Harold D. Harris

Harold D. Harris
Nickname(s)	"Bucky"
Born	February 4, 1903
Died	September 20, 1984 (aged 81) Lakeland, Florida
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Marine Corps
Rank	Brigadier General
Service number	0-3969
Commands held	5th Marine Regiment
Battles/wars	World War II Guadalcanal Campaign Battle of Cape Gloucester Battle of Peleliu
Awards	Legion of Merit Purple Heart

Harold D. "Bucky" Harris (February 4, 1903 - September 20, 1984) was a United States Marine Corps officer with the rank of Brigadier General. Harris fought guerrillas in Nicaragua, and subsequently the Japanese in World War II, while commanding 5th Marine Regiment.

Service

His service included:

• 2nd LT in Nicaragua, wounded 19 Feb 1929 ^[1]
• Major with Col. del Valle at Headquarters, Plans and Policies Division, conducted study of Division structures^[2]
• LT. Colonel, Hqtr D-2 at the Battle of Cape Gloucester after 24 February^[3][4]
• Colonel Commanding 5th Marines at the Battle of Peleliu^[5][6][7]

The study of Division structures and made recommendations basic to later USMC including triangular model (3 regiments, 3 battalions, 3 companies, 3 platoons, etcetera) focus on logistics and artillery and tank transport (landing craft), and formation as an offensive organization.^[8] Commanding at Pelelieu, he is known for the phrase "be lavish with ordnance and stingy with men's lives" after aerial reconnaissance convinced him siege tactics would be required, using artillery and napalm or 'blowtorch and corkscrew' instead of frontal assault.^[9][10]

Decorations and Awards

Harris's military awards include:

	Legion of Merit [11]
	Purple Heart
	Second Nicaraguan Campaign Medal
	American Defense Service Medal
	American Campaign Medal
	Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with four service stars
	World War II Victory Medal
	Order of Ouissam Alaouite, Degree of Commander[12]

External links

• Marine Corps History Division Publications

References

1. "The U.S. Marines in Nicaragua 1910-1933". Retrieved 2 January 2015.
2. Daugherty, Leo (2008). Pioneers of Amphibious Warfare, 1898-1945: Profiles of Fourteen American Military Strategists. p. 289. ISBN 978-0786433940.
3. "The Six Marine Divisions in the Pacific". Retrieved 2 January 2015.
4. "USMC Mongraph -- The Campaign on New Britain; Appendix VII, Command and Staff". Retrieved 2 January 2015.
5. "Bloody Beaches" (PDF). Retrieved 3 January 2015.
6. "The Umbregol Pocket". Retrieved 3 January 2015.
7. "The Early Battle in Division Center". Retrieved 3 January 2015.
8. "Pioneers of Amphibious Warfare, 1898-1945: Profiles of Fourteen American Military Strategists". Retrieved 4 January 2015.
9. "Bloody Beaches". Retrieved 2 January 2015.
10. McEnrey, Jim (2012). Hell in the Pacific : a Marine rifleman's journey from Guadalcanal to Peleliu. Simon & Schuster. p. 258. ISBN 978-1-4516-5913-9.
11. "Valor awards for Harold D. Harris". Retrieved 3 January 2015.
12. "Private Law 85-704" (PDF). United States Statutes at Large, Volume 72, 85th Congress, 2nd Session. Retrieved 22 January 2015.