Leon Rivers Harrison was born on November 12, 1919. He was the son of Percy David Harrison and Carrie Catherine Campbell Harrison. He served in the 401st Bomber Squadron, 91st Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Corporal during World War II. CPL Harrison was the Flight Engineer on the B-17F Flying Fortress #41-24451 that crashed in Mount Slieveanorra, near Cushendall, Northern Ireland while in transit to Great Britain due to bad weather. Eight of the ten on board were killed, while two survived, including CPL Harrison.

Killed aboard were:
1st Lt. John A. McLean, Pilot
2nd Lt. Leonard L. Koebel, Bombardier
Capt. Dale L. Lasselle - Co-Pilot
Capt. George C. Wassell - passenger
Sgt. Robert J. Vaughan - Gunner
Cpl. John N. Gibson - Radio operator
Pvt. Justin C. Hamblin - Engineer

Survivors:
Corp. Leon Harrison - Flight Engineer
PFC Norman E. Wicks - Radio Operator

CPL Harrison died on April 6, 1998 at the age of 78 and is buried now in the Jonesboro Memorial Park Cemetery, Jonesboro, Craighead County, Arkansas, USA.