One of the first stories I wrote here at The Western Nebraska Observer was about Jim Christiansen and his dedication to the fallen heroes of Kimball County.Last year Christiansen honored Edward Steele, who was killed in action in Vietnam. This year he has chosen to honor Harry Southard who was killed during World War II.Like all of the soldiers Christiansen has chosen I know Harry only by name. But the fallen hero chosen this year has a profound effect on this newspaper because our very own Tom Southard is Harry’s brother.When Tom came in and asked me to write the introduction I was a bit speechless.  I could see the affect that this loss still had on Tom and I would bet the rest of his family, and was honored at the request. Harry’s memory will live on in the Southard family as well as in the hearts of every resident in Kimball. Without men and women like Harry Southard we would not be able to the freedoms that we enjoy today. Christiansen intends to muster at the south side of the old High School building at 9 a.m. on the Saturday, the Fourth of July. I encourage everyone to come out and pay their respects to another of Kimball’s Fallen Heroes. It is Christiansen’s hope to dedicate a Hall of Heroes at the old high school.Be sure to say thank you to Tom’s family because they forever bare the burden of this loss so that we may be free.The following is the story about Harry that was written by his brother Tom Southard in 1994.Patrick CosselObserver EditorRemembering a war hero who died in the Normandy invasionIt was 50 years ago, on July 26, 1944, that my brother Harry was killed during the invasion of Normandy.The past few weeks I’ve watched many programs on television and read numerous accounts in the newspapers about the war’s most memorable assault.  It brought back memories of 50 years ago.I was eight but I remember enjoying the day celebrating my father’s birthday.  Then a car that belonged to a rural mail carrier came down the road and turned into our lane at our farm home northeast of Dix.  A few minutes later, a day of fun and festivities turned into one of sorrow.  The carrier handed Dad the telegram.Harry had been killed in action.I never got to know Harry well, but I remember him as being  big and strong and good looking and well liked.  I held him in awe as he was in the army and off to war.A memory that has stayed with me stronger than others was when he came home on furlough.  We got word to pick him up in Kimball and I got to ride along with Dad in our old 1930 Chevrolet. We picked him up at the Corner Bar.  He was the center of attention, like a celebrity.  Everyone wanted to buy him a beer, and he had many.When we started for home and were just a couple of miles away from the farm, Harry got sick and needed to stop.  But before Dad could get stopped Harry opened the door and fell out.  I was petrified because I knew Dad was going to  really  blow his top. To my surprise, Dad got the car stopped, got out and checked on Harry, then helped him get back in. I’ve often thought since then that Dad must have known something in his heart because  he was not one to show that kind of compassion.I remember the memorial service, although only faintly.  I remember much better the services we had when his body was brought back to the States much later and how the Army sent soldiers to accompany his body.  And how they presented a flag to my mother.  I remember Byron Benson, a friend from the Dix school, blowing taps at the Kimball cemetery. And the firing squad.  You can imagine how impressive that was to an eight year old farm kid from Dix, NebraskaI had read the letters my parents received telling of how my brother died and how proud I was of his bravery.The news accounts and letters tell the story:Staff Sergeant Harry Southard died in a hail of machine gun, mortar and artillery fire as his platoon of Company L, 38th Infantry attacked a machine gun nest.  Although Southard’s squad was pinned down, he rushed forward through the intense fire and obtained the support of a tank.  He efficiently reorganized and began an attack.  Other squads, seeing his success, also took up the assault.The German firing came from an abandoned house near St. Jean De Boissant, France.  News accounts and other information variously said Harry was mortally wounded by a mortar shell or killed instantly by machine gun fire.In a letter to the family a military spokesman wrote:“I realize how futile any words of mine may be to assuage your grief, but I trust that the knowledge of his heroic sacrifice may be a source of sustaining comfort.”  Harry earned three medals.The citation for a SIlver Star medal read:  “The gallantry, disregard for personal safety and unswerving devotion to duty... reflect the highest credit upon himself and the armed forces of the United States.”Earlier he had been awarded the Bronze Star for “exceptionally meritorious achievements in performing outstanding service against the enemy in France from June 7 to July 21, 1944.”Immediate burial was in a military cemetery at St.- Laurent-sur-Mer, near Bayeux, France.I never had my own copies of Harry’s achievements until this week when I asked my brother Gail for information.   Harry’s citations and the Purple Heart, SIlver Star, and Bronze Star are still in our family, but since Harry never had the opportunity to marry, have a family, and enjoy life, the Southards need to keep track yo keep his memory alive forever. Brother Vernon put a reminder in last week’s Observer.  It got me thinking that perhaps with the country recognizing the Normandy Invasion a half century ago, it would be fitting to make it a little more local by recognizing a good old home town farm boy who gave his life to allow us to have what we have today... our freedom! I was just a little kid last time I saw you Harry, but I realize now that you truly are a hero, and a lot more so than these high dollar athletes and performers that we tend to idolize. Harry was born at Dix, Nebraska on November 10,1919, and attended school in Dix.  Harry was the fourth of 11 children born to Charles and Anna Southard.  There were 7 boys and 4 girls with all 7 boys serving their country in some branch of the military.  During World War II, there were four of the boys serving including Everett, who retired after twenty plus years as a Colonel in the United States Air Force,  Robert and Gail along with Harry.  Vernon, Tommy, and John alsos served lated.  There Re three members of this family still alive included sister Vera Fern Fabiano of Sacremento, California, Tom of Kimball, who has covered sports for the Observer for more that 20 years, and John of Tacoma, Washington.