Robert Leland Harrison

Conflicts & Campaigns

• European Theater of Operations June 14, 1944 - April 29, 1945
• (Departed; New York for England, June 6, 1944, aboard SS Queen Mary.)
• Northern France; Rhineland; Central Europe; Ardennes (Battle of the Bulge)

Significant Duty Stations

• Inducted; Fort McPherson, Georgia.
• Squad Leader of machine gun squad and later Platoon Sergeant and acting Platoon Leader, Company C, 38th Armored Infantry Battalion, 7th Armored Division

Decorations & Citations

• Combat Infantryman Badge; Presidential Unit Citation
• Bronze Star Medal; CITATION: 7th Armored Division, General Order No. 43, 23 February 1945; For distinguishing himself by heroic achievement in connection with military operations against an enemy of the United States, on August 16, 1944, in the area of Leves, France. His half-track, immediately preceding the headquarters half-track, came under heavy fire from enemy machine guns and rifles. In order to enable the commanding officer riding in the headquarters vehicle to reach forward elements of the unit which were cut off, he halted, dismounted and from dangerously exposed positions in the street, directed the fire of his machine guns. By his heroic action he was able to neutralize the enemy positions long enough to enable his commanding officer's half-track to escape and direct his stranded unit in the defense of the position until bolstered by the remainder of the battalion. By acting bravely and unhesitatingly he made an important contribution in extraction his unit from a dangerous situation Bronze Star Medal (Oak Leaf Cluster) CITATION 7th Armored Division General Order No 43 February 23, 1945; for distinguishing himself by heroic achievement in connection with military operations against an enemy of the United States on February 5, 1945, in the area of Strauch, Germany. As STAFF SERGEANT HARRISON'S platoon jumped off into the attack, it came on an extensive minefield. Ordering the men to remain in position. STAFF SERGEANT HARRISON courageously moved through the area. without the aid of mine-detecting devices. Safely through, he directed the men to follow in his footsteps, one by one and soled the platoon through the obstacle. When the unit hit booby-trapped wire, SSgt Harrison again braved death to mark a path through the danger zone. By his outstanding bravery SSgt Harrison made it possible for his platoon to continue safely on its route of march despite two hazardous obstacles.

Notes

US Army service number 34-262-873. Graduate of Cairo High School Class of 1936. Born; Cairo, Georgia. Was working at Roddenbery Hardware, Cairo, Georgia, prior to entering the service. Robert was in the same Battalion as Private Sam Fiskus and they were in the same Division as Corporal Francis Lemuel Jones (all three from Grady County). Lost right arm when a sniper bullet severed an artery in his shoulder while directing medics to a fallen comrade (Marburg, Germany). Certificate of Disability for Discharge. After the war he returned to work with Roddenbery Hardware. In 1949, he was elected to Clerk of Superior Court where he served for thirty-six years. Burial; Harrison Cemetery, Grady County, Georgia.