So I bought this M42 from a fellow member. Along with it was some notes that original collector took when he purchased the helmet from the US vet (the original collector was not the forum member). Basically, the helmet was picked up by the vet in trench near Torgue in April 1945. The notes said he was from the Fighting 69th, 273rd infantry division. The name of the vet was C. Harris, according to the notes. I tracked down the original collector and he said that all he could recall was that the vet's name was Clifford. The notes also said he became a captain in the reserves, served in Korea and worked at Dupont. I had a tough time tracking down any info about this guy...until tonight. Here is what I found from an Obit.
Samuel Clifford
Harris
Age 86, went to his heavenly home on Monday, Jan. 31, 2011.
He was born July 29, 1924 in Wilmington, DE to the late Manly Drennen Harris and Mary Nelson (Trimble) Harris.
After graduating from P.S. DuPont High School in 1946, Sam served in the US Army during WW II. He spent 37 months with the 273rd Infantry Regiment of the 69th Infantry Division, which had the distinction of being the first American regiment to meet with the advancing Russian army on German soil. He received the Bronze Star and the Combat Infantry Badge. Sam also served in the reserves during the Korean War.
In 1949 Sam graduated from the U of D in chemical engineering. He worked at DuPont for 37 years, starting at the Newark, NJ pigments plant before his transfer to Seaford. After his retirement in 1985, he and his wife became volunteers for National Forests, State Parks and national Parks, accumulating over 8,000 volunteer hours. They wrote brochures, did photography work, developed interpretive displays, presented programs for the public, and served as Interpretive Naturalists at Grand Canyon N. P, Big Bend N. P. and Assateague National Seashore. Since he spent so much time in God's great outdoors, it's not surprising that he was an avid birder.
Sam was an active member of St. John's United Methodist Church in Seaford and served as a Certified Lay Speaker since 1958, after receiving training at Drew Seminary in NJ. He taught bible classes for over 30 years, sharing his belief that the most important thing in life was one's relationship with Jesus Christ.
He was preceded in death by his sister, Bertha Hillis and his first wife of 30 years, Ann (Journey) Harris. He is survived by his wife of 27 years, Carol Ruth (Griffin) Harris; daughter, Pamela Harris and her husband Garrie Stevens of Tully, NY; and son, Jeffrey Harris and his wife Bow of Seaford and granddaughter, Casey Ann Jones and her husband Michael of Trainer, PA.
A Celebration of Life service will be held on Friday, February 4, at Noon at St. John's United Methodist Church, Pine & Poplar Sts, Seaford, where friends may call from 10 am to 12 noon. Burial will be in Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Millsboro.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Pecometh Camp & Retreat Ministries, 136 Bookers Wharf Rd, Centerville, MD 21617 or Delaware Hospice Inc, 100 Patriots Way, Milford, DE 19963. Arrangements by the
CRANSTON
FUNERAL HOME
Seaford, DE
Published in The News Journal on February 2, 2011
Samuel Clifford
Harris
Age 86, went to his heavenly home on Monday, Jan. 31, 2011.
He was born July 29, 1924 in Wilmington, DE to the late Manly Drennen Harris and Mary Nelson (Trimble) Harris.
After graduating from P.S. DuPont High School in 1946, Sam served in the US Army during WW II. He spent 37 months with the 273rd Infantry Regiment of the 69th Infantry Division, which had the distinction of being the first American regiment to meet with the advancing Russian army on German soil. He received the Bronze Star and the Combat Infantry Badge. Sam also served in the reserves during the Korean War.
In 1949 Sam graduated from the U of D in chemical engineering. He worked at DuPont for 37 years, starting at the Newark, NJ pigments plant before his transfer to Seaford. After his retirement in 1985, he and his wife became volunteers for National Forests, State Parks and national Parks, accumulating over 8,000 volunteer hours. They wrote brochures, did photography work, developed interpretive displays, presented programs for the public, and served as Interpretive Naturalists at Grand Canyon N. P, Big Bend N. P. and Assateague National Seashore. Since he spent so much time in God's great outdoors, it's not surprising that he was an avid birder.
Sam was an active member of St. John's United Methodist Church in Seaford and served as a Certified Lay Speaker since 1958, after receiving training at Drew Seminary in NJ. He taught bible classes for over 30 years, sharing his belief that the most important thing in life was one's relationship with Jesus Christ.
He was preceded in death by his sister, Bertha Hillis and his first wife of 30 years, Ann (Journey) Harris. He is survived by his wife of 27 years, Carol Ruth (Griffin) Harris; daughter, Pamela Harris and her husband Garrie Stevens of Tully, NY; and son, Jeffrey Harris and his wife Bow of Seaford and granddaughter, Casey Ann Jones and her husband Michael of Trainer, PA.
A Celebration of Life service will be held on Friday, February 4, at Noon at St. John's United Methodist Church, Pine & Poplar Sts, Seaford, where friends may call from 10 am to 12 noon. Burial will be in Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Millsboro.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Pecometh Camp & Retreat Ministries, 136 Bookers Wharf Rd, Centerville, MD 21617 or Delaware Hospice Inc, 100 Patriots Way, Milford, DE 19963. Arrangements by the
CRANSTON
FUNERAL HOME
Seaford, DE
Published in The News Journal on February 2, 2011
Comment