Corporal Gregory Harris was the radio operator for an artillery Forward Observer team operating with the 5th RVN Marine Battalion. On 12 June 1966 the battalion was conducting a a search and destroy mission when it was attacked by Viet Cong forces and suffered heavy losses.

Two Marine officers (Captain Thomas J. Kennedy, Naval Advisory Group, and 2nd Lt Richard T Armstrong, Hotel 3/11) with the 5th ARVN Marine Battalion were killed and Cpl Harris could not be located. The battlefield remained in Viet Cong hands through the night of 12/13 June.

On 13 June friendly forces regained control of the area and recovered both dead and wounded. Two wounded Vietnamese Marines reported seeing Corporal Harris; one reported that Harris had moved into an area of heavy foliage while the other reported seeing Harris captured by the enemy. Both Vietnamese died of their wounds before they could be questioned further. ARVN agents in the area at the time reported on 14 Jun 66 that two Vietnamese Marines were captured by the Viet Cong. There was no mention of an American prisoner. All the personnel that were with the 5th RVN Marine Battalion on 12 Jun 1966 were accounted for except the two Vietnamese Marines who were reported captured and Corporal Harris.

Corporal Harris was classed as Missing in Action. His name never appeared on a Prisoner of War list, he was not released with the other POWs in February 1973, and his remains were never repatriated. On 26 Feb 1980, 14 years after his loss, the Secretary of the Navy approved a Presumptive Finding of Death, changing his status from MIA to Died while Missing.

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Junny Jackson

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