Harris to be guest speaker on Veterans Day
Sergeant First Class (US Army Retired) Curtis B. Harris is scheduled to be the guest speaker for the Veterans Day assembly slated for 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 11 inside the Mountain Grove High School Arena.
The following information is biographical information on the guest speaker:
Harris is the son of Jack C. Harris (Sergeant First Class US Army Retired) and Jutta Harris. He is also a husband to Angela Harris and father of Taylor McNulty and Madi Harris as well as the grandfather of Andrew and Madilyn McNulty.
Sergeant First Class Harris graduated from Mountain Grove High School in May 1986. Upon graduation, he attended college at Southwest Missouri State University. Upon completion of his studies, he entered the United States Army on Sep. 15, 1988, where he completed Infantry Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Leonard Wood, serving in the Missouri Army National Guard assigned to the 1138th Military Police Company until he entered active duty in May 1996 in support of Operation Joint Endeavor.
During his time of military service, Sergeant First Class Harris was assigned to the 463rd Military Police Company at Fort Leonard Wood serving as a Team Leader. The 551st Military Police Company, 716th Military Police Battalion, 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Ky. serving as a Squad Leader, the 58th Military Police Company, 728th Military Police Battalion, 25th Infantry Division, serving as a squad leader and Detachment Sergeant, The United States Army Military Police School located at Fort Leonard Wood serving as an Advanced Individual Training Instructor and Committee Chief. He also served with the 164th Military Police Company, 793 Military Police Battalion, 25th Infantry Division Arctic Enforcers Joint Base Elmendorf / Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, serving as a Platoon Sergeant and Detachment Sergeant.
He completed his military service at Fort Leonard Wood serving on the United States Army Military Police School Commandant and Military Police Regimental Commander staff on May 1, 2016.
During his service, Sergeant First Class Harris served in numerous imminent danger regions and war time conflicts. He was deployed to Panama in support of Operation Just Cause and two additional rotations into Panama, Bosnia in support of Operation Joint Endeavor, Kosovo during Operation Joint Guardian, a NATO allied Mission to provide stability in the region. He was also deployed to Saudi Arabia at the end of the Gulf War, deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, where he received two Campaign Stars, and served in Operation Iraqi Freedom during the Iraq Conflict
Sergeant First Class Harris’ awards include the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service medal (second award), Army Commendation medal ( fourth award), Army Achievement medal (fourth award), Joint Service Achievement medal, Armed Forces Achievement medal, National Defense Service medal (second award), Armed Forces Expeditionary medal, Global War on Terrorism Service medal, Kosovo Campaign medal, Humanitarian Service medal, Non Commissioned Officers Professional Development ribbon (third award), Army Service ribbon, NATO medal, Overseas Service ribbon (third Award), Army Reserves Component Training ribbon, the German Armed Forces fitness badge (silver), and the US Army Air Assault badge. Sergeant First Class Harris was also inducted into the prestigious Sergeant Audie Leon Murphy Award and Medallion. His military training includes Warrior Leaders Course, Advanced Leaders Course, Air Assault School, Basic Army Instructors Course, Combat Communications Course, Equal Opportunity Course, Physical Security Course, Senior Leaders Course and Special Reaction Team Course (SRT). Sergeant First Class also completed Arctic Survival training in Northern Alaska and Jungle Survival training in the Jungles of Panama.
Sergeant First Class Harris is a lifetime member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 3770, a member of the American Legion Post No. 30 and member of Faith Chapel Church located in Vanzant. His distinguished military service span is over 27 years and is currently residing south of Mountain Grove where he and Angela raise Angus cattle on their farm. He is also a loan officer at Uplift Bank (formerly Legacy Bank and Trust).