James Warren Harrison

West Point, 1981

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by SFC William Reynolds on November 20, 2009:

Thinking about COL Harrison these last couple years I found it hard to put my feelings into words. I first met COL Harrison at the Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth when he became our Commandant. There I immediately knew him as a genuine, approachable and professional commander. He was the kind of person who could meet you one time, remember everything that came up during the conversation and recall the information the next time you spoke, even several months later. I was assigned to the USDB the entire time he was the commandant. In late 2006 I met up with him again. We both arrived at CRC, Ft. Benning to ready for our deployment to Afghanistan. Knowing COL Harrison from before I instantly gravitated to him because that was the kind of person he was, approachable. We flew into Afghanistan together and worked on opposite ends of the same mission where we had fairly frequent contact. I learned about the incident moments after it happened and learned the details later that day. It was my honor to attend his ramp-side honors in Afghanistan and be able to say goodbye to him in person. Every time I go to Fort Leonard Wood I make it a point to view his bricks on the MP walkway and every year I take the time to honor his memory. I express my deepest condolences to all who held this hero in high regard. COL Harrison is and will continue to be missed by many of the men and women he commanded and mentored. Very respectfully, SFC William Reynolds

admin