Harris, Christopher Michael
Male
Verified U.S. Army Specialist Christopher Michael Harris, 25, of Jackson Springs, North Carolina, was killed by enemy small arms fire on August 2, 2017, while on patrol in Kandahar province, Afghanistan.
Their Story
Christopher Michael Harris was a 25-year-old soldier from Jackson Springs, North Carolina. He served as a Specialist with Company A, 2nd Battalion, 504th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
On August 2, 2017, Harris was conducting a dismounted patrol in Kandahar province, a region with a persistent Taliban presence. According to the U.S. Department of Defense, he was killed by enemy small arms fire during the operation. He was the only U.S. service member reported killed in action in Afghanistan that month.
Harris died during Operation Freedom's Sentinel, the U.S. military mission that succeeded the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) combat role in January 2015. The mission's stated objectives included training Afghan forces and conducting counterterrorism operations against groups like the Taliban and ISIS-K. In 2017, the U.S. increased troop levels and intensified air strikes in a strategy aimed at breaking a stalemate in the long-running war.
Following his death, Harris's body was returned to the United States. His funeral was held at Jackson Springs Baptist Church. The 82nd Airborne Division stated he was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, and Meritorious Service Medal.
Harris was remembered by his unit as a dedicated paratrooper. His name is inscribed on the North Carolina Veterans Memorial in Raleigh. He is survived by his parents, siblings, and a daughter.
Explore Further
Harris was killed during Operation Freedom's Sentinel (ongoing since 2015). See the full roster of those killed in this conflict.
Among those documented in the same conflict: Sanchez, Maria Victoria, Dawson, John Michael, Ruiz, Pablo Allende Iii, Mckenna, Peter Andrew Jr.
