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LOGAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – A Task Force Patriot soldier from 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division based at Fort Polk, La., died as the result of an enemy attack in Wardak province Nov. 27.
U.S. Army Pfc. Devon J. Harris was a 24-year-old Mesquite, Texas, native assigned to Company A, 4th Brigade Special Troops Battalion’s TF Dagger. However, Harris was attached to 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment’s TF Warrior when he was killed during an insurgent rocket-propelled grenade attack.
Harris was a combat engineer and was referred to as a breacher. His comrades and leaders knew him as a jovial man-child with a great sense of humor and smile who made everyone around him feel better.
“Personally, I know you lifted my spirits and made me laugh and smile on the worst of days when I was in the worst of moods,” said U.S. Army 1st Lt. Trevor Shirk, a Johnstown, Pa., native. “[U.S. Army] Sgt. 1st Class [Jason] Thomas [of Leroy, Mich.,] and I could never be mad at you for very long before we just started smiling and shaking our heads. You lifted us up like no one else could, by just being you. Thank you for that.”
“We all knew Harris as a good man with a benevolent heart. His innocence was like a child; his will was of a man,” said U.S. Army Cpl. John Pham, a native of Boca Raton, Fla., “Harris had a good head on his shoulders and a smile he carried with him every day.”
Shirk said Harris performed his job very well and was someone his fellow soldiers and leaders could trust and count on when confronting dangerous situations. He cited two incidents that occurred in November during which Harris proved his courage, dependability, expertise and self-sacrifice.
Shirk recounted a Nov. 9 patrol during which Harris found a command wire leading up the side of a mountain connected to an improvised explosive device implanted along a route. As Harris attempted to find the IED’s trigger point, he came under fire, bounded back to his comrades’ position and helped them roll up the wire, said Shirk.
During the RPG attack that killed him Nov. 27, Harris shielded his comrades from the blast, said Shirk. Harris led the movement and suffered a blast that, otherwise, would have impacted several other Soldiers who are all thankful for his bravery.
“You were on the cutting edge of the breach, and you didn’t waiver; you didn’t ask to be switched out; you didn’t try to stop,” said Shirk. “You kept pushing, because everyone following behind relied on you - not just breachers, but the entire movement into the valley was behind you. Thank you, Devon.”
Pham said as a leader in the Army he has opportunities to impact lives on a daily basis, and very few times has one of his Soldiers impacted him. However, Harris’ actions Nov. 9 had an effect on Pham.
“My heart eased with relief as I saw a dedicated soldier perform his duties to the best of his ability, and [he] abided by the Army values we too live in our daily lives as soldiers,” said Pham. “Deep down and even out and about, he was a very confident man, very religious in his belief toward God and in tune with his heart and mind toward everyone and everything he encountered daily in the struggle of life and the joys of it.
“Harris always held together high self esteem, smiles of purity and a silly laugh that brightened my day, as well as many others who interacted with him,” continued Pham. “Regardless of what may have happened, he moved like every breath mattered.”
Shirk said Harris was the epitome of the saying, ‘So others may live.’ He said Harris sacrificed his life “on the frontlines” so other Soldiers could pass safely, calling Harris a good soldier, a great American and the best kind of person.
“He was more than just a person, a friend and a soldier,” said Pham. “He is, and will always be, our combat engineer brother. Farewell Breacher 2Delta.”
| Date Taken: | 11.27.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 12.12.2010 13:13 |
| Story ID: | 61798 |
| Location: | LOGAR PROVINCE, AF |
| Web Views: | 153 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
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