Roy Green Harris, Jr.
Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army

On 19 September 1967, Sergeant First Class Roy Green Harris, Jr. was serving with 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile), in South Vietnam.

On that day, SFC Harris was 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 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 SFC 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 charge on the enemy fortifications, personally capturing 1 prisoner. Several hostile soldiers surprised him as he moved the prisoner toward his platoon leader and he was wounded by the fire. He killed 1 of the insurgents while routing the rest with deadly fire. As he moved along a stream with the prisoner, he was wounded by a Viet Cong sniper. He continued directing the assault on the enemy and inspired his men to defeat the Viet Cong. He was mortally wounded while leading his men in the face of overwhelming odds. SFC Harris' extraordinary heroism, at the cost of his life, earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Purple Heart
Army Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Combat Infantryman Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Sergeant First Class Roy Green Harris, Jr. (ASN: RA-14352191), United States 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 of 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.

General Orders: Headquarters, U.S. Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 5670 (November 4, 1967)

Honors

The name Roy G Harris Jr is located on Panel 26E Line 96 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.

Burial

Sergeant First Class Roy Green Harris, Jr. is buried at the Chattanooga National Cemetery in Chattanooga, Hamilton County, TN.

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