Richard Francis Harrison Papers

1943-1945
Manuscript Collection #552
Creator(s)
Harrison, Richard Francis, 1917-1945
Physical description
0.125 Cubic Feet
Preferred Citation
Richard Francis Harrison Papers (#552), East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.
Repository
ECU Manuscript Collection
Access
No restrictions

Photographs taken in the Philippine Islands and a biographical sketch of USMC Major Harrison, USNA class of 1941.


Biographical/historical information

Originally from Asheville, North Carolina, Richard Francis Harrison was born on 26 August 1917. He joined the United States Navy in 1935, serving aboard SS Concord. After graduating from the United States Naval Academy, class of 1941, he chose to join the United States Marine Corps. He served a brief tour in Iceland between 1941 and 1942, before returning to the States. Harrison then went through pilot training, earned his wings, and served in Zamboanga, Philippines, with the Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 115. His plane was shot down on 26 May 1945 during fighting with Japanese forces, and he was declared missing in action for over a year before his remains were recovered. He is now buried in a family plot in Oxford, New York. Major Harrison received several awards for his time in the service, including the American Defense Service Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, Victory Medal, and the Purple Heart. Harrison was survived by his wife Louise Perkinson and their daughter Lola.


Scope and arrangement

The collection is comprised of eight photographs taken during Major Richard Francis Harrison's time in the service with the United States Marines, and a brief biographical sketch of Major Harrison written by his widow. The majority of the photographs show scenes from Zamboanga, Philippines. There is also one photo from Harrison's time in Iceland and a posed studio photograph of Harrison.


Administrative information
Custodial History

March 2, 1988, 9 items; Photographs taken in the Philippine Islands and a biographical sketch of USMC Major Harrison, USNA Class of 1941. Donor: Mrs. C. C. Ijams.

Source of acquisition

Gift of Mrs. C. C. Ijams

Processing information

Processed by Allison N. Miller, January 2016.

Encoded by Apex Data Services

Copyright notice

Literary rights to specific documents are retained by the authors or their descendants in accordance with U.S. copyright law.


Key terms
Personal Names
Harrison, Richard Francis, 1917-1945
Corporate Names
United States Naval Academy--Alumni and alumnae
United States. Marine Corps--Military life--Photographs
United States. Marine Corps--Officers
Topical
World War, 1939-1945--Philippines--Zamboanga City
Places
Philippines
Zamboanga City (Philippines)--Photographs