Teen Killed in WWII Buried at Arlington

Cecil Harris' remains were recently found in France
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 23, 2014 1:45 PM CDT
Teen Killed in WWII Buried at Arlington
Members of the Army's 3rd US Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) lower the coffin containing the remains of Cecil Harris.   (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

A Tennessee teenager who was killed in World War II and lay in a shallow grave for 70 years finally got a proper burial yesterday at Arlington, reports the Tennessean. Army private Cecil Harris, who was killed in battle on Jan. 2, 1945, was laid to rest with full military honors. French hikers found his remains last year near the France-Germany border, and they were returned to the US over the summer.

"I'm just proud I got to follow him before they put him in the resting place," says son Eddie Harris, who hadn't yet been born when his father left for the war. His mother is still alive, but at age 90 was unable to make the trip to Virginia for the ceremony. As WBIR explains, Harris and his platoon came under attack in Dambach, France, and when the soldiers finally regrouped, they realized Harris was missing. (Click to read about another WWII vet who had to leave behind a pregnant wife, though he made it back alive.)

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