State representative’s son to serve in Afghanistan

U.S. Army Capt. D. Court Harris, an Arlington Heights resident and son of state Rep. David Harris, is deploying to Afghanistan Friday for a one-year tour of duty.

Harris, born and raised in Arlington Heights, is a graduate of St. Viator High School and served on the Arlington Heights Youth Commission. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Army upon graduation from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in May 2007.

He was promoted to First Lieutenant during his first deployment to the Middle East in early 2009, and promoted to Captain in June 2010. Harris is assigned to an Air Defense Artillery unit at Fort Bliss, Texas, but volunteered for a special Afghanistan assignment with an engineer operation concentrating on reconstruction projects.

“I am very proud of Court’s service to his country,” said his father, a Republican from Arlington Heights. “He continues a family tradition: My father served in the Army during World War II, and I served for a total of 33 years in uniform. I know my son will do an outstanding job with his new assignment, and our prayers will be with him for a safe deployment.”