My name is Rodney John Harris, and I served with the USN, FFG-36 USS Underwood and Iowa Army National Guard, Det 1, HHC, 1-133 IN, 2-34 BCT.
I enlisted for several reasons, first was family tradition, second to serve my country, and 3rd to be part of something bigger than myself. I lived around the military since I was 2. My mother married a sailor when I was 4, so I lived up and down the west coast until high school. In high school I was in USMC JROTC all 4 years. It’s what I knew and loved. The military was always my calling.
My family has been defenders of America for many generations. The first two photos are of me in class A uniform and on the left standing with my crew on our last mission in Iraq during July 2007 in Al Anbar province. Next is Major Rowley of the Illinois militia, pre Civil War and Cpl Harris, Civil War. After that is my Great Grandfather Pvt Alan Harris during WWI and my mom’s father Pfc John V. Reis, who fought in the Philippines at Zig Zag pass. He was drafted in 1944 and released in 1946. He was a pfc in the infantry and served in the Philippines. His unit was the cyclone division aka avengers of Bataan. He was wounded once and General Mcarthur’s wife handed him his Purple Heart. Next is my dad’s father Pfc John T. Harris who arrived in Germany as the truce was signed. He was there during the liberation of the prison camps. Last but not least is my father Cpt Philip J. Harris, IN officer who served as an infantryman, as an infantry officer, and as an Intel officer. He retired out as a Captain. He served from 1974-1992 with a couple of breaks in service.
I spent two years in the Navy, in the guard and my detachment was in Charles City, Iowa. I was activated after 9/11 for airport detail in Waterloo, Iowa for 10 months and activated again in May 2003 for Multinational Force and Observers. I was stationed at Ft Carson, CO for ten months as rear detachment acting 1sg Sgt, in October 2005 and then activated for OIF, spending 6 months in Camp Shelby, MS training with the 1-34 BCT. We deployed in April 2006 to Al Asad, Al Anbar, Iraq and returned home July 27, 2007. In the Navy I was a boatswains mate seaman (bmsn), in the guard I was an 11C Infantry Mortarman. During Iraq I was a section sergeant, a squad leader, an assistant platoon sergeant, convoy commander and assistant convoy commander. At home station I was acting platoon sergeant and section sergeant.
My fathers grandfather was drafted during WWI and was preparing to board a troop ship when the armistice was signed. There’s a Cpl Harris that served in the Union Army during the civil war, he was infantry. We are having difficulty tracking down his specific info.
There is also Major Alonso Rowley who served with the Illinois militia just prior to the civil war, he was involved in some scirmishes down on the Mexican border. We have his saber and his McClellan saddle.
Both Grandfathers would touch on it if you asked specific questions about their wartime experiences and they would answer directly. My Grandpa Reis would always tell me he got his Purple Heart from being shot in the rear end. Years later a friend of his told me he actually was shot in the thigh while moving up a rivine.
The worst part of the war for me was seeing the children that suffered and in some cases died. Knowing that the insurgents would take an innocent young life rips at me still today. My wartime experience has changed me, no doubt in my mind. I am more driven than ever before. I have issues with emotion as far as feeling and expressing emotion. My greatest fear? Never seeing my kids again. My reception home is a story in itself. I had filed for divorce 4 months previously. But my kids, my dad and his girlfriend were there.
I have some what pulled away from society. We live on a 10 acre spread and just getting into raising beef naturally and work on the family farms that are just shy of 400 acres total. Working the farms has brought peace to my soul. After almost 8 years of struggling with PTSD and TBI, I am closer to being who I once was. I know I will never be the same, but at least I am finding joy in life again. I have always been very mission oriented so in a way I made enjoying life my new mission. Some days it’s not easy. When things become difficult I automatically feel the need to put my shoulder into it. I have to step back and force myself to accept it and work thru it.
The birth of my youngest son in December 2014 made me decide that I didn’t want to miss an ounce of his life and that I need to enjoy all the things I missed with my other 4 children.
Rodney John Harris, Iraq Veteran
#military #ComesASoldiersWhisper #IraqWar
We are grateful to Rodney for sharing his service and story with us on Comes A Soldier’s Whisper where we are all connected and remember our history one day at a time…
~ Jenny Lasala
jennylasala.com/
