Obituaries – Denver Post, June 16

  Colonel Sylvester ‘Sly’ Harris, a distinguished figure in the U.S. Army for more than thirty years, passed away during a military training exercise in the Fall of last year. A tribute to celebrate his life and service will be held at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington Cemetery, June 21st.

  Born in Peoria, Illinois in 1971, Col. Harris embodied the Midwestern values of patriotism and resilience, qualities that defined his military career. He joined the ROTC program at the University of Illinois, was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on his graduation in 1993, and his leadership and strategic acumen swiftly made their mark.

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  ‘Sly’ Harris excelled in peacekeeping and counterinsurgency missions before joining the 10th Special Forces in Colorado, a unit known for expertise in extreme cold weather and mountainous warfare. High-stakes missions with the 10th in Afghanistan and Iraq post-9/11 earned him the Bronze Star, among other commendations.

  A graduate of the U.S. Army War College, in his later career Colonel Harris also contributed as a military planner, strategist and educator. He is survived by his young children, Alison and Robert Harris of Kansas City. In lieu of flowers, donations are invited for a scholarship fund in his name, supporting veterans' children in education.

  Colonel Sly Harris’s legacy of dedicated service and exceptional skill remains an inspiration, reflecting a powerful commitment to his country and the values for which it stands.