Jennifer Harris graduated from Swampscott High School in Swampscott, Mass, in 1996. She attended the Naval Academy, graduating in 2000 with a commission into the Marine Corps. A pilot, she earned her Wings of Gold in September 2002. Her first assignment was Marine Medium Helicopter Training (HMMT) Squadron 164 at Camp Pendleton, Calif., where she flew the CH-46 helicopter.
After training, Harris was assigned to the Purple Foxes of HMM-364—the first female pilot in the Purple Foxes Squadron.
On her third tour to Iraq, Harris flew as a Casualty Evacuation pilot. According to the Military Times, in February 2007, her helicopter was shot down on a mission a week before her scheduled return home. In her three tours, she had saved “a countless number of lives.” She was 28.
Named in her honor, The Captain Jennifer Jean Harris Memorial Trust Fund promotes leadership development in young adults who exemplify her qualities of courage, honor, compassion, and commitment to serving others. The Seven Stars Foundation was established in honor of the seven crew members of her helicopter. The Marine Corps League Captain Jennifer J. Harris Detachment 871 is named in her honor.
We honor her service.
Nominate a Veteran
Do you want to light up the face of a special Veteran? Have you been wondering how to tell your Veteran they are special to you? VA’s “Honoring Veterans” social media spotlight is an opportunity to highlight your Veteran and his/her service.
It’s easy to nominate a Veteran. Visit our blog post about nominating to learn how to create the best submission
Graphic Designer: William Vega
Topics in this story
Link Disclaimer
This page includes links to other websites outside our control and jurisdiction. VA is not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of non-VA Web sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policy or terms and conditions of those sites to fully understand what information is collected and how it is used.
Statement of Endorsement
Reference herein to any specific commercial products, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government, and shall not be used for advertising or product endorsement purposes.
More Stories
In honor of National Park Service's National Park Week, this week's Honoring Veterans spotlight honors the service of Army Veteran Michael Trevino, who today works as a facility manager at Reconstruction Era National Historical Park.
This week’s Honoring Veterans Spotlight honors the service of Navy Veteran Ken Mattingly, who served as a pilot during the 1950s and later became an astronaut during the Apollo missions.
This week’s Honoring Veterans Spotlight honors the service of Air Force Veteran Gavino Cavazos, who served from 1949 to 1973 during both the Korean and Vietnam Wars.
