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Military Services for PFC Thomas Harris (Obituary as written in THE SPENCER ADVOCATE; SPENCER, NEBRASKA THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1948) Funeral services were held for Pvt. Thomas L. (Leroy) Harris on Friday, September 3rd (1948) at the Community Hall at 2 o’clock p.m. The body arrived Wednesday evening on the train and was met by a group of Legion men who acted as escorts to the Jones funeral home. Sgt. John Smith escorted the body from Kansas City to Spencer (Nebraska). Full military rites were conducted with Elvin Reed in charge of the firing squad. Robert Hamilton and Wm. Maxwell served as color bearers. Charles Pecena and Thomas Boska as color guards and Sheridan Wells, Ed Prouty, Leo Fiala, Ernest Papstein, Harold Klasna, and Leon Jones served in firing squad. Rev. J. C. Jorgensen officiated, and music was furnished by a men’s quartet consisting of Ivan Hiatt, John Oatman, Orchard Friedrich, and Bruce Hubby with Mrs. P. O. Friedrich at the piano. Pallbearers were Don Angel, Donnell Serk, Ray Nemec, Don Bursell, Willard Rust, and Gerald Hamilton. P.F.C. Thomas L. Harris next to the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Jess (Mary) Harris of Spencer was born at Butte, April 3, 1924, and died at Zamboanga, Philippine Islands from wounds received in action on April 14, 1945. He attended school at Butte and Bristow and graduated from Spencer High School in the year 1943. He entered the armed service on August 14, 1943, left the U. S. in May 1944. He served in New Guinea, East Indies, and Philippine Islands, receiving the Purple Heart. He leaves to mourn his passing his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jesse (Mary) Harris of Spencer; four sisters Mrs. Ray (Opal) Haney of Butte; Mrs. John (Muriel) W. Strickland, Arp, Texas; Mrs. John (Lucille) Stroh of Lynch; Mrs. Nick (Jessie) Berens of Spencer. Three brothers, Carl of Woodland, Wyoming; Joe of Lynch; and Howard at home; five nieces, six nephews, and one great niece. Brief military rites were held at the Spencer Union cemetery with prayer following the playing of the taps by Harold Hume. Walter Papstein assisted Dr. J. M. Pucelik in folding the flag who presented it to Mrs. Harris.
