Heroes, Lefty and Vernon Harris

Cars of beauty:  1985 Olds Tornado, the first front wheel drive I remember.

For today Saturday:

I was fortunate; I married into a good family. I have mentioned Sherry’s sisters, her mother and dad here on the Blog. But she had 4 brothers.  I enjoyed knowing all 4, but since my life started in WWII with my brothers off to war, Sherry had two brothers who were war heroes. They were dear to my heart. 

 This is Lefty just after his WWII service.

The oldest brother Wiley A. Harris Jr. (Lefty), answered the call in the 40s to became a US Marine. He had a tough assignment, he operated a Flame thrower. He took part in some huge operations, but the most famous was landing on Iwo Jima, he was wounded there. I met him in 1954, he would never talk about Iwo, his story was, “Jack it can’t be told nor explained, you had to be there!” He is buried very near his mom and dad. I stopped by a couple days ago and placed a US Flag and a USMC Flag at his grave.

The last years of his life he operated a very successful catering business. Sherry & I bought the business when he decided to retire. On that route I quickly learned ALL HIS customers loved and respected him, I never took his place, but I got along.

What Sherry remembers about his coming home from the WAR was his monkey. Somehow that dude had sneaked it in. Sherry says, “That monkey was mean and did not like me!”. LOL

( I have a shot of a painting of Vernon in his uniform, No sooner said than sent by one of his grand Ena.) 
 

Still with us, Brother Vernon Gomez Harris; Vernon like me was a ‘Lifer’. He was proud to have served as a Green Beret, and did three tours in Viet Nam. During the time in the Far East he moved his family to Okinawa. After a couple tours he became the cook for his General. His meals won awards. A side job was to accompany all the celebrities that visited to entertain the troops. He was a special guard and tour guide. The tales he has for those guys and gals, all he could do was brag how down to earth and patriotic they were.
 

Vernon always tried to stand in the wings; but once retired. He put his leadership and talents to work and took bands, and singers to entertain seniors. Kids were his too, they stood in awe at his tricks and games which he constantly carried.

The local papers did a spread on his activities, although he doesn’t get out much anymore, we are always asked how he is doing.

Yes, Sherry still has Vernon and Johnny.

Lefty and Vernon and my brothers will always by my Heroes.

Nite Shipslog