Fairbury honors local veteran with ceremony

FAIRBURY- Neb. -- Fairbury honored a local Army veteran Tuesday with a ceremony at the Jefferson County Courthouse.

Galen E. Napier was born in Fairbury in 1946 and attended Fairbury Public Schools where he played basketball, football, and tennis. 

After receiving a draft notice in 1966, he enlisted and joined the U.S Army 101st Airborne. 

While training in Fort Bliss, Texas, he earned his jump wings and was sent to Vietnam with his squadron. 

Napier was awarded the Bronze Star and an Army Commendation Medal from his Division General for his service. 

When returning from the war, he graduated from the University of Omaha and went back to his local roots to teach at Fairbury Public Schools. 

Napier is now retired and lives on a portion of land in Jefferson County that his grandparents used to own with his wife of 54 years, Laurel.