultimate sacrifice.
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