Gunnery Sergeant William Harris

Gunnery Sergeant Harris enlisted in the Marine Corps on 6 July 2003 and underwent recruit training at 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, Hotel Company, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC.

In October 2003, Private Harris completed Marine Combat Training at The School of Infantry Camp Geiger, NC. He then received orders to Fort Leonard Wood, MO where he attended the Basic Motor Vehicle Operators Course. Upon graduation in January 2004, he was promoted to Private First Class and received orders to report to First Service Support Group, First Marine Logistics Group, Camp Pendleton, CA.

In January 2004 Private First Class Harris was deployed to Ramadi, Iraq with Combat Service Support Company 113 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. During this tour Private First Class Harris served as a Tactical Motor Vehicle Operator for more than 80 logistic convoys, providing supplies to Marines and Sailors fighting in Falluja and Ramadi, Iraq. In August 2004 Private First Class Harris was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal.

In January 2005 Lance Corporal Harris received Temporary Additional orders to the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit. In July 2005 Lance Corporal Harris deployed to Egypt with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit. During this deployment Lance Corporal Harris conducted more than 20 logistic convoys in support of training exercise Bright Star-05. At the conclusion of the training exercise, the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit was redirected to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. During this time Corporal Harris Conducted more than 30 Tactical Convoys in support of combat operations in the cities of Heet and Al-Baghdadi, Iraq. During this time Lance Corporal Harris was promoted to the rank of Corporal.

In August 2006 Corporal Harris deployed with Combat Logistics Battalion-1 as the Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge for the Motor Transport and Heavy Equipment Section, Camp Hadithah Dam Detachment. During this time Corporal Harris was responsible for coordinating the offload of resupply convoys and providing life sustaining heavy equipment and motor transportation support to Camp Hadithah Dam. In addition Corporal Harris coordinated more than 100 resupply convoys to Forward Operating Bases in the Hadidthah Triad Area.

In July 2007 Corporal Harris received orders to Headquarters and Service Bn, Quantico, VA where he served as the Equipment Control Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge. His duties entailed supervising the induction of the unit’s fleet into the maintenance cycle, conducting quality checks on vehicles prior to them leaving on missions. In addition Corporal Harris was responsible conducting over 2,000 training miles ensuring the unit was mission capable. In October 2007 Corporal Harris was promoted to the rank of Sergeant.

In December 2008 Sergeant Harris received orders to 4th Marine Corps Recruiting District Headquarters, New Cumberland, PA as the Motor Transportation Chief. During this time Sergeant Harris managed the command’s fleet of more than 650 government vehicles.

In April 2011 Sergeant Harris received orders to Drill Instructor School, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC. During this period Sergeant Harris served as a Drill Instructor and Senior Drill Instructor for Fox Company. In December 2013 he was promoted to Staff Sergeant.

In July 2014 Staff Sergeant Harris received orders to Combat Logistics Regiment 15, Camp Pendleton, CA. During this time Staff Sergeant Harris served the command as a Motor Transportation Chief, Safety Officer and Environmental Compliance Coordinator. In November 2014 he received Temporary Additional Duty orders to the Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force 15.1 as the Command Element’s Motor Transportation Chief.

In April 2017 Staff Sergeant Harris was assigned to the NROTC unit at the University of Wisconsin where he currently serves as the Assistant Marine Officer Instructor.  In July 2018 he was promoted to Gunnery Sergeant.

His personal awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with three gold stars and the Combat Action Ribbon.