Billie D. Harris, 61 Years Later - Part Two
The Canadian Billie D. Harris is American - continued
A letter is consequently addressed to the Department of the Army, Administrative Section, in February of 2005 by means of which we hoped to obtain more detailed information regarding the pilot Billie D. Harris.
April 2005: The Department of the Army confirms receipt of the letter and makes it clear that the research involved will take quite a while, around six months, and that they will have to have it authorized by the family.
September 2005: The much anticipated information arrives. A 200-page file containing letters from the citizens of Les Ventes testifying to the fact that they had witnessed the plane crash.
Interred July 19, 1944, in the group cemetery, he will be temporarily buried in the Brosville (Manche) cemetery in June 1946, then permanently transferred to the U.S. cemetery at Colleville-sur-mer in 1947 - 12 kilometers from Criqueville-en-Bessin, the place from which he set out on July 17, 1944, for his final mission.
November 2005: Just when we thought all of our questions had been answered, another letter makes its way to us from the United States, from Vernon, Texas, signed Peggy L. Harris, widow of the pilot Billie D. Harris. A moving and heartrending 4-page letter in which she expresses her deep gratefulness and appreciation to the citizens of Les Ventes for having made sure that the earthly remains of her wonderful husband were properly cared for. An astonishing letter in which she says how happy she is at last to have regained track of her departed husband after a 61-year search. She related every step of her search, the conflicting reports of the local Red Cross which led her to believe that her husband was alive [somewhere] in the United States and that he would be showing up at anytime. She learned from inquiries directed to her congressman in Washington and to the national Red Cross that he was KIA (Killed in Action), but no additional information was forthcoming.
Peggy L. Harris and Alton Harvey
Over the course of the past few years, with the help of Alton Harvey, Billie's cousin, they write, telephone, and contact numerous people in Washington, DC. Efforts which seem to have been fruitful since in mid-October, a man calls Alton Harvey to tell him that he has just found Billie D. Harris’ file while searching for that of another soldier. The same file that we had received in early September.
Mere chance or coincidence?
It is with deep sadness that she comes to know the facts contained in this case file and that she decides to come to France with Alton and his wife. This visit will take place April 8th and 9th at the American cemetery and then at Les Ventes where she will be received with honor.
We are happy to have been able to find the family of this Allied pilot and to contribute to the happiness of a woman who for 61 years lived in uncertainty and despair, never able to learn what had become of her husband. We will be sure to keep you informed of further developments in this story in upcoming news flashes.
Other searches have been previously carried out in 2004 by Mr. Vacossin, president of the Local Association of Veterans (A.L.A.C.), based on a photo taken by a citizen of Les Ventes at the interment on July 19, 1944. In this photo**, one can see the grave covered with flowers and a stone slate bearing the following inscription: Billie D. Harris, his identification number, and "Altus, OKLA." Already this brief inscription had caused him to suspect the true identity of this soldier, whom he thought to be American and not Canadian.
**no photo available at this time.
Back to Part One
Credits
Les Ventes, France -
Madame Valérie Quesnel.
Translation
by Susan Coker.