Harold N Harris

Harold Nelson Harris, 93, of Silverdale, Washington died Wednesday, November 13th in Bremerton. Harold was born October 26, 1920 in Kilbourne, Illinois to John B Harris and Bessie Marie Beckwith Harris. He joined the United States Navy in 1937 retiring in 1969 as a LDO Lieutenant Commander. He attended the University of Arkansas, earning his BSE and MSE. During his second career in education he was the Assistant Director of Northwest Technical Institute, Springdale, Arkansas, and the Director/President of Cossatot Technical College, in De Queen, Arkansas. He was preceded in death by his parents and wife Magdalena Deis Harris. He is survived by daughters Kathleen Hobbs of Gresham, Oregon and Karen (Robert) Donnick of Silverdale; grand children Theresa M (Michael) Hennessey, Joseph M Donnick, Kaylee M Hobbs, and great grandchildren Cadence, Michael, Hunter and Asher Hennessey.

Harold joined the United States Navy Reserve 6/12/1937 and was called to active duty 11/17/1940. He served aboard the USS George F. Elliot, USS MC Crawley, EBEN Espiritu Santos Amphibious boat Pool, Amphibious Boat Pool Cactus, Guadalcanal, Naval Computer Machinery Lab Dayton, Ohio, Computer Machinery Lab St. Paul, Minnesota, Naval Security Group Activity Guam, OIC NCU 38 Yokosuka, Japan, FEC Joint ELINT Center Tokyo, Japan, Assistant OIC and OIC Todendorf Germany, OIC VQ-2 Rota Spain, OIC PACOM ELINT Center, and NSGA Fort George Mead, Maryland.

His memorable military services included: landing of marines on Red Beach at Guadalcanal, the battle of Salvo Island, losing his ship on August 8th, 1942, being wounded April 1943 at Guadalcanal, United States Naval Computing Machine Laboratory at Dayton Ohio, living rough on Guam from 1946 to 1948, Todenforf Germany and being attached to VQ-2 in Rota Spain.

After his second retirement from education Harold spent most of his time advising other veterans on how to receive their benefits. Harold volunteered with the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) becoming Post Commander. In 1998 Harold achieved All American Status as a Post Commander and was recognized at the VFW national convention. Harold served as Arkansas State Commander of the VFW in 2002 and on the Arkansas Governor’s Commission on Veterans Affairs under Governor Mike Huckabee from 2003 to 2008. Harold was instrumental in getting federal money for the establishment of Fayetteville Veteran’s Nursing Home in 2006; the only federally approved veteran’s nursing home in the state of Arkansas. Harold was recognized in 2010 by the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution with their National Service to Veteran’s award for his commitment to America’s servicemen and women.

Family and friends are respectfully invited to attend the Funeral Mass on November 22 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at Holy Trinity Catholic Church. The Rosary will be recited prior to Mass at 10:30. A Friendship Gathering will be held after Mass in the Church Hall.

The Rite of Committal will be at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland, Oregon.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers memorial gifts may be made to the Veterans of Foreign Wars http://www.vfw.org/Contribute/ Or Holy Trinity Catholic Church.