Richard Lee Harris

West Point, 1951

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Jose A. "Andy" Chacon on November 2, 2012:

Richard Lee Harris Born December 26, 1928 -- Died October 23, 2012 Richard Lee "Bucky" Harris was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on 26 December 1928 and was appointed to West Point as a Qualified Alternate. At West Point his classmates observed: "Undaunted by a somewhat tardy arrival at West Point, (fifteen days), Bucky set about immediately to make up for lost time. He was not satisfied merely to earn stars, but also gained fame in the cage at Smith Rink and on the mound at Doubleday Field. In his remaining free time, Bucky was a loyal defender of the Pittsburgh Pirates and will undoubtedly be as loyal a soldier on his graduation." Bucky went out for Hockey all four years and earned a Major "A" in this sport as well as in Baseball. He was our class historian and served as Cadet Captain and Cadet Company Commander of Company G-l. He graduated number four in our class in order of general merit. On graduation Bucky went into the Corps of Engineers. His first assignment was to the 32nd Engineer Combat Battalion from 1951 to 1952. He then served as Platoon Leader, Company Commander & S3 with the 13th Engineer Combat Battalion, 7th Infantry Division in Korea from 1952 to 1953. He was decorated with the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart. His next assignment was to the United States Engineer District, Philadelphia where he served from 1953 to 1954. In 1956 Bucky earned a Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In 1957 he attended the Oak Ridge School of Reactor Technology and on completion was assigned to the New York Operations Office, USAEC, as Army Technical Operations Officer from 1957 to 1959. He was appointed Officer in Charge, SM-1A Nuclear Power Plant, Alaska for performance testing and initial operation with a completely military crew, from 1960 to 1962, for which he was awarded the Legion of Merit. Bucky attended the Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas in 1962-3. Assigned to Headquarters Strike Command from 1963 to 1965, he was awarded the Joint Service Commendation Medal. Then assigned as Commander 20th Engineer Combat Battalion, Fort Devons, he deployed the battalion to the Republic of Vietnam from 1965 to 1966 for which he received a second Legion of Merit. Bucky attended the National War College in 1966-7 and on completion was assigned to the Office, Chief of Staff, United States Army from 1967 to 1968, where he was awarded a third Legion of Merit. Then came an assignment to Headquarters, United States Army, Pacific from 1968 to 1970 and a fourth Legion of Merit. He then was named Commanding Officer, Division Support Command & later Deputy Commander, 3rd Brigade (Sep), 1st Cavalry Division (AM), Republic of Vietnam from 1970 to 1971. He was awarded a fifth Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, and four Air Medals for this duty. He returned for assignment as Assistant Commandant of The Engineer School, Fort Belvoir, Virginia from 197I to 1973. His next assignment was as Director, MIS, Office, Chief of Staff, United States Army from 1973 to 1976. Bucky was then appointed Commanding General, United States Army Training Center, Engineer and Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri from 1976 to 1978. His last military assignment was as Division Engineer, North Central Division USACE from 1978 to 1980. Bucky retired in 1980 as a Major General and was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal. Following retirement he was elected Vice President, Radian Corporation in 1981 and served until 1993 when he retired again. Bucky and his wife Pat made their home in Austin, Texas. They have two daughters, Sandy and Jill, twin sons, Bill and Bob, and six grandchildren.

admin