Abandoned military marker relocated
The WWI Military marker of Pvt. Joseph Jalonick Harris was relocated to Bnai Abraham Cemetery, a Jewish cemetery within Prairie Lea Cemetery in Brenham. For over 30 years the marker was located along Sauls Street in Navasota. Courtesy photo
How the WWI military marker of Pvt. Joseph Jalonick Harris ended up in Navasota remains a mystery, but the marker has been relocated to Washington County where the soldier is buried.
The Examiner first released information about the fallen hero in the June 14, edition article, “Searching for Answers: WWI Soldier’s Headstone Located on Sauls Street.” Harris was a member of the Sixth Regiment of the U.S. Marines. Harris was killed in action June 12, 1918 during the Battle of Belleau Wood in France.
J.D. Hodges learned about the marker from the man who found it and moved to Sauls Street in Navasota over 30 years ago. Johnny Sauls, who spent countless hours searching for artifacts and unique bottles in Cedar Creek discovered the marker along its banks and he and a friend wheelbarrowed it to Sauls Street. Until recently the marker stayed undisturbed.
Hodges reached out to The Examiner and VFW Post 4006 to learn more about the fallen hero and hopefully return the marker to its rightful place.
Harris was originally buried in France, but his body was later returned to the United States. One of his brothers, Sam, died overseas Sept. 4, 1918 during WW1. They are both buried in Bnai Abraham Cemetery, a Jewish cemetery within Prairie Lea Cemetery in Brenham.
A gentleman from California, who is the great nephew of Joseph Harris, reached out to the VFW and gave his blessing to have the marker relocated to Brenham.
Joseph is buried in the same cemetery as his mother who was born Jan. 5, 1862 and died Aug. 16, 1916, and his father, Marcus Harris, who was born March 25, 1846 and died Sept. 15, 1901.
Who is Joseph Jalonick Harris?
Born June 25, 1893 in Giddings, Harris and his siblings moved to Houston with his widowed mother, Eva Joy Levinson Harris, as a young boy. His father, Marcus Harris, was from Poland, Russia but his mom was born a Texan.
At the time of Marcus’s death in 1901, he was a hotel keeper in Giddings. After his death, Eva Joy and her children moved to Houston. Joseph attended school in Houston and was later employed as paymaster at Gulf Pipe Line company. At age 24, he decided to postpone his career and voluntarily enlist in the U.S. Marines. He took the oath Dec. 15, 1917 and served overseas from March 27, 1918 until he was killed in action less than three months later.