2nd Lt. Eathel Louwanda Harris was the younger daughter of Charles H. Harris and Lena Alice (Ball) Harris. Born in Arkansas on August 2, 1921, Eathel had an older sister, Gwendolyn. Charles and Lena were married in 1917, but the marriage ended in divorce in 1929. Charles was a veteran of World War I, having served as a Corporal in the Army from 1918 to 1919. Eathel's maternal ancestors were early pioneers in Arkansas.

Eathel was living in St. Louis, Missouri with her mother and her sister when the 1930 census was taken. Her mother was employed as a packer in a Biscuit House and Cake Manufacturing Company. The 1937 high school yearbook from Central High School in St. Louis pictured a pretty, dark-haired 16-year-old Eathel. She had been active in the Girls' Literary Society, the Classical Club, and she played Golf. The yearbook quote summed up her character: “Though small of stature, her mind is great; With the finest of people, she will rate.”

When the 1940 census was taken, Eathel had completed one year of college and was listed as a student nurse at St. Louis City Hospital. She received her Nursing Diploma from the City Hospital School of Nursing on May 12, 1942. As one of 26 graduates, the ceremony was held at a Nurse's Recruiting Rally to promote enrollment in the Red Cross and Armed Forces of women between the ages of 18-35. Eathel may have enlisted in the Army Nurse Corps at this time as her actual date of enlistment is unknown. She was given the serial number #N-788366.

There was little information available regarding 2nd Lt. Harris' career in the Army Nurse Corps after enlistment.

On March 4, 1945, 2nd Lt. Harris was on a transport flight departing from Dinjan, India with a destination of Ledo, India. She was one of 25 passengers and two crew members on board the Douglas C-47-DL (DC-3), #41-18554 that was with the 11th Cargo Combat Squadron.

When approaching Ledo for a landing the C-47 made a low turn, due to fog, and crashed and burned near the India-Burma border. All 27 on the flight perished in this accident.

Eathel was killed in the line of duty in the crash. She was 23 years old. This crash was the single highest fatality of American female nurses during World War II. 2nd Lt. Harris was originally interred in Kalaikunda, India and was later repatriated on June 19, 1948.

2nd Lt. Harris was interred at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in Lemay, St. Louis County, Missouri. She was buried in Section 44-5, Site 16125. Her service was held on June 19, 1948. She was survived by her parents and her sister. Her obituary did not list any further details.

The following passengers and crew on the C-47 were also killed in the crash:

Capt. John J. Lukaszczyk, Co-Pilot
Capt. Nicholas J. Mandoukos, Pilot
1st Lt. Walter S. Amsler, Jr.
2nd Lt. Francis W. Blalock
2nd Lt. Julia S. Barnes
2nd Lt. Jane M. Blevins
2nd Lt. Evelyn M. Bruton
2nd Lt. Thomas E. Dellinger
2nd Lt. Rita F. Erard
2nd Lt. Evelyn M. Gerdrum
2nd Lt. Lyndell A. Glisson
1st Lt. Henry D. Hammack, Jr.
2nd Lt. Eathel L. Harris
2nd Lt. Helen J. Henley
1st Lt. Catherine M. Larkin
2nd Lt. Joseph R. Launier
1st Lt. Kathryn L.Lloyd
Capt. Charles W. Loucks
1st Lt. Grady A. Masters
2nd Lt. Kathryn L. McCarthy
2nd Lt. Ann L. Merrill
2nd Lt. Genevieve R. Monahan
Capt. Edward R. Moore
2nd Lt. Mayo C. Onken
Lt. Col. Jack P. Scott
Leona A. Thomey, Civilian, Red Cross
1st Lt. Robert W. Tibbetts

Thank you for your service and sacrifice, 2nd Lt. Harris. You will not be forgotten.

This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars project (see www.storiesbehindthestars.org**). This is a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 400,000+ of the US WWII fallen here on Fold3. Can you help write these stories? Related to this, there will be a smartphone app that will allow people to visit any war memorial or cemetery, scan the fallen's name and read his/her story.

If you noticed anything I missed in this profile, please go to the end of this story and see “Added by” to find my contact information.

SBTSProject/Missouri/St. Louis

References:

1930 United States Federal Census
1940 United States Federal Census
U.S., Veterans' Gravesites, ca. 1775-2019
U.S., National Cemetery Interment Control Forms, 1928-1962
U.S., School Yearbooks, 1900-1999
U.S., Find a Grave Index, 1600s-Current
Missing Air Crew Report #1013 (Fold3)
Newspapers.com - St. Louis Post-Dispatch - 17 Jun 1948 - Page 41
Newspapers.com - St. Louis Post-Dispatch - 5 Dec 1945 - Page 35
Newspapers.com - The St. Louis Star and Times - 11 May 1942 - Page 4
Newspapers.com - The St. Louis Star and Times - 1948-05-06 - Page 4

Eathel L Harris