Harris Taylor
October 4, 1932 — October 10, 2013
Harris J. "Harry" Taylor, Colonel USAF (Ret), passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family at 3:33 pm CST, on October 10, 2013. He was 81 years old. Harris was born on October 4, 1932, in Luling, Texas, to Jess E. and Blanche Harris Taylor. He had one younger brother, Charles, who preceded him in death. While his parents spent most of his early years in Cucuta, Columbia with Columbia Petroleum, Harris and his brother were raised by their grandmother on a farm in Fentress, Texas. During that time, he learned to farm, hunt, and survive off the land. Attending church he excelled in academics, skipping two grades in elementary school. After spending about two years with his parents in South America, Harris returned to Fentress to complete high school. During that time, tragedy nearly claimed his life when his grandmother's farmhouse burned to the ground one night. He escaped with only the clothes on his back and his prized coronet. He graduated from Prairie Lea High School in 1949 at the age of 16. Harris spoke fluent Spanish and some French. He loved music and was an accomplished trumpeter. His keen math skills revealed his engineering aptitude. He designed, built, and flew model aircraft, a passion he later shared with his two sons. Harris was also quite an auto mechanic and hot-rodder, known for shooting flames out through his dual exhausts! One day while driving a tractor on the farm, Harris J. looked up and saw a plane flying across the sky. It was the turning point in his life; he decided to become a military pilot. After high school, he attended Allen Military Academy in Bryan, Southwest Texas State College in San Marcos, and the University of Texas at Austin, where he studied engineering and aerospace science. Harris was anxious to begin his career and quit school to enlist in the United States Air Force. In 1952, he applied for and was immediately accepted into the Aviation Cadet Training Program. He learned to fly the AT-6 Texan tail-dragger and the Lockheed T-33 jet. Harris was named by his superiors as the top man in his Class of 53-F-1. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant, earned his aviation wings, and was selected to become a fighter pilot. During his graduation exercises at Bryan Air Force Base, he received both the outstanding military award and the Air Force's first coveted Tiger award. Harris served over 26½ years in the Air Force. His fighter career began with flying jets: the F-86 Sabre and supersonic fighter F-100 Super Sabre. He transitioned in the new F-105 Thunderchief fighter-bomber and led the first flight of the new fighters to Kadena Air Base c. 1960, "his favorite jet". Completing his overseas tour at Kadena AFB,Okinawa Harris was assigned to Nellis AFB, Nevada, and served as a Fighter Weapons System Instructor in the Air Force's elite Tactical Fighter Weapons School. In June 1966, he volunteered for combat duty in North Viet Nam, was stationed in Korat, Thailand, pulled 110 combat missions, and was highly decorated. On one of his missions, the front cone of his aircraft was completely blown off and most of one wing severely damaged while completing his mission under heavy enemy fire and helping save another pilot. For this he received the Silver Star. It was also reported that in combat as a squadron commander, he never lost a single member of his formation. Other decorations he was awarded for combat in Viet Nam include: Distinguished Flying Cross w/2 OLC, Air Medal w/12 OLC, Vietnam Service Medal w/2 BSS, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. When Harris returned to Nellis AFB, he was selected to become the chief instructor of academics at the Tactical Fighter Weapons School. He and a fellow pilot and good friend worked with General Dynamics to design an advanced FB-111 cockpit layout, which was later adopted and put into production. His next assignment was to study at the Air War College at Maxwell AFB in 1970. Then, he transferred to the 20th TFW, became the squadron commander of the Fighting Fifty-Fifth and led it to become a top-notch unit. He was promoted to the rank of 0-6, full colonel, and advanced to Director for Operations at Wing Level. At the completion of his tour, Harris transitioned to a new role as the "RM" Deputy Commander for Resource Management for Seymour Johnson AFB, NC. This final assignment prepared him for the new challenges of retirement and joining the civilian ranks. He retired from the USAF November 1, 1977. Throughout his military career, Harris received numerous decorations in addition to combat awards, some of which included: Legion of Merit w/1 OLC, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Combat Readiness Medal w/2 BSS, National Defense Service Medal w/1 BSS, and Air Force Outstanding Unit Award w/6 OLC. Despite his distinguished career, he rarely mentioned his accomplishments. Some are still classified even today. Upon retirement, Harris engaged in the sales force and became a successful real estate broker and financial investor. In his spare time, he loved to golf, fish, garden, and barbeque. Over the years, he always enjoyed pampering the family dogs, especially the golden retrievers. Harris married his high school sweetheart Myrna in 1954. They would have celebrated their 60th anniversary this coming January. Together they raised two sons who also served in the military "Rick Harris, USAF, and Richard Scott, US Army. Harris will be deeply missed by his wife and sons and their families, as well as the many friends he made over his lifetime. Duty, honor, country, and family, with character and integrity. Mission accomplished and well done, Col. Harris J. Taylor. Aim high and have a safe landing. We love you. A Memorial Service will be held at 1:30PM on Friday, November 8, 2013 at Schertz United Methodist Church, 3460 Roy Richard Dr., Schertz, TX 78154. All services will conclude at the Church.
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