[ back ]
Soldier with local roots dies in Iraq
(by Bryan La Placa/Special to Neighbor News - May 07, 2008)
Army Specialist Ronald Ray Harrison, 25, who graduated from Boonton High School, died last week in Iraq supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Harrison died on April 21 in Baghdad, the Department of Defense announced.
His most recent known address is in Budd Lake, but he spent his middle school years in West Milford before moving to Lincoln Park and attending Boonton High School, according to Peter Rowland, a spokesperson for Picatinny Arsenal.
Harrison joined the New Jersey Army National Guard in December 2003 and enlisted in the United States Army in April 2006.
Harrison was serving a 15-month deployment with the 4th Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, of the 3rd Infantry Division, based out of Fort Stewart, GA, at the time of his death.
Rowland said that he spoke at length with Harrison’s parents last Friday to know more about Harrison’s life. Harrison had been close to his older sister and her children - his two nephews and a niece.
“At Boonton High School, he participated in football, basketball and track, and he enjoyed basketball very much. Apparently he was a Michael Jordan fan,” said Rowland. “They said he had a great sense of humor and that he could quickly make strangers laugh. He just had an innate ability to do that.”
After attending high school, Harrison worked at an Exxon gas station in Flanders. Then he worked for an extermination company in Flanders before joining the New Jersey Army National Guard in September 2003.
Harrison loved cooking, especially barbecuing.
“His mother said he made a great London broil,” said Rowland.
The man who would become an Army mechanic also liked electronic gadgets. He played video games in Iraq when he had downtime.
He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA, on May 1. New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine signed an Executive Order calling for the United States and New Jersey flags to fly at half-staff that day.
Spec. Harrison is survived by his wife, Kagen, and her son, Max, of Montgomery, TX; parents, Richard and Beverly Harrison of Mount Olive; sister and brother-in-law, Heather and David Stiles; nephews, Brian and Christopher Stiles; and niece, Abigail Stiles of Washington.
The Harrison family has issued the following statement: “We are deeply saddened by the loss of Ronald, a beloved husband, son and brother. He was a wonderful young man and a good Soldier who served his country with pride. We will miss him dearly. He will be remembered fondly in our minds and our hearts forever."
At press time, the investigation into the cause of Harrison’s death was still ongoing.
“It often takes awhile for the Army to complete an investigation because they’re over there dealing with the conflict, so it takes a little more time to accomplish these things,” said Rowland.
[ back ]
