Fallen Hero

**Gezere** · Posted On: 8/08/2007 6:11am

This is for a good soldier, good student, and good friend. SGT Taurean Harris was killed last week by an IED. I met Harris when he was one of the soldiers in my Combatives class. One thing that stood out about him was that he was a hard worker. He didn't quit. If he didn't get something he worked until he got it. He would pull me to the side and ask me to work with him. That is how he was as a person. If he didn't get it he worked until he did. T was good pple and he will be missed. We held a service for him yesterday and he will be taken home to MS to be buried by his family.

FORT GORDON, GA -- A private memorial service for Sgt. Taurean T. Harris, killed Aug. 2 in Kala Gush, in Afghanistan, after a roadside bomb exploded, will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 7 at Barnes Ave. Friendship Chapel.

Fort Gordon Commanding General, Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Foley said, "We are always saddened by the loss of any member of America's military. The loss is even more deeply felt when it involves a member of our Fort Gordon family. Each casualty is a reminder of the cost paid to preserve freedom."

Lt.Col. John Birdsong, Sgt. Harris's commander (Task Force Lightning commander) said, "We are greatly saddened by the loss of Sgt. Harris. He had many friends who remember him as a big man with a bigger heart.

"We will continue to honor his selfless sacrifice through our continued commitment to provide for a stable Afghanistan that no long harbors terrorists."

Sgt. Harris, 22 of Liberty, MS, had been with the 202nd Military Intelligence Brigade for almost a year, before he deployed with Task Force Lightning, which contains elements of the 202nd MI Battalion and Army Reserve, Navy and Air Force personnel.

Task Force Lightning left Fort Gordon for Afghanistan in early December 2006. Their scheduled return is December 2007.

Sgt. Harris entered the Army in June 2003 and went to basic training at Fort Jackson, S.C. He came to Fort Gordon in October 2006.

A utility equipment repairer, Harris holds a Global War on Terrorism Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, Army Combat Action Medal, and a Good Conduct Medal.

He is survived by his mother, Yolanda Wagner, and a 22-month-old daughter, Tiana Marie Harris, both of Liberty, MS and his father, Cecil Arnold Harris.

**Tonuzaba** · Posted On: 8/08/2007 6:15am

R.I.P.
These young men should be allowed to come home on their feet and not in bodybags...

**juszczec** · Posted On: 8/08/2007 6:30am

Rest in peace

**Tom .C** · Posted On: 8/09/2007 11:18am

These soldiers are not just statistics. These are tragic losses for all of us. We owe them all.

**Teh El Macho** · Posted On: 8/09/2007 12:32pm

Sorry to hear this dude. May he rest in peace :(

**PizDoff** · Posted On: 8/09/2007 12:42pm

Originally Posted by tom.f

These soldiers are not just statistics. These are tragic losses for all of us. We owe them all.

So true.
Sorry to hear Asia
RIP.

**RegularJoe** · Posted On: 8/15/2007 5:01pm

My condolences..

**Chizilds** · Posted On: 8/15/2007 5:17pm

never easy to hear. A friend of mine had a similar fate. Anyway you try and rationalize it, it's never easy. Sorry to hear it man.

**X_plosion** · Posted On: 8/15/2007 10:59pm

Sad to hear of your friend's passing. May he rest in peace.

**Zendetta** · Posted On: 8/15/2007 11:04pm

Fuuuuck. Sorry to hear, Asia. Its easy for us civvies to get numb to the death stats. Thanks for the reminder that there is a person, story, family and LIFE (now lost) behind the numbers.

Condolences on the loss.