Terrence C. Harris
Terrence C. "Salty" Harris (192018 June 1944) was a non-commissioned officer with Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, in the 101st Airborne Division of the United States Army during World War II. Harris was portrayed in the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers by Luke Griffin. Harris's life story was featured in the 2010 book A Company of Heroes: Personal Memories AbOUT the Real Band of Brothers and the Legacy They Left Us.
Youth
Harris grew up in Santa Monica, California.
Military service
Harris had been in the Navy before joining the army and volunteering to be paratrooper. That is how he got his nickname Salty. Harris was one of the original Toccoa men of Easy Company. He started as private, and quickly became one of the staff sergeants of the unit.
When Easy Company was shipped to England on SS Samaria, Harris was the only one to notice that the ship was bearing down on the ship ahead. He instantly alerted the crew so the course of the ship could be adjusted. It could be only a couple a hundred between the Samaria and the other one.
Harris, along with Mike Ranney, were The Two NCOs to start the mutiny against Easy Company's commander Captain Herbert Sobel. They convinced other NCOs to participate and the NCOs threatened to resign their posts unless Sobel was removed. The next day Harris and Ranney were arrested by military police. Colonel Robert Sink had both Harris and Ranney demoted to Private, the lowest rank. Harris was transferred to A Company of the First Battalion. Ranney was transferred to I Company of the Battalion, but was later able to rejoin Easy Company shortly before D-day.
Harris later volunteered to become one of the pathfinders of the 101st Airborne Division. Harris fought in the battle in Carentan, where he was killed by a sniper. Harris's gravestone indicated that he was killed in June 18, 1944, but he might have been killed a bit earlier.
Burial
Harris was buried in the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial.