Rabaul, New Britain – SSgt. Glendon E. Harris is finally returning home to be laid to rest beside his parents, Alton and Bessie Harris. SSgt. Harris was an American hero who was killed in action while serving his country and the free world during World War II. He was killed over Rabaul, New Britain in a B-25D-1 Mitchell bomber while on a mission for the Army/Air Force on Oct. 24, 1943. The remains of SSgt. Harris and his crew were recently recovered by the Army in Labanga Point Plantation, East New Britain, where their plane went down.

He received the following awards for his service in the Army/Air Force: American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with eight bronze service stars for participation in the Papuan, China Defense, East Indies, Guadalcanal, New Guinea, Northern Solomons, Bismarck Archipelago and Air Offense Japan Campaigns, Distinguished Unit Emblem with one cluster bronze oak leaf cluster, Presidential Accolade, Good Conduct Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Aerial Gunner Badge, Purple Heart and the Air Medal for Meritorious Achievement.

He was born July 24, 1921, in Lewiston, grew up in North Monmouth and graduated from Monmouth Academy in 1939. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in December 1940, received his training in Savannah, Ga., and Newark, N.J., where upon he served in Australia and New Guinea as a Turret gunner in a B-25.

His nearest living relatives are his nephews, Larry Roberts of Winthrop and Roger Harris of Monmouth; and his nieces, Marie Fisher of East Winthrop, Maxine Pray of Winthrop, Jeanne Hatch of Monmouth, Roxanne Ridlon of DeLand, Fla., Charlotte Powell of Enfield, Conn. and Esha Dakavana of Brattleboro, Vt.

Besides his parents, he had five brothers, Emory Harris, David Harris, Ronald Harris, Louis Harris and Oren Harris; and two sisters, Eleanor Roberts and Alta Daker, all of whom are deceased without having seen him returned home. His brother, Emory Harris and his sister, Eleanor Roberts, recently deceased, did live long enough to provide their DNA to help identify his remains and to know that he would be returned home.