Sam K. Harrison

Later life After being discharged on March 17, 1947, Harrison returned to the United States and lived in San Francisco on 4612 Nineteenth Street.

In 1950, Harrison founded the On-Off Chemical Corporation, which manufactured and distributed On-Off, a waterless cleaner for hands.

Community service Harrison was appointed to the board of trustees as vice-president of the War Memorial of San Francisco in 1949 by Mayor Elmer E. Robinson and elected President of the board of trustees in December 1954. He was reappointed for five additional six-year terms.

He was the past second Vice-Commander of the American Legion of Zan Irwin Post No. 93; a life member of Veterans of Foreign Wars; a life member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart; Disabled American Veterans Organizer and First Commander of the William Randolph Hearst Chapter No. 144 and Past Commander of the San Francisco Chapter No. 3.

At the request of the Commanding General of Letterman Army Hospital, he engaged in extensive rehabilitation work with wounded Korean War veterans between 1950 and 1956.

Harrison was also a member of the San Francisco Traffic Club (honorary member), State of California Armenian-American Citizen's League (honorary life-member), Commonwealth Club and the American National Committee to Aid Homeless Armenians (ANCHA).

Death

Harrison died on January 1, 1994. He had no children.

Military awards Harrison's military awards include: Purple HeartGood Conduct MedalAmerican Campaign MedalEuropean-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with four bronze campaign starsWorld War II Victory Medal

Recognition and legacy Harrison was nationally named "Hero of the Year" for rehabilitation work by the Disabled American Veterans in 1950.

He was the subject of the article entitled "The Man Who Refused to Die" by Vera Connolly, published in Red Book Magazine, October 1951. The article was reprinted in Reader's Digest, March 1952 and also reprinted in book form by Twayne Publishers and released as an anthology in 1953 entitled "Courage is the Key."

He was deemed as a Knight of the Order of the Compassionate Heart on December 18, 1975.

Harrison was the subject of a radio play entitled "The Empty Sleeve" by Irve Tunick which aired on an hour long nationwide broadcast on August 14, 1951, on the CBS network.

He was the subject of an article "A Universal Experience: My Favorite Story" by Vera Connolly published by the United States Department of Labor and printed by the President's Committee on Employment of the Physically Handicapped.

Former San Francisco mayor Elmer E. Robinson said about Harrison: