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SGT Barry Simpson
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Sutherland, Harvey, S/SGT.
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Harvey Stevens Sutherland, 84, of Merrimack died July 26, 2009 at his home after a brief illness.
He was born in Lynnfield, MA on Dec. 16, 1924 a son of the late C. Harvey and Pauline (Evelyth) Sutherland.
Mr. Sutherland was educated in the Lynn, MA school system.
He joined the U.S. Army at the Age of 18, and volunteered for the Parachute Infantry. He fought with the 509th Parachute Infantry in 5 major campaigns and the 82nd Airborne Division in Anzio beachhead and Rome-Arno, Italy, St. Tropez, Southern France-Airborne Assault, Manhay and St. Vith Belgium; Sadzot Belgium, Ardennes-Alsace and Rhineland Germany.
Mr. Sutherland was awarded the European Theatre of Operation ribbon with 5 campaign stars, Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart with Oak-leaf Cluster, Combat infantryman Badge, Master Parachutist Silver Wings, Presidential Unit Citation with Oak-Leaf Cluster, European Middle Eastern service medal, French Third Zouves Regimental Badge, WWII Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal (Germany), Overseas Combat Service Medal, French Croix De Guerre with Silver Star, Gov. of France “Special Citation”, Belgium Croix De Guerre, Netherland Orange Lanyard and Battle of the Bulge. Named “Man of the Year” for the Airborne in 1993. He was also Honored with his name on the Purple Heart Trail in NH.
Mr. Sutherland was a life member of the Amity Lodge #5863, AF&AM Danvers, MA, Affiliate member of Rising Sun Lodge No. 39, Nashua, NH, Member of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite 32 Degree Consistory, Valley of Nashua, Bektash Temple Shrine AAONMS, International Legion of Honor, Concord, NH, Life member of the Disabled American Veterans Chapt. 19 of NH, Member and Trustee of VFW Post 8641 of Merrimack, NH, Military order of the Purple Heart Chapter 395 of NH, Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge, Member and former Trustee of the 509th Parachute Infantry Assoc., Past Commander of VFW Post 9548, and Augustus P. Gardner Post 227 American Legion both in Middleton, MA.
He was Past chairman of the Merrimack Valley Section of the American Society for Quality Control. Holding certifications as quality control technician, Quality Assurance Engineer and Quality Assurance Reliability Engineer. A Faculty member and Adjunct Professor of Reliability Engineering and Quality Assurance Process Control with the NH Technical Colleges.
Before retirement in 1988, he was at Calcomp and Lockheed Sanders of Nashua for 24 years as a Senior Procurement Quality Assurance Engineer and member of the “Apollo 11” Quality Reliability Lunar Mission for NASA.
Members of his family include his wife of 63 years, Dawn P. (Evans) Sutherland; three sons, Mark, Scott, and Kevin Sutherland; a daughter, Vicki Lyn Fuller; eight grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, a brother, Herbert Sutherland; and several nieces and nephews.
Calling hours are at the George R. Rivet Funeral Home, 425 Daniel Webster Hwy, Merrimack Tuesday from 2-3 & 6-9 PM. A graveside service with military honors will be Wednesday at 10 AM in the Oakdale Cemetery, Middleton, MA. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to a Military or Masonic charity, or a charity of ones choice. For more info or to sign an online register book go to rivetfuneralhome.com.
WWII - European Theater of Operations/Southern France Campaign (1944)/Operation Dragoon
From Month/Year
August / 1944
To Month/Year
September / 1944
Description Operation Dragoon (initially Operation Anvil) was the code name for the landing operation of the Allied invasion of Provence (Southern France) on 15 August 1944. The operation was initially planned to be executed in conjunction with Operation Overlord, the Allied landing in Normandy, but the lack of available resources led to a cancellation of the second landing. By July 1944 the landing was reconsidered, as the clogged-up ports in Normandy did not have the capacity to adequately supply the Allied forces. Concurrently, the French High Command pushed for a revival of the operation that would include large numbers of French troops. As a result, the operation was finally approved in July to be executed in August.
The goal of the invasion was to secure the vital ports on the French Mediterranean coast and increase pressure on the German forces by opening another front. After some preliminary commando operations, the US VI Corps landed on the beaches of the Côte d'Azur under the shield of a large naval task force, followed by several divisions of the French Army B. They were opposed by the scattered forces of the German Army Group G, which had been weakened by the relocation of its divisions to other fronts and the replacement of its soldiers with third-rate Ostlegionen outfitted with obsolete equipment.
Hindered by Allied air supremacy and a large-scale uprising by the French Resistance, the weak German forces were swiftly defeated. The Germans withdrew to the north through the Rhône valley, to establish a stable defense line at Dijon. Allied mobile units were able to overtake the Germans and partially block their route at the town of Montélimar. The ensuing battle led to a stalemate, with neither side able to achieve a decisive breakthrough, until the Germans were finally able to complete their withdrawal and retreat from the town. While the Germans were retreating, the French managed to capture the important ports of Marseille and Toulon, soon putting them into operation.
The Germans were not able to hold Dijon and ordered a complete withdrawal from Southern France. Army Group G retreated further north, pursued by Allied forces. The fighting ultimately came to a stop at the Vosges mountains, where Army Group G was finally able to establish a stable defense line. After meeting with the Allied units from Operation Overlord, the Allied forces were in need of reorganizing and, facing stiffened German resistance, the offensive was halted on 14 September. Operation Dragoon was considered a success by the Allies. It enabled them to liberate most of Southern France in just four weeks while inflicting heavy casualties on the German forces, although a substantial part of the best German units were able to escape. The captured French ports were put into operation, allowing the Allies to solve their supply problems quickly.
