Local hero passes in Iraq
Blake Harris, a soldier from Lovejoy, was killed on March 15 in Iraq:
Harris went on three tours of duty. The father of a 6-year-old son, married for about two years, Harris planned to make a career out of the Army. He went to Afghanistan with the 82nd Airborne Division. He went to Baghdad with the 1st Armored Division.Keep his family in your thoughts and prayers.Last September, he left for the third time and went to Baghdad again with the 1st Cavalry.
“That was the last time I was able to give him a hug,” said Paul Harris, his father. “That was the first time he was worried about going.”
During his first two tours, Blake Harris had been behind the front lines. From the fall of 2006 to the spring of 2007, Harris was a staff sergeant leading other soldiers on foot patrols into dangerous territory and was working as a forward observer, riding in a Bradley tank. It was dangerous work in a territory where there were no lines. Blake Harris said, “Dad, I can’t worry about that. I know that if it’s my time to go then it’s my time to go, whether I’m in Baghdad or Texas or Georgia. I’m just going to do my duty.”
[...]
A memorial service will be held for Blake Harris at the First Baptist Church of Jonesboro, 147 Church Street, at 2 p.m. on Friday.
Comments
I didn't know Blake, but I was reading the local paper online from where I grew up and his parents live there now. There is a touching story about him in this weeks paper:
www.franklincountycitizen.com
Posted by: beth | March 22, 2007 10:37 AM
Rest well, soldier--for upon those who master fear with undying loyalty lies the heartfelt gratitude of a nation mourning the loss of one more hero.
Jason--do you have the mailing address for his family? We locals need to send letters and cards to Blake's relatives and express our condolences en masse.
Posted by: Wonder Dog | March 23, 2007 08:18 PM