Desert Crone

Updated: Nov 20, 2010 4:39 PM

Reporters: Sergio Avila, Sheryl Kornman

TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) - Friends and family of Sgt. 1st Class Todd M. Harris, 37, formerly of Tucson, remembered him at his funeral service Saturday in Tucson.

Media was not permitted to cover the funeral or the burial. Harris' family wanted the events to remain private.

Harris, a 1992 Sahuaro High School graduate, died Nov. 3 in Badghis province, Afghanistan , of wounds he suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with small-arms fire.

He was assigned to the 87th Infantry Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum , N.Y. Harris served two tours of duty in Iraq and two in Afghanistan.

A visitation was held Friday evening at Brings Broadway Chapel, 6910 E. Broadway Blvd. On Saturday, a funeral service was set for 2 p.m. at Christ Community Church, 7801 E Kenyon Drive.

His remains were to be escorted to East Lawn Cemetery, 5801 E Grant Road, for burial with full Military Honors, with the Ft. Huachuca Select Honor Guard in attendance.

Harris was an All State Varsity Football Player and a Homecoming King at Sahuaro. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in February, 1998.

Friends of Harris tell us he was the guy who always had a smile on his face, the guy who excelled at anything he did.

Scott Ford was Harris' best friend. He now lives in Phoenix and describes him best:

"He had that gift where he could talk to anybody, just a great friend to know and he would do anything for you," Ford said.

Harris was a running back for Sahuaro's football team and he was crowned prom king his senior year.

Harris went on to prove himself in the Army. He earned five Army Commendation medals, four Army Achievement medals and five Army Good Conduct medals.

"When he went into the service I always knew he would be a good soldier, a good leader. He was a natural born leader. He's just an all around great guy," Ford said.

This hero's Facebook page has turned into a place to honor his memory. One comment reads, "rest easy my friend. You were loved by many."

Another says, "We will miss you Todd. You were one of a kind."

Friends and family will now cherish these memories and keep this true American hero in their hearts.

"He was that great of a guy and I'm going to miss him," Ford said.

Sahuaro and Cienega High Schools honored Harris' memory Nov. 5 with a moment of silence at the beginning of their football games. Sahuaro's head coach presented Harris' family with a number seven jersey, the same number Harris wore on the football field.

Survivors include his mother and stepfather, Diane and Edward Adams; father and stepmother, Sam and Becky Harris; daughter, McKenna Harris; son, Kai Harris and stepdaughter, Taysia Paul.