Interview, Glenn Harris, USAF

Glenn Harris (b. 1948) was born in Rochester, New York. After graduating from Edison Technical High School in 1967, he enlisted in the United States Air Force. His active duty began on September 14, 1967, and he completed basic training at Amarillo Air Force Base, in Texas. Harris specialized in still photography and as a lab technician.  and he reached the rank of Staff Sergeant. He was stationed at multiple Air Force bases around the United States and the world, including in Thailand and Vietnam, but he was not involved in combat. While stationed in Duluth, Minnesota, Harris served on honor guard duty for Vietnam veteran funerals. Harris achieved the rant of Staff Sergeant and he was honorably discharged in 1974, having served for seven years. After leaving the military, Harris went to work for Delphi Automotive Systems, in Rochester, and eventually retired from this job.

In this interview, Harris discusses living in Thailand for 11 months and the work he did as a photographer for the Air Force. He reflects on Thai culture and how he developed an awareness of cultural difference. He notes a few customs he picked up while he was there, like never showing the soles of your feet to another person because it is considered a sign of disrespect. Harris explains that in his role as an Air Force photographer, it was his job to take pictures of plane crashes and vehicle accidents, as well as aerial photographs of terrain that were used to help pilots navigate.