Army Pvt. Devon J. Harris

Remember Our Heroes

Army Pvt. Devon J. Harris, 24, of Mesquite, Texas

Pvt Harris was assigned to Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 10th Mountain Division, at Ft. Polk, La.; died Nov. 27, 2010 in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with a rocket-propelled grenade.

A half-decorated Christmas tree stands in the Harris home. The family's holiday celebration was interrupted this weekend by a knock at the door.

Sorainya Harris must now face Christmas this year without her youngest son, Devon Harris. The 24-year-old Army private had been in Afghanistan only a month when a rocket-propelled grenade killed him.

"He wanted to make something of himself," she said. "He wanted to be a history teacher and thought that was the best way for him to go."

"I think the job he did, he enjoyed it," said Christopher Harris, Devon's brother. "Like I said, that was what he always talked about."

He joined the military only last year. But, for years, Harris had served others by volunteering at his church and his school, Skyline High School in Dallas.

Family members said he was a deep, thoughtful man who played the violin for years.

"He was like my best friend, always watched out for me," said Ashley Harris, his twin sister. "I trusted him with anything."

Now, at a time when they should be celebrating, silence fills the Harris home. "Its going to be empty, for sure," his mother said.

Harris joined the Army in August 2009. After training, he arrived at Fort Polk in December 2009 and deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in October 2010.

Harris's awards include the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Army Service Ribbon.

Army Pvt. Devon J. Harris was killed in action on 11/27/10.