Who is Harris?

  • Published
  • By Airman John Day
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  There are many named buildings and streets throughout Columbus Air Force Base. Ever wonder where all these names come from? Most of them have an important history tied to a significant individual with a special tie to Columbus.

D Street was renamed to Carlyle Harris Street after Colonel Carlyle "Smitty" Harris.

Carlyle "Smitty" Harris was born April 11, 1929 in Parkersburg, W. Va. and grew up in Maryland. He achieved the rank of sergeant in the United States Air Force before commissioning as a second lieutenant. In 1953, he earned his pilot wings and trained with the T-33 Shooting Star and F-84 Thunderjet.

His first operational assignment was as an F-86F Sabre pilot with the 45th Day Fighter Squadron at Sidi Slimane AB, French Morocco. Afterward he became an instructor pilot at Greenville AFB, Miss. and Bainbridge AFB, Ga.

At the rank of captain, Harris flew F-100 Super Sabres and F-105 Thunderchiefs at McConnell Air Force Base, Kan. He also served as Chief of the Promotions and Flying Status Branch at Headquarters Air Training Command, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas.

Harris began flying combat missions in Southeast Asia while with the 67th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa. On April 3, 1965, he flew out on a mission to attempt to destroy the Ham Rong. The Ham Rong, also known as the Dragon's Jaw, was an important bridge that served as a strategic passage for supplies and reinforcements sent to the Viet Cong who were fighting in South Vietnam.

He flew out again the very next day for another attempt, but was shot down. Other members of his team observed his aircraft catch fire and descend into the smoke as his radio became too garbled to hear.

Harris ejected from his aircraft before impact, but was captured by a local village. He was held in solitary confinement where he was interrogated, threatened and tortured every day.

While in captivity, he created a code consisting of a series of taps on the wall to relay messages to other prisoners. One common message was the letters "GBU" or "God Bless U". This inspiring message was sent to others after they got back to their cell from an interrogation session to remind them that they were not alone.

Harris and the 590 other prisoners of war were freed as part of Operation Homecoming 2,871 days later. Even more amazing than his survival in captivity of nearly eight years, was the fact that he continued to serve after a few short months of hospitalization.
He went on to serve for six years after being rescued. During that time, he attended the Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. and attained the rank of colonel.

After retiring from the Air Force, Harris completed law school and joined the Mississippi Bar.
He and his wife Louise currently reside in Tupelo, Miss.