Cecil E. Harris

Captain Cecil Elwood "Cece" Harris (December 2, 1916 - December 2, 1981) USN (Retired) was a World War II naval ace.

Harris was born in Faulkton, South Dakota and grew up in Cresbard.[1] After graduating from Cresbard High School in 1934, Harris attended Northern State Teachers College (NTSC) for one year until he was offered a teaching position in Onaka.[2] While in Onaka, Harris met his future wife Eva Gabriel.[2] Harris returned to college after three years of teaching, and joined the naval reserve on March 26, 1941, while still a student at NSTC.[2][3]

While Harris was in Naval Aviation Cadet training, Pearl Harbor was attacked by the Japanese on December 7, 1941. Harris completed his cadet training and was commissioned as an ensign and selected as a naval aviator on March 12, 1942.[3]

Harris deployed as part of VF-18 aboard the USS Intrepid in August 1944, and from August to November shot down 22 Japanese aircraft, including 17 fighters.[1][4] He also had three days where he shot down four aircraft.[1][4] Harris was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross three times, the Silver Star twice, and the Navy Cross for actions between September and November, 1944. While he was officially credited with shooting down 24 planes, it was suggested that Harris' number of kills was much higher, perhaps as high as 50.

On November 25, 1944, the Intrepid was heavily damaged by two kamikaze suicide pilots and was forced to withdraw from action, returning to San Francisco for repairs.

Harris married Eva Gabriel in April 1945 and left active Navy service on October 13, 1945 and joined the Naval Reserve.[2][3] He returned to college and finally completed his bachelor's degree in education in 1946.[2] He then returned to Cresbard where he worked as a teacher and principal for five years, until he was called back to active service on April 12, 1951, because of the Korean War.[2][3] Electing to remain in the Navy, Harris finally retired at the rank of Captain on July 1, 1967.[3]

Following his retirement, Harris later worked as an executive for the Dominion National Bank.[5] At some point Harris became an alcoholic, and was arrested on a charge of drunk driving by Fairfax County Police Officer Paul Crossfield on the evening of December 1, 1981.[5] Harris hanged himself in his cell at the Groveton Substation and was discovered shortly after midnight the next morning and rushed to Mount Vernon Hospital where he was pronounced dead.[6]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Miller, Steve. "Little-known Navy Ace from South Dakota to Be Honored." Rapid City Journal. Rapid City Journal, 18 Aug. 2009. Web. 27 Nov. 2012.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Zappa, Elizabeth. "A Biography of Cecil Harris's Life." Cecil "Speedball" Harris Biography. N.p., 2012. Web. 27 Nov. 2012.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 "Cecil E. Harris." Veteran Tributes. Veteran Tributes, n.d. Web. 27 Nov. 2012.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Flier Gets 'Quads' again." New York Times (1923-Current file): 15. Nov 29 1944. ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The New York Times (1851-2009). Web. 27 Nov. 2012.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Sun, Lena H. "Fairfax Police Cleared in Suicide at Lockup." The Washington Post (1974-Current file): 1. May 04 1984. ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Washington Post (1877-1996). Web. 27 Nov. 2012 .
  6. ↑ "Prisoner at Groveton found Hanged in Cell." The Washington Post (1974-Current file): 1. Dec 02 1981. ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Washington Post (1877-1996). Web. 27 Nov. 2012.