 After a period of training, some of which he spent on the battleship "New York" (BB-34), he was discharged on June 15, 1941, to accept an appointment as a midshipman in the Naval Reserve the following day.After receiving training at the Naval Reserve Midshipmen's School at Northwestern University, he was commissioned an ensign in the Naval Reserve on September 12, 1941.Following instruction in communications, Harris was assigned to the 12th Naval District temporarily on November 15, 1941.