Lester E. Harris Papers

Collection

Identifier: TMD339

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Collection contains family correspondence (1944-1945); military records (1943, 1945), ephemera: Italian lira currency, soldier's sewing kit, Germany Army wound badge (ca.1940s); publications: Remount Blue: The Combat Story of the Third Battalion, 86th Mountain Infantry by David Brower (1948), The Truth about Trooper by Barbara Steinhauser (1998); photographs and postcards (ca.1945).

Dates

1943-2004

Creator

Harris, Lester E.(Lester Everett),1918-2004. (Person)
Harris, Phil, (Person)

Language of Materials

Material is in English unless otherwise noted.

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

All requests for permission to publish, reproduce, or quote from material in the collection should be discussed with the appropriate librarian or archivist. Permission for publication may be given on behalf of the Denver Public Library as the owner of the physical item. It is not intended to include or permission of the copyright holder, which also must be obtained by the customer. The imply Library does not assume any responsibility for infringement of copyright or publication rights of the manuscript held by the writer, heirs, donors, or executors. Reproduction restrictions are decided on a case-by-case basis.

Biographical / Historical

Lester E. “Everett” Harris was born March 13, 1918 at Beaver, Utah, the son of Lester E. and Lora Jean (Burt) Harris. He married Margaret Barton in March 1937 at Parowan, (Iron County), Utah at age 18. Census records indicate that by 1940, Harris was living in Logan, Utah. Harris enlisted in the Army June 13, 1944 at Fort Douglas, Utah. At the time of his enlistment, Harris had two years of college, which meant he was quite well-educated for that period of time. He was working as a carpenter. Harris joined the 10th Mountain Division at Camp Swift, Texas, where he was assigned to Company K, 3rd Battalion, 86th Infantry Regiment. Of approximately 20,000 men who fought in Italy with the 10th Mountain Division, Harris was one of only 437 to receive multiple Bronze Star Medals. He received one for his actions near Vidiciatico, Italy on January 27, 1945 and another for actions in the battle for the Po River Valley April 20, 1945. After returning from the war, Harris became an architectural mill worker. He helped design and build many commercial businesses, schools churches and banks in Utah as co-owner of Ace Mill and Fixture. Harris worked on the original Salt Lake City airport, the visitors' center on Temple Square, the Indian school in Lucachuca, Arizona, most of the buildings on the USU campus and many LDS churches. Harris passed away May 22, 2004 at Logan, Utah and is interred at the Logan City Cemetery.