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The son of Major Hunter and Lulu Allen Harris, born in the Philippine Islands 3 February 1911, <em>William Allen Harris</em> followed a typical life pattern for an Army child. He graduated from Main Avenue High School, San Antonio and attended Virginia Military Institute for a year before entering West Point with the Class of 1933. While at his first station, Fort Benning, with the 83rd Field Artillery, he married Harriet DeLand Smith who died in November 1985 and is interred in the West Point Cemetery.</p>
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Following completion of the Battery Officer’s Course at Fort Sill in 1937, he attended the Advanced Course in Horsemanship which led to his assignment to the Field Artillery Horseshow Team and subsequently to the Olympic Equestrian Team. However, the war caused cancellation of the games and the team was disbanded.</p>
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During WWII he was actively involved in the very successful deception plan for the D-Day assault. He went ashore on Utah Beach on 6 June and later took part in various campaigns until the fall of Germany.</p>
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After several years’ service in the Pentagon, he was transferred to South Korea in 1950 to command the 77th FA Battalion of the 1st Cavalry Division. During that service, he was awarded the Silver Star for action on 24 July 1950. The citation in part reads as follows:</p>
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“…Enemy fire was heavy and enemy personnel had infiltrated the general position area. Lieutenant Colonel Harris directed the unit’s withdrawal from an extremely exposed position in coordination with the Infantry with maximum artillery support to the last possible minute…without regard for his own personal safety (he) accomplished the withdrawal with a minimum loss of men and material, remaining in the exposed area until all elements of his command had cleared.”</p>
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Later, having taken command of the 7th Cavalry Regiment, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for action in the vicinity of Hambung-ni on 26-27 September 1950. The citation reads as follows:</p>
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“Task Force 77, a regimental combat team…was ambushed by a hostile force of ten tanks supported by infantry… Colonel Harris…immediately went to the head of the column, completely disregarding the intense fire. He…personally reorganized his men and led them in a counterattack…the men overwhelmed the enemy force…The extraordinary heroism and fearless leadership…were directly responsible for the annihilation of the enemy forces.”</p>
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Subsequent assignments included commanding the XVIII Airborne Corps Artillery at Fort Bragg, Seventh Army Artillery and the Seventh Army Support Command in Germany. He retired in 1966 at Fort Sam Houston, Texas as deputy commanding general, Fourth U.S. Army.</p>
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The twenty years of his retired life were marked by concentration of his exceptional energy and ability on civic affairs and on extensive support to his Class and to widows in their many problems. He was chairman of the Governor’s Task Force on Handicapped Citizens and active in Bexar County and on Texas State historical commissions. He did not turn aside from multiple demands to serve the needs of people in his region and elsewhere. On 5 March 1988, in recognition of his work, the mayor of San Antonio dedicated the new Harris Pavilion in the Dwight D. Eisenhower Park in that city.</p>
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In addition to his Distinguished Service Cross and Silver Star, he had the Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal, French Croix de Guerre with Palm, Greek Cross of the Royal Order of the Phoenix and the Combat Infantryman, and the Senior Parachutist Badges.</p>
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He is survived by two daughters, Mrs. T.G. (Harriet H.) Stroup, Jr. and Mrs. Barry H. (Elizabeth H.) Pritchard.</p>
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