Lt Col Francis X. Harrison, Sr.

Vietnam War Veteran
Loving husband, father and grandfather

Lt Col Francis X Harrison (Ret) U.S. Army passed away peacefully on Feb 24 surrounded by his loving family at 82 years of age. Col Francis X Harrison was born May 28, 1929 at Fort Totten Queens, NY. The son of Master Sergeant George W. Harrison and MaryAnn (Joyce) Harrison of Galway Ireland. He grew up in Watertown, Mass and graduated from Watertown High School in 1947. He enlisted in the army and served his country honorably for the next 23 years as a member of the 101st Screaming Eagle Airborne Division. He retired from active duty in 1970. He served 2 tours of combat duty in Vietnam in 1964 and1969 as a combat advisor and as commandant of the U.S. Army Advisor School. He was a master parachutist, having completed over 125 jumps throughout his career. He was a highly decorated veteran receiving many decorations and citations including the Bronze Star, Legion of Merit, and the coveted Combat Infantry Badge. Col Harrison was very proud of his military service and lived by the mantra "Duty, Honor, Country". After he retired from serving his country, he earned his Degree in business management from the University of Massachusetts in Lowell. He worked at the Department of Revenue as a supervisor of the Special Investigators Compliance Division for 22 years, retiring in 1992. Francis came from a proud military family. His father served 40 distinguished years in the U.S. Army. His grandfather served over 20 years in the British Military. His brothers, sons cousins and nephews also served in the military. It was in Vietnam that Col Harrison met his best friend Pat Flores. Pat and Edna(dec.) were Fran and Dot's best friends for life and spoke every day. Francis was pre-deceased by his loving parents, his brothers Staff Sgt George Harrison ,Master Sergeant Vincent Harrison and his daughter Dorothy Harrison. He is survived by his loving wife of 61 years Dorothy Syple Harrison, his children William Burns, Sandra Herterick and her husband Daniel, Dennis Harrison and his wife Mary ,MaryAnn Solis and her companion Brian McGettrick, Ellen Finn and her husband Thomas, Francis Harrison Jr and his wife Jean, Colleen Parish and her husband Branch and Kevin Harrison.
Papa Harrison loved his grandchildren more than anything else. Graduations, games, award ceremonies or birthdays were not complete without Papa. He loved sharing stories of their achievements and exploits. He was loved by his grandchildren Dennis, Jennifer and Brendan Harrison, Gaye Lindsay, Glen and Chad Ghidoni, Sean, Nicholas and Jeffrey Solis, Thomas, Kiirsten and Lauren Finn, Michaela Hagerty, and Trevor Harrison. Col Francis X Harrison was beloved by all for his compassion, his love of family, his sharp wit and his unmatched gift of gab. He will be missed by all.

Visitation will be held at the BLAKE FUNERAL HOME, 24 Worthen Street, CHELMSFORD on Tuesday from 5 until 8PM. His Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday at 11 oclock at St. Mary Church, 25 North Rd. Chelmsford. Interment with Military Funeral Honors at St. Patrick Cemetery, Watertown. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in his name to the Prostate Cancer Foundation, 1250 Fourth St., Santa Monica, CA 90401.

Visitation
February 28, 2012 5:00pm - 8:00pm,
Blake Funeral Home
24 Worthen Street
Chelmsford, MA 01824

Service Information
February 29, 2012 11:00am,
Saint Mary Catholic Church
25 North Road
Chelmsford, MA 01824

Interment Location
Saint Patrick Cemetery
990 Belmont Street
Watertown, MA 02472