Sergeant Joe Harris lives a wonderful life.
As a member of the U.S. Army’s first all-black paratrooper battalion during World War II, he was a member of the 555th session of the U.S. Army, appropriately nicknamed “Three nicknames. ”
At Saturday’s funeral, friends of the army, family and uniformed members died on March 15, were considered the oldest paratrooper veteran and honored Harris.
Cynthia Barren, a member of an organization involved in the history of the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion, applauded with music Saturday at a memorial service for World War II veteran Joe Harris at the CNE Church in the Lewis Metropolitan City on Saturday.
He is 108.
“He was a kind, caring, compassionate man,” his daughter, La Tanya Pittman, told the Times. “The fact that he didn’t let him fight for freedom during quarantine prevent him from living a life.”
Harris was born on June 19, 1916 in Westdale, Louisiana and died at a Los Angeles hospital surrounded by a family. He rested Saturday at the Lewis Metropolitan CME Church.
Many people cried, but they laughed, too, because the service felt like a homecoming- Harris entered the last leap of unknown.
His grandson, Ashton Pittman, thanked his grandfather for everything he sacrificed.
“He is our rock, the foundation for the generations,” he said.
Joe Harris’ grandson Ashton Pittman was presented to him by organizers of a group of former and active paratroopers at Harris’ memorial service Saturday.
Harris received full military honors and was detained at Ingwood Park Cemetery.
His funeral parade included a World War II Willis Jeep escort and a military plane flying over the Harris home in Compton, where he lived for more than 60 years.
Compton Mayor Emma Sharif announced that the city is exploring plans to rename the streets after Harris.
Members of the National Forest Service and veterans from different branches of military personnel from World War II era uniforms.
They include retired U.S. Army sergeant. Donald Garrison first met Harris a few years ago and participated in commemorations and parachute jumps in recognition of Triple Nickles.
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1. Pirate Joe Harris Sr., during the memorial service, saw his father’s body supported by friends and relatives. 2. Attendees held plans to commemorate Joe Harris. (David Bhutto/Times) 3. Members moved Joe Harris’ coffin outside the Lewis Metropolitan CNE Church.
“Divine Smoke, man, he paved the way for people like me,” the garrison said, his voice shattering. “I was a little excited because I felt it in my heart. He sacrificed a lot because he shouldn’t be a housekeeper, a chef or a valet. He was a paratrooper-hero.”
La Tanya Pittman said her father was skilled in serving as a paratrooper but wanted to be a pilot in the army.
“They won’t even let him try,” she said. “But he continues to serve his country.”
As a member of the “Triple Nickles”, Harris is part of a combat-ready unit, but the paratroopers are not sent abroad. Instead, they trained the first American “Smoky jump. ”
Their mission is to land in the forests of the Pacific Northwest to fight wildfires and wildfires. Japanese balloon bomb From the Pacific Ocean to North America.
Operation Firefly is a highly secretive mission to see the smoke bouncing the wildfires and remove any knocked-out explosives.
CPL. Elijah H. Wesby of Philadelphia and Sgt. Roger S. Benning, Georgia, 1944.
According to the Forest Service, they are stationed in Pendleton, Oregon and Chico, California, where they responded to 36 fires and made 1,200 jumps.
Chief historian Matt Seelinger said the secret of the operation was to limit news to North America’s arrival in Japan.
Although six people were killed near Blay, Oregon, when they discovered a downed balloon in May 1945, the overall damage caused by the weapon was limited.
Salinger said: “Balloons don’t work properly as the Japanese intend.”
Harris made 72 successful jumps while serving in the Army, which recorded the story of veterans, according to the group’s Beyond Telephone.
The Smokejumpers are equipped with Wildland Firefighting Gear, which includes a football-style helmet with a grill and other tools.
After his revered discharge, Harris bought a home in Compton and had three children with his high school lover, Louise Singleton Harris. He continued to work with the U.S. Border Patrol for nearly 40 years.
Former Compton Mayor Omar Bradley grew up next door to the Harris Family, dancing in Harris’ living room when he was 3 or 4 years old.
“His favorite thing is to invite me over and let me dance in front of his partner,” Bradley said. “But if he really wanted me to open it, he would throw a dollar and I would have the whole house – his wife, his children, everyone – laugh because I would start to split.” ”
Harris is the father of the Compton community and a constant fixture.
“He was firm, unwavering,” Bradley said. “Real Americans.”
Neil Gallagher, a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps and former field firefighter, felt honored to visit Harris at his home in January.
He and two other veterans showed Harris a Pulaski, a wildfire tool used to build fire protection and a paratrooper patch.
Active and retired U.S. Army paratroopers pay homage to World War II veteran Joe Harris at a funeral at Ingwood Park Cemetery on Saturday.
“They fight fascism and then fight racism,” said Gallagher, the founder of the nonprofit.
“It is our responsibility to ensure that heroes like Mr. Harris are never forgotten, and this first comes to providing units like the 555th place they deserve to have acknowledgement,” he said.
Harris died in 1981 by his wife and a grandson.
Harris has two daughters, a son, four grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.
