Welcome to the
iHonor American Flag
remembering Capt. Jennifer Harris
iHonor American Flag
remembering Capt. Jennifer Harris
iHonor GWOT (Global War on Terror) Fallen:
U.S. Marine Corps Captain
Jennifer J. Harris of Swampscott, MA
U.S. Marine Corps Captain
Jennifer J. Harris of Swampscott, MA
U.S. Marine Corps Jennifer Harris, age 28, a CH-46 Sea Knight (Chinook) Helicopter Pilot, served in Operation Iraqi Freedom
with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 364, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, I Marine Expeditionary Force, out of Camp Pendleton, CA
Killed in action, when the helicopter she was piloting was shot down, on February 7, 2007, in Anbar province, Iraq
Six more crew members were also killed: 1st Lt. Jared M. Landaker, Sgt. Travis D. Pfister, Cpl. Thomas E. Saba, Sgt. James R. Tijerina, Navy Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Gilbert Minjares Jr., and Navy Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Manuel A. Ruiz
We honor and thank US Marine Corps Captain Harris, and her flight crew, for defending our freedoms and fighting to liberate the lives of others
with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 364, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, I Marine Expeditionary Force, out of Camp Pendleton, CA
Killed in action, when the helicopter she was piloting was shot down, on February 7, 2007, in Anbar province, Iraq
Six more crew members were also killed: 1st Lt. Jared M. Landaker, Sgt. Travis D. Pfister, Cpl. Thomas E. Saba, Sgt. James R. Tijerina, Navy Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Gilbert Minjares Jr., and Navy Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Manuel A. Ruiz
We honor and thank US Marine Corps Captain Harris, and her flight crew, for defending our freedoms and fighting to liberate the lives of others
[ image care of Seven Stars Foundation - honoring 7 crewmembers shot down on 2/7/2007 ]
Jennifer J. Harris
Born November 6, 1978 in Swampscott, MA
Humble, empathetic, selfless, and bright ... "the best Swampscott had to offer" - said former Swampscott Principal Peter Sack
Core value was service and compassion to others ... volunteered at local hospital, library, soup kitchen, and MS Walkathons
Created toy donation program for needy kids in Annapolis - modeled after one she was part of in high school
Graduated ranked fifth from Swampscott High School in 1996
Selected to and attended US Naval Academy from 1996 to 2000
At USNA, nicknamed "GI Jen" - hard-charger who worked "wicked" hard
Classmate Gascinski said, most often called, "Dove" because of "her calm demeanor in the face of adversity"
Excelled in sailing 420s as member of USNA Sailing Team
Strong interest in government reinforced when earned Political Science departmental award at USNA
Born November 6, 1978 in Swampscott, MA
Humble, empathetic, selfless, and bright ... "the best Swampscott had to offer" - said former Swampscott Principal Peter Sack
Core value was service and compassion to others ... volunteered at local hospital, library, soup kitchen, and MS Walkathons
Created toy donation program for needy kids in Annapolis - modeled after one she was part of in high school
Graduated ranked fifth from Swampscott High School in 1996
Selected to and attended US Naval Academy from 1996 to 2000
At USNA, nicknamed "GI Jen" - hard-charger who worked "wicked" hard
Classmate Gascinski said, most often called, "Dove" because of "her calm demeanor in the face of adversity"
Excelled in sailing 420s as member of USNA Sailing Team
Strong interest in government reinforced when earned Political Science departmental award at USNA
USNA grad in 2000 and Commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant in US Marine Corps
Completed US Marine Corps officer training at The Basic School and selected for Naval Aviator training in Pensacola, FL
Earned her "Wings of Gold" (Naval Aviator Wings) on September 13, 2002 and assigned to learn to fly CH-46 Sea Knight Helicopter at Camp Pendleton, CA
Completed US Marine Corps officer training at The Basic School and selected for Naval Aviator training in Pensacola, FL
Earned her "Wings of Gold" (Naval Aviator Wings) on September 13, 2002 and assigned to learn to fly CH-46 Sea Knight Helicopter at Camp Pendleton, CA
Assigned as first female pilot in the Purple Foxes Squadron, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 364 (HMM-364), famously known since Vietnam for flying in and out of combat zones where other squadrons wouldn't go to provide casualty evacuations
Immediately, deployed to Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF)
Attended Marine Corps aviation's equivalent to Top Gun training
Again displaying her compassion for others, during 3 combat tours in Iraq, flew CH-46 helicopter into harms way to evacuate countless Marine Corps and Iraqi Army casualties - saving many lives
Immediately, deployed to Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF)
Attended Marine Corps aviation's equivalent to Top Gun training
Again displaying her compassion for others, during 3 combat tours in Iraq, flew CH-46 helicopter into harms way to evacuate countless Marine Corps and Iraqi Army casualties - saving many lives
On February 7, 2007, northwest of Baghdad, CH-46 Capt. Harris was flying, along with her co-pilot and 5 crew members, to transport blood products to aid wounded Marines, was shot down by ISIS / al-Qaida insurgents
She had volunteered for this last, dangerous, daytime flight mission despite opposition from her commanding officers because she was due to go home the next week
Her body was escorted home by her fiance', Marine Major Christopher Aaby
First woman from Massachusetts killed in the Global War on Terror (GWOT - Iraq & Afghanistan)
An only child, she is survived by her parents, Rosalie and Raymond Harris
Buried at Swampscott Cemetery
She had volunteered for this last, dangerous, daytime flight mission despite opposition from her commanding officers because she was due to go home the next week
Her body was escorted home by her fiance', Marine Major Christopher Aaby
First woman from Massachusetts killed in the Global War on Terror (GWOT - Iraq & Afghanistan)
An only child, she is survived by her parents, Rosalie and Raymond Harris
Buried at Swampscott Cemetery
Inspirational Quotes about Jennifer Harris
"My Marines used to say, 'We want to fly with the female pilot (Lt. Harris) because she is the best.' She was an exceptional pilot, in a class considered to be the masters of their trade. She makes the Marine Officer Corps look 10 times better than it even is because she was such an exceptional person."
-Marine First Lt. Neil Clinton, a fellow Marine pilot and Swampscott HS alum
-Marine First Lt. Neil Clinton, a fellow Marine pilot and Swampscott HS alum
... a quote referring to combat flight operations during Operation Iraqi Freedom ...
“I was thinking that if I wanted anybody to be my pilot in that moment, I would want it to be her.”
- Navy LT Rose Gascinski, USNA roommate of Jen Harris
“I was thinking that if I wanted anybody to be my pilot in that moment, I would want it to be her.”
- Navy LT Rose Gascinski, USNA roommate of Jen Harris
“I was absolutely inspired by your daughter’s story and I want to dedicate all of my service hours to preserving her memory. She was such a wonderful example of dedication and service. I hope to live my life the way Jen did, serving others. Thank you for the gift of your daughter.”
– Katie Yeagley, Villa Maria Academy High School Class of 2013
(in a letter to Capt Harris’ parents after participating in the “If Not Me, Then Who…” Service Challenge of the Travis Manion Foundation)
– Katie Yeagley, Villa Maria Academy High School Class of 2013
(in a letter to Capt Harris’ parents after participating in the “If Not Me, Then Who…” Service Challenge of the Travis Manion Foundation)
[ Capt. Harris' military decorations according to TogetherWeServed.com - which may have a wrong marksmanship badge and may be missing one or more ribbons when comparing to her final dress blues uniform on display at a museum (see below) ]
U.S. Marine Corps Captain Jennifer Harris' military decorations:
(include, but may not be limited to)
Purple Heart, Air Medal (17 awards), Navy Commendation Medal (2x), Navy Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation, Marine Corps Meritorious Unit Commendation, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Globar War on Terrorism Expeditionary Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon
(include, but may not be limited to)
Purple Heart, Air Medal (17 awards), Navy Commendation Medal (2x), Navy Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation, Marine Corps Meritorious Unit Commendation, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Globar War on Terrorism Expeditionary Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon
Content Sources
CLICK HERE to read Military Times' Honor the Fallen tribute to Harris
GO HERE to review local news article about tributes to Capt. Harris
CLICK HERE to see USNA Memorial tribute page to Capt. Harris
GO HERE to read his Find-a-Grave tribute page
CLICK HERE to examine the TogetherWeServed.com site for Harris
GO HERE to find and review the Travis Manion Foundation site for Capt. Harris
CLICK HERE to read Boston.com's article about Jen Harris' life
GO HERE to review local news article about tributes to Capt. Harris
CLICK HERE to see USNA Memorial tribute page to Capt. Harris
GO HERE to read his Find-a-Grave tribute page
CLICK HERE to examine the TogetherWeServed.com site for Harris
GO HERE to find and review the Travis Manion Foundation site for Capt. Harris
CLICK HERE to read Boston.com's article about Jen Harris' life
[ memorial photo collage by VA - Veterans Administration ]
Video Tributes
iHonor American Flag : Visitor Comments for Capt. Jen Harris
... posted here from newest to oldest ...
... posted here from newest to oldest ...
Jennifer, I was truly moved by your selfless work in Iraq - taking care of our Marine and friendly casualties by flying your CH-46 in the teeth of danger. Your work hard, play hard approach to life sets a great example for today's student-citizens. I can only hope that this nonprofit service properly relays your story, and the stories of nearly 7000 other GWOT Fallen, to inspire our student-citizens to want to put others before themselves.
-Sean S. 9/9/19
-Sean S. 9/9/19
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