1st Lieutenant Herschel thrall harden, deceased. 1st Lieutenant Hart was born in Conway and served in World War 2 his awards include the distinguished service cross the silver star medal for gallantry and action the bronze star medal with valor and two Purple Heart medals after entering the army and receiving his Commission as a second Lieutenant through officer candidate school he was assigned to the 80th division and shipped overseas in 1943 where he received training in England in preparation for the Normandy invasion on August 1st 1944 he landed on Omaha beach France his division was trucked to the eastern part of France and assigned to the third army then under the command of general George S Patton his division went into intense and sustained combat starting August 10th 1944 and the marella river area on August 18th and 19th 1944 Lieutenant harden was recommended and a silver star for making three separate trips to get his wounded men out of the Direct Line of fire on September 5th 1944 Lieutenant harden led his rifle platoon of the 33 nineteenth infantry and an assault upon Fort valley in France the enemy position a concrete and steel pill box located on the Crest of a hill was well fortified and when Lieutenant harden's platoon had advanced 100 yards it was pinned down by intense machine gunfire Lieutenant harden with complete disregard for his own safety worked his way forward located the concealed enemy gun position and wiped it out with a submachine gun his platoon then advanced until it was again stopped by fire again Lieutenant harden courageously braved intense fire moving forward until he located the gun he penned the enemy down with his submachine gun until he was within 30 yards of their position and then destroyed them with grenades while he was so engaged an enemy soldier wounded him in both legs with grenades he killed that enemy and after having his wounds dressed by a medical corpseman continued to lead his platoon in the attack on November 10th 1944 which reported that Lieutenant harden platoon leader was killed in action with wounds to his shoulder and upper chest.