The 35th Infantry Regiment Association salutes our fallen brother, SP4 Richard Earl Harrison, who died in the service of his country on May 20th, 1967 in Quang Ngai Province, Vietnam. The cause of death was listed as Grenades. At the time of his death Richard was 20 years of age. He was from Memphis, Tennessee. Richard is honored on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial at Panel 20E, Line 60.
The decorations earned by SP4 Richard Earl Harrison include: the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Bronze Star with V, the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Unit Citation.
DURING SWEEP IN AREA OF MAY 19 CONTACT, 7 KM S-SE OF DUC PHO
BS 843315
A Memphis serviceman, who tried to keep his family posted on Vietnam action from day to day, was killed there in combat there Saturday morning his parents learned yesterday. Sp4 Richard Earl Harrison, 20, of 1112 Frayser Boulevard, was hit by hostile fire while on a reconnaissance patrol. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Harrison of the Frayser address and was engaged to be married to Sandra Poe of Memphis. He was the 69th casualty from Shelby County in the war. Sp4 Harrison's sister, Janice Harrison, said he wrote home almost daily and reported many activities of his unit. "He seemed to think we would feel better if we knew exactly what was going on instead of wondering," she said. "But he always kept his letters cheerful." She said young Harrison, a machine gunner, was frequently in heated combat in the area where troops have met heavy resistance during the past several weeks. Sp4 Harrison had been in Vietnam since the early part of December. He was a graduate of Memphis West Side High School and attended Memphis State University for one year before being drafted into the Army last July. He was a member of Frayser Baptist Church. Besides his parents and sister; he leaves two other sisters, Judy and June Harrison; and a brother Ronald.
Richard is buried in Memphis Memorial Gardens cemetery in Memphis. (formerly Mount Vernon Gardens)
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