SGM (Ret.) Bennie Lee Harrison

SGM (Ret.) Bennie Lee Harrison of Killeen, Texas, passed away on Dec. 6, 2016. He was born on March 17, 1931, in Taylor, Texas. He attended Clinton Avenue Elementary School and I. M. Terrell High School in Fort Worth, Texas.

Ben was the 2nd oldest of five boys and one girl. His early religious training was at the Greater Worth Hill Missionary Baptist in Fort Worth, Texas where he attended with his family.

He retired after 30 years of service from the United States Army and later retired again after 10 years with civil service in the U. S. Customs Services in Houston and Austin, Texas. He also worked for a short period of time at the Post Library at Fort Hood, TX.

Bennie Lee Harrison enlisted in the United States Army on Feb. 10, 1948. During this time, black soldiers were in separate units from their white counterparts. Through the difficulties of the times, he still rose to become one the most renowned and respected Sergeant Majors of his time.

Ben graduated from Basic Combat Training while assigned with the 84thTank Company and the 761st Tank Battalion at Fort Knox, Kentucky. In his rise from private to Sergeant Major, he served with the 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division (at Fort Lewis, Washington); 22ndInfantry, 4th Infantry Division (at Fort Ord, California); 24th Infantry “Blockhouse” Regiment and 25th Infantry Division in Korea.

His devotion as a soldiers’ leader established new training benchmarks for soldiers and they were incorporated in the training at the Sergeants Major Academy. These benchmarks positively affected training at the Academy and on the entire NCO Corps. His efforts were used in paving the way for transformation at the Academy, how the Army viewed staff and faculty leadership and effects on the NCO training as a whole.

SGM (Ret.) Bennie Harrison’s awards & decorations include the National Defense Service Medalw1/1st Oak Leaf Cluster; Good Conduct Medal Clasp, Silver 4 Loops; Army Commendation Medal w/4th Oak Leaf Cluster; Bronze Star Medal; Korean Service Medal w/1 Silver Service Star & w/1 Bronze Service Star; Vietnam Service Medal w/2 Bronze Service Stars; Meritorious Service Medal; Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal; Combat Infantryman Badge; Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation Badge; United Nations Service Medal; Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Korea); Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry w/Palm.

He also attended Central Texas College during his military career. He was involved in Buffalo Soldiers events, love to travel, enjoyed all sports (especially baseball), was an avid reader, enjoyed crosswords puzzles, had a love for Jazz Music, an uncanny sense of humor and loved spending time with family and friends.

Ben was preceded in death by his wife, Lavata Harrison; his mother, Leon McKenzie; his father Bennie Harrison; his sister, Ida Mae McKenzie; his brother, Curtis Robinson; his grandchildren TaWanda Simon and Eric West, his nephew Curtis Robinson II, and his niece Sandra McKenzie.

He is survived by seven daughters: JoCasta West, Vanda Abercrombie, Vanita Lee and Linda Rossi, all of Copperas Cove, Texas; Debra Clay(Bobby) of White Plains, N.Y., Rachael Plaudis of Owings, Maryland, and Nylvia Harrison of Central Texas. He is also survived by, 11 grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren, and three great great grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, family and friends.

A wake will be held on Tuesday, December 13, 2016 from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM at Greater Vision Community Church. Funeral services will follow at 12:00 PM with Pastor David Reynolds officiating.

SGM (Ret) Bennie Lee Harrison will be laid to rest in the Copperas Cove City Cemetery with full military honors.

You are invited to share condolences with the Harrison family by visiting www.crawfordbowers.org

Arrangements under the direction of Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home, Copperas Cove, Texas.