Private O. D. Harris was born on March 19, 1925 in Santa Rosa County, Florida, the son of Earnest Phillip "Phil" Harris (1886-1967) and Vernie Ard (1891-1977). His father supported the family most of his life as a farmer in the Wallace community. But by 1940, O.D. was working as an electrician at Eglin Field in Okaloosa County.
O.D. would enlist in the US Army on July 8, 1943 in Okaloosa County and was sent to Camp Blanding, Florida for processing and orientation. However, the young man decided to get married one week after he enlisted to Dorothy Johnson on the 15th of July. After his initial processing and basic training, he was assigned to Company "E" of the 44th Engineer Combat Battalion with the 28th Infantry Division. These types of soldiers were famous for building pontoon bridges and clearing hazards in amphibious landings. At times they were used as sappers who disarmed explosives on beachhead landings. They were also deployed to construct camouflaged structures and when required they were trained as machine gunners, anti-tank, and even as infantry.
The 28th Infantry Division sailed for England in October 1943 and landed at Normandy on July 22, 1944. They were immediately thrust into the bloody fighting in the hedgerows of St. Lo. By August 1944, they were driving toward Germany by way of Luxembourg and entered the Huertgen Forest fighting on November 2, 1944. However, on December 16, 1944 the German Army launched the infamous "Battle of the Bulge" as nine enemy divisions slammed into the American lines. Directly in their path, was the 28th Division, that contained Private O. D. Harris and his 44th Engineer Combat Battalion. The division was repeatedly attacked over and over with casualties mounting by the hour. Many of the American units fought and died having never given up their positions. As the lines began to thin, every available soldier was thrown into the line to block the oncoming enemy. Even military police, cooks, postal clerks, headquarters personnel and even the band were not spared. Up until Christmas day, the battle was touch and go, however by then the German attack began to wane as they ran out of fuel and momentum. On December 30, 1944, in the area of Luxembourg, Private Harris' battalion was still fighting to clear the remaining German units when he was killed. His body was recovered and buried in a military cemetery where it remained until December of 1948. At that time, by request of the family his remains were exhumed and sent home to his Milton. He was buried with full military honors at the Elizabeth Chapel Cemetery, Chumuckla, Florida.
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