MERRIMACK, N.H. — Harvey Stevens Sutherland, 84, of Merrimack, N.H., died Sunday, July 26, 2009 at his home after a brief illness.

He was born in Lynnfield, on Dec. 16, 1924 a son of the late C. Harvey and Pauline (Evelyth) Sutherland. Mr. Sutherland was educated in the Lynn 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 five 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 five 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, World War II 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 New Hampshire.

Mr. Sutherland was a life member of the Amity Lodge 5863, AF&AM Danvers, Affiliate member of Rising Sun Lodge No. 39, Nashua, N.H., Member of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite 32 Degree Consistory, Valley of Nashua, Bektash Temple Shrine AAONMS, International Legion of Honor, Concord, N.H., Life member of the Disabled American Veterans Chapt. 19 of New Hampshire, Member and Trustee of VFW Post 8641 of Merrimack, N.H., Military order of the Purple Heart Chapter 395 of New Hampshire, 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.

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 New Hampshire 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.