Veteran returns to New Bremen

NEW BREMEN - Niles Harris found himself among the few surviving members of the U.S. Army 173rd Airborne Brigade on Nov. 8, 1965, in Vietnam.

Harris's infantry group was ambushed by 1,200 Vietcong soldiers who had deployed mines and were armed with machine guns and sniper rifles, the New Bremen native told middle and elementary school students during Monday's Veterans Day program at the school.  

Only five soldiers in Harris' 30-man platoon survived, and Harris suffered a severe leg injury that kept him in Army hospitals for the next two years. On that unfortunate day, 48 total Americans died.

Most of the dead were just a few years older than the student he was addressing, Harris noted.

"They didn't make it back, and there's millions more who didn't make it back," he said.

From a young age, Harris said he idolized veterans and wanted to be a soldier when he grew up. He graduated from New Bremen High School in 1963, enlisted and was sent to Vietnam.

Harris now lives in South Dakota. About 15 years ago, while bartending there he met and later became friends with country music duo Big Kenny and John Rich of Big and Rich.

Big Kenny complimented Harris on a beautiful top hat sitting at the end of the bar. The next night, Harris presented Kenny with the hat during a concert.

The country music star continues to wear the hat at most concerts, Harris said. To thank Harris for his service, Big and Rich wrote "8th of November" that captures his story of what happened that day in 1965. Although he appreciates the song, Harris said the story is just one of a million.

Harris returned to New Bremen to be honored along with more than 100 other veterans by teachers and students.

Elementary/middle school principal Diane Kramer presented a plaque to Harris on behalf of the school district and the community to express gratitude for his service to the country.

"Greater love hath no man than to lay down his life for his brother," the plaque reads.

The best part about Veterans Day is seeing children in small towns showing respect toward veterans, Harris said.

"I haven't seen stuff like this at other places I've been to in a lot of years. It's good to see kids learning something about what went on and what is still going on," he said.

Harris said he enjoyed growing up in New Bremen and tries to return at least twice a year.

The celebration in New Bremen "is one small spark in the flame of pride that burns across the country today and every day," Kramer said. "Today people throughout the country will gather to remember, to honor and to pay gratitude to those who have served our country."

Also during the ceremony, students performed and sang patriotic songs and showed a video expressing their gratitude toward the veterans. Harris said Veterans Day isn't just to honor him, it's for the millions of military members who did their jobs.