MORRIS-HARRY

55 YEARS OF ACTIVE DUTY – SERVED ON 41 SHIPS

Harry Simond Morris was born on December 6, 1887, in New York City and joined the Navy on April 3, 1903, at the age of 15 as an Apprentice Boy, as at that time young boys could join the Navy with their parent’s permission.  Later during his enlistment Morris was the only active duty sailor entitled to wear the Apprentice Boy knot symbol on his uniform.  The Navy career of Morris was long and varied.  His first assignment was aboard the Revolutionary war frigate USS ALLIANCE, the sailing ship used by Benjamin Franklin when he made one of his visits to France in Colonial days.  He also served in the “Great White Fleet” from 1907-1908, a program fostered by President Teddy Roosevelt.  The Great White Fleet was a worldwide round the world cruise performed by 16 Navy battleships of the Atlantic Fleet.  Many years later Morris was one of the founders of the Great White Fleet Association which held annual reunion dinners in San Diego.

In 1906 when an earthquake demolished most of Kingston, Jamaica, the USS KEARSARGE, on which Morris was a crewmember, was ordered to Jamaica on a rescue mission.  While Morris was ashore KEARSARGE unexpectedly got underway without him and by telegraph Morris was ordered to report to the American Counsel for duty until he could rejoin the ship.  Upon reporting he found the Counsel was undergoing treatment for a broken back suffered during the earthquake so for 11 months Morris was the Counsel’s right-hand man.  When the Secretary of the Navy later arrived at Jamaica aboard a Navy gunboat, Morris was sent out alone in the Counsel’s boat to meet the Secretary.  Seeing the American Consular flag flying from the approaching boat the gunboat immediately rendered a seven gun salute which this important personage rated.  Morris often bragged that he was perhaps the only Navy enlisted man who ever received such a greeting when boarding a Navy ship.

Following the December 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor, Morris was assigned to the Salvage Division at Pearl Harbor where he helped in salvaging and raising numerous ships damaged during the Japanese attack.  Morris was promoted to Chief Torpedoman in 1919, a rate he held until his retirement.  In 1937 he was classified as an “old timer” but he continued to serve on active duty many more years until January 31, 1958, when he left the Navy after a period of 55 years of active duty during which time he spent 41 years on sea duty and reportedly served on 41 ships.  His last assignment was in San Diego where he was the liaison between the Shore Patrol and California Courts.

TMC Harry Simond Morris remained in San Diego after his retirement until his death on June 29, 1975.  He has been buried at the Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego.

Submitted by CDR Roy A. Mosteller, USNR (Ret)