In The Spotlight

Steve Harris just celebrated his wedding anniversary on May 27th, I believe. He has been married to his wonderful wife, Sherrie, for 29 years. He was born and raised in Whittier, Ca.

He and his wife Sherrie have two grown children. One is Sherrie's daughter from her first marriage, Sherry Elizabeth, who he adopted at five. The other is Christopher Steven.

Sherry E. is 33 in July and is married to Ron Rader with three and almost four children. She's due July 20th. Her first, Alyssa, turned 13 on Monday. She is severely handicapped and totally loved by her "Poppy." She's his special girl (their "little angel on earth"). The other children are a boy, Brandon age 10 1/2 who we watch play baseball all the time and another girl, Becca age 7 in July who is the apple of her Poppy's eye. The one yet to be born is another boy, Jacob William. Sherry and her family live about 45 minutes away in Lancaster, Ca.

Christopher is 27 and married 1 1/2 years to a girl from the Phillipines. Jocelyn and Chris live nearby in Burbank, Ca. They hope to start a family next year. Chris is the Asst. Manager of a nearby Florida Tile Store.

When Steve got out of the service he worked for a very short period as a cab driver. Then he went to work for Chevron Oil in a gas station. He worked there for a year and then was hired on as a driver. He drove gas trucks for 30 years in the Los Angeles area. He is a master driver, one of the few in the entire southwest division. That means no accidents, no spills, no mixes for 30 years. He also participated in the Chevron truck roadeo and was Roadeo Queen of the Van Nuys Terminal.

He was sent to several schools by Chevron. One on driving safety and one a truck driver boot camp. He even drove a truck blindfolded and put it right where he was told to. After completion of these courses, he and two other drivers from Arizona started the first Chevron Drivers College. They graduated many drivers from the southwest division in the week long safety school. Eventually Chevron said it was too costly and closed it down. All three were still driving in between teaching.

He retired two years ago after 30 years and went back part-time, two nights a week. He said he needed to pay for our new toy. :) He bought a a slightly used Ford F250 and then the following year we got a 28' 5th wheel.

Steve spent 15 years in a reinactment group, "E" Troop of Custer's 7th Cavalry. This was back in the late 1970's and 80's. The group met twice a month and rode horses and participated in parades and different things. Eventually his work didn't allow him to continue. He was on rotating days and couldn't get weekends off. He met his best friend in the group. Since then they go shooting at least once a month at a nearby private range. He doesn't like to hunt since Vietnam, both loves to target shoot. He has a large collection of old guns and reloads his own ammunition. This is his main hobby.

He has a large library of Custer and Indian Wars books and a letter written by Libby Custer. He also has an almost complete collection of old "Dick and Jane" books gleaned from eBay within a six month or so period. They go back to the early 1900's and up to the 1970's. He started with one because it was what he learned to read on.

Now that Steve and Sherrie have the 5th wheel they go once a month with friends to a local Rv park and have taken a few longer trips to Arizona. They take their motor home and we take our 5th wheel. We watch videos and shoot pool. Sherrie says usually the guys win. :) It's fun just getting away.

His latest love is our little Cairn terrier pup, Cracker. They got him last Sept. He was born the 4th of July. Thus the name. It's actually Little Scottish Firecracker. He says he loves this dog more than any other pet we've ever had. Sherrie says she is not sure why, but Cracker can get away with murder.

Steve Harris had they "pleasure" of turning 21 in Vietnam. Since I (John McCoy) had the same pleasure, I can tell you it wasn't as much fun as turning 21 in the States would have been!!

Steve was wounded on April 10, 1968. Here is an excerpt from a letter Steve wrote to Sherrie about the incident:
"Two nights ago" (April 10th) "a few others & myself were sitting on top of a bunker. Some goon creeped up to the barbed wire and let go with a rocket. The next thing I knew there was a big explosion and we were in the process of being blown off the bunker. A direct hit. Nobody was seriously hurt. But myself being so lucky I got a piece of shrapnel in the arm."

Steve did not mention in the letter that he was also knocked unconcious from the explosion. Steve did not receive a Purple Heart, but he should have. It was an oversight that unfortunately, happens from time to time in the military, especially in a combat zone. I would like to see if we could help Steve get his Purple Heart. If we can round up some withnesses, and or find out who the medic was that took care of Steve that night, please send me or Sherrie Harris an email! Sherrie's email address is: RebelSher1@aol.com
Steve was awared the Bronze Star and Army Commendation medal, along with the Vietnam Gallantry Cross from the Republic of Vietnam. Steve still has the citation, in Vietnamese.

Thanks for your service to your country, Steve.

If you would like to contact Steve Harris, former Bravo Company Platoon Leader, his email address is: BigRedOne68@aol.com