Enlisted on 9 March 1969 at age 17 while in senior year of high school.  Forced to retire on 27 October 2013 at the age of 62 and two months after having served continuously as a member of the U.S. Army for 44 years, 7 months and 18 days, with over 42 and a half years on flying status.
Last military aviator from any branch of service who flew combat missions in Vietnam, to retire while still on full, uniformed flight status.  Proud to have still been on flight status & drawing Max ACIP (Flight Pay), for two months after I was eligible to start drawing Social Security.
Presented with the FAA Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award in 2021, for having safely accumulated over 50 years of continuous, combined military and civil piloting experience.
Retired from the U.S. Department of State; flew UH-1H+ "Super Hueys" for the Kern County Fire Department until November, 2021; wife Jeanne, still teaches second grade. Â
Other Comments:
BARSTOW-DAGGETT Airport, Calif. (December 13, 2011) --
91st Division soldier speaks at Ft. Irwin Huey retirement
Chief Warrant Officer 5 John M. Harris talks about his experiences in a
Huey to the guests assembled at the Huey retirement ceremony at Fort
Irwin, CA.
Photo by Staff Sgt. Robert Van Tuinen
Story by Staff Sgt. Robert Van Tuinen
Chief Warrant Officer 5 John M. Harris, Senior
Aviation Observer/Controller for the 91st Training Division
and an Instructor Pilot for the NTC, was the guest speaker
for the National Training Center UH-1 retirement ceremony.
The last three UH-1 Iroquois Huey aircraft that
were part of the National Training Center inventory at Fort
Irwin, ceased operations Dec. 15, 2011, by Department of
the Army Directive. Within a year there will not be any
Hueys operated by the U. S. Army.
The ceremony was hosted by Bravo Company,
2916th Aviation Battalion at the NTC Aviation Companys
Hanger, Barstow-Daggett Airport, about 12 miles east of
Barstow, Ca. Harris was asked to speak at this event by Col.
Brown, NTC Chief of Staff and also the senior Army Aviator
assigned to the NTC. Harris opened his speech by saying:
"It is an honor for me, as allegedly the last Vietnam Huey
Aircraft Commander who is still in uniform on Army flight
status and still flying Hueys, to be here today and to share
with you my thoughts on this occasion." Harris has served
over 42 years in the U. S. Army including time in Vietnam,
Korea, Jamaica, Somalia, Bosnia, Kosovo, OEF, OIF and Qatar.
He has received many decorations to
include the Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star.
Many other veteran Huey pilots and mechanics
were able to attend the event. Current pilots and support
staff for the UH-1 Iroquois received awards for their service.
Ft. Irwin Post Commander Brig. Gen. Terry Ferrell
and Post Command Sgt. Maj. Nathan E. Buckner attended
as well.
Harris concluded his speech with the words: "I will
paraphrase retired General of the Army Douglas MacArthur
by saying, Old Hueys never die; they just fade away,
and each and every one of us can warmly recall our powerful
memories of her as she gracefully, just fades away."
Following the ceremony the last three Hueys performed a
flyover; the lead Huey piloted by Harris. The guests then
watched them gracefully fade away, symbolizing the end of
their service at Fort Irwin.
Photo by Staff Sgt. Robert Van Tuinen
Sgt. Major Rupertson Espinosa, Chief
Warrant Officer 5 John M. Harris and
1st Sgt. Jon Sevilla stand in front of the
UH-1 Huey that Harris would later
fly to lead the team of three Hueys in
a flyover before all three faded away
into the distance symbolizing the end
of their service at Ft. Irwin. https://www.army.mil/article/71855/UH_1_helicopters_retire_from_service_at_National_Training_Center/
(See video below)
FORT IRWIN, Calif. (April 16, 2012) -- On April 4, two simple words made a big impact on several hundred Vietnam-era veterans gathered at Fort Irwin -- "thank you."
The veterans took part in Fort Irwin's third annual Vietnam-era Veterans Welcome Home ceremony. The day's events kicked off with a motorcycle parade made up of several hundred veterans, Soldiers, and community members who made their way from the California Veterans Home-Barstow to Fort Irwin.
On reaching the installation, the riders were greeted by the students of Fort Irwin Middle School and Tiefort View Intermediate School, who lined the streets armed with signs, flags, and enthusiasm. For some veterans, it was the first time anyone had thanked them for their service.
"I didn't get a very good welcome, so it puts a smile on your face to finally be welcomed home," said Mike Miller, an employee of Northrop Grumman at Fort Irwin and Marine Corps Vietnam veteran. "At one time I wouldn't even admit I was a Vietnam veteran."
The motorcycle parade ended at Army Field, where veterans and the community could observe static displays of tanks and Bradley Fighting Vehicles, as well as UH-1 Iroquois "Huey" helicopters.
"The 2012 welcome home event isn't about the war, it isn't about blame, and it isn't about the protesters," said Hayley Violand, the event's master of ceremonies. "It is about understanding."
Brig. Gen. Terry Ferrell, commander of the National Training Center and Fort Irwin, thanked the veterans for taking the time to attend the ceremony.
"What is so fitting about today is that this welcome home ceremony is taking place at the National Training Center, because these kids coming through here will be the future veterans," Ferrell said.
The ceremony's featured guest speaker, Chief Warrant Officer 5 John Harris, holds several unique historical distinctions. In addition to being one of the last Vietnam veterans to continue serving in uniform, he was also the last Army reservist to be voluntarily mobilized and deployed to Vietnam, and was among the last 500 Americans to leave the country, on Mar. 28, 1973. A UH-1 Huey helicopter pilot for over 40 years, Harris reflected on the aircraft's role in the Vietnam War and in the lives of Soldiers. The Huey was officially retired from the National Training Center's inventory in December 2011.
"To those assembled today who have had the honor to fly, crew or ride in this magnificent machine, we are the chosen ones," Harris said. "No other helicopter in the history of aviation evokes the feelings she does."
Harris wore his Army uniform from his Vietnam days to the ceremony, which he said was dedicated to the memory of WO-1 Anthony Dal Pozzo, Harris' platoon mate and the last Army helicopter pilot and Huey crew member, to be killed in Vietnam.
"Those of us who went know we did serve honorably, that we did the right thing with the right intention," Harris said. "We paved the way for our current brethren. Thank you and welcome home, my brothers."
Fort Irwin Soldiers presented the veterans with commemorative pins as a sign of respect and gratitude for their service.
"It's really good how they treat the Soldiers now," said Stephen Wright, a retired Army sergeant first class who served in Vietnam. "They're the ones who deserve respect." (See video below)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Favorite Movie:
Mister Roberts is absolutely my #1 military movie of all time. From the first time I saw it when I was about 12 years of age, Henry Fonda's character, LT(jg) Doug Roberts, provided lessons on how one should always do the right thing as a group leader. It also showed that if it should happen, several strategies regarding how to best confront and overcome horrible leadership above you and to not take an unwarranted "No", as a final answer.Â
When I was told that it would be impossible in 1972 to get activated from the USAR as a 20-year old novice helicopter pilot & deployed for combat duty in Vietnam, I recalled how Roberts character in the film, overcame his obstacles and obtained a combat assignment. I stayed the course, got my mobilization and deployment orders, and when I finally arrived in Vietnam, I again thanked this film for its inspiration.
Description On 20 June 1998 the NATO-led Stabilization Force in Bosnia-Herzegovina transitioned to a slightly smaller follow-on force. Simultaneously, Operation Joint Guard ended and Operation Joint Forge began. The United States agreed to provide a force of approximately 6,900 US Service members to help maintain the military force in Bosnia-Herzegovina. This force, a component of the NATO Stabilization Force (SFOR), remained designated Task Force Eagle. The first US SFOR contingent in support of Operation Joint Forge was led by the 1st Cavalry Division, America's First Team, from Fort Hood, Texas. The reduced size Task Force Eagle had a mission to maintain a capable military force in Bosnia-Herzegovina. No timetable or timeline for the duration of Operation Joint Forge was initially determined. The mission would be assessed periodically and the force size would be adjusted, as circumstances required. The decision was finally made in 2004 to end Operation Joint Forge and inactivate SFOR, with continuing support in Bosnia and Herzegovina to be carried out by a force led by the European Union. The US Task Force Eagle was officially inactivated on 24 November 2004 and on 2 December 2004, the SFOR mission ended and the EUFOR mission was inaugurated.
On 1 June 1997, the Headquarters, 16th Air Expeditionary Wing was designated and activated at Aviano Air Base, Italy. The 16th Air Expeditionary Wing provided direction, control, support, administrative control, and uniform code of military justice authority for more than 1,300 United States Air Force personnel stationed throughout Europe in support of Operation Joint Guard and then Operation Joint Forge. These units, located in Istres, France; Rimini and San Vito, Italy; Tuzla and Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina; Zagreb, Croatia; Taszar, Hungary, and Rhein Main, Germany comprised the lion's share of the USAF contingent of NATO's Stabilization Force (SFOR). Since its inception, 16th Air Expeditionary Wing worked a number of high-profile initiatives in support of the SFOR mission. These included the relocation of KC-135 operations from Pisa, Italy to Istres, France; the installation of air navigation aid equipment at Tuzla, Air Base, Bosnia-Herzegovina to support Russian and SFOR partner air operations; quality-of life-improvements for U-2 crews and support personnel at Istres France, and the holiday visit of President Bill Clinton to the Operation Joint Forge area of responsibility.
Under a plan approved in 2001 by General Eric K. Shinseki, Chief of Staff of the Army, the US Army programmed selected active and reserve forces for service in Bosnia and Kosovo through May 2005. This was a prudent measure taken to provide predictability for soldiers and units to ensure they were given adequate time to train for the Balkans mission. The rotation plan would also provide better linkages between the active and reserve forces, mitigate the effects of high operational tempo, and better sustain the Army's overall levels of readiness for contingency operations. Under the plan, units from the active Army and reserve component would support the SFOR mission in Bosnia or the Kosovo Force (KFOR) for 6-month periods. All units for the planned SFOR rotations 9 through 16 would be drawn from active Army divisions, Army National Guard divisions, the Army Reserve, and a mix of active/reserve units. The Army set a historical precedent when it designated the 49th Armored Division, Texas Army National Guard, as the headquarters for active and reserve forces conducting the SFOR mission between March and October 2000.
On 2 December 2003, SFOR confirmed that due to the improved security situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina that it would reduce to a deterrent force of approximately 7,000 multinational soldiers by June 2004. SFOR considered how to adjust the operation further, including its possible termination by the end of 2004 and a transition possibly to a new NATO military liaison and advisory mission (with NATO Headquarters in Sarajevo) and to a new European Union mission. In response, Multinational Brigade (North) also transformed its future force structure to meet the requirements of the new deterrent force. Planning for that force structure was conducted by the existing MNB(N) headquarters to help them prepare to execute the deterrent force mission when the 34th Infantry Division transferred authority to the 38th Infantry Division in April 2004.
At the Istanbul Summit in June 2004, NATO Heads of State and Government agreed that in light of the improved security situation in the country SFOR could be concluded at the end of that year. A ceremony in Sarajevo on 2 December 2004 marked the conclusion of the NATO-led SFOR mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the beginning of the European Union's follow-on mission EUFOR. The NATO-led SFOR was brought to a successful conclusion almost exactly 9 years since NATO deployed forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina in what was the Alliance's first peacekeeping operation. The end to Operation Joint Forge in 2004 also meant that the US Army's planned SFOR-16 rotation would not occur, making the SFOR-15 rotation, led by the 38th Infantry Division (Mechanized) (Indiana Army National Guard), the last deployment in support of SFOR.
The European Union subsequently deployed its own mission, EUFOR, to take on key security tasks in the country. EUFOR derived its mandate from a new UN Security Council resolution and had an initial strength of 7,000 that was equal in size to SFOR. The EUFOR mission was supported by NATO under the so-called 'Berlin Plus' arrangements that provide the framework for NATO-EU cooperation.
The successful termination of SFOR did not spell the end of NATO's engagement in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Alliance retained a military headquarters in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but the nature of NATO's engagement was very different. The NATO Headquarters, which was headed by a one-star US general with a staff of around 150, was to focus on defense reform in the country, as well as counter-terrorism, apprehending war-crimes suspects, and intelligence-gathering.
My Participation in This Battle or Operation
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Last Updated: Oct 30, 2021
Personal Memories
People You Remember 1st Cav Div Commander MG Kevin Byrnes.
Memories Being given Operational Control by MG Byrnes of a squad of MP's and directed to conduct a low-profile operation near the Drina River.
