MONTICELLO, Ind. – A Korean War veteran who was reported missing in 1950 will be laid to rest in his hometown of Monticello on Sunday.
Max Harris was captured during the war when U.S. troops were attacked by Chinese soldiers. As more than 1,500 U.S. troops withdrew from the south, it was assumed the remaining were captured or killed.
Harris was not accounted for and reported missing in action on December 12, 1950.
A returning American prisoner said Harris had been captured but later died in September 1951. The U.S. Army declared him deceased on September 30, 1951.
His remains were recovered from the Chosin Valley and positively identified by DNA.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, August 27 at Springer-Voorhis-Draper Funeral Home.
Burial will follow at Riverview I.O.O.F. Cemetery with full military rites.
OBITUARY
Sergeant First Class Max E. Harris, captured during the Korean War, has now been accounted for. SFC Max E. Harris, 22, of Monticello, passed away in Chosin Valley, North Korea in 1951.
He was born on March 8, 1929 in White County to the late Cedric Harris and Lela (Martin) Harris Skaggs.
He attended Lincoln High School and enjoyed roller skating at the former Dewey Street rink and spending time at Ideal Beach now Indiana Beach. He also worked at the old downtown bowling alley setting pins. Later he worked as a horse jockey in Lexington, Kentucky before enlisting in the Army at the age of 18.
In late November 1950, Harris was a member of Company L, 3rd Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. Approximately 2,500 U.S. and 700 South Korean soldiers assembled into the 31st Regimental Combat Team (RCT), which deployed east of the Chosin Reservoir, North Korea, when it was attacked by overwhelming numbers of Chinese forces. The American forces withdrew south with the Chinese attacks continuing. By December 6, the U.S. Army evacuated approximately 1,500 wounded service members; the remaining soldiers had been either captured or killed in enemy territory. Because Harris could not be accounted for by his unit at the end of the battle, he was reported missing in action on Dec. 12, 1950.
A returning American prisoner reported that Harris had been captured and died while in route to POW Camp 3 in September 1951. Based on this information, the U.S. Army declared him deceased on Sept. 30, 1951. In 2004, SFC Harris remains were recovered from the Chosin Valley, and through the use of DNA, have recently been positively identified. SFC Harris will be returning home later this month to be laid to rest with his family.
He is survived by his sister, Patsy McCall of Monticello and several nieces and nephews.
He was also preceded in death by his siblings, Robert M. Harris Turner, Maxine Aubrey, Raymond Harris, Charlie Harris, and Norman Skaggs, and step his father, James Skaggs.
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