DIERKS, Norman 1930-1953

DIERKS, FELEY, BEANE

Posted By: Karen L. Robertson (email)
Date: 1/21/2010 at 14:33:04

Funeral services for A/2c Norman H. Dierks, who died of hemorrhagic fever while serving in Korea March 14, will be held Saturday, May 9 at 2 p.m. at the Deer Creek Lutheran church with the Rev. O.A. Langehough officiating.

A/2c Norman Herman Dierks was born in Bloomfield, Nebraska, January 31, 1930, the son of Herman C. and Emma Dierks. He was baptized November 23, 1930, in St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran church in Bloomfield by Pastor Martin Shroeder.

He moved with his family to Worth county in the spring of 1940 where he continued school in Deer Creek township. The family affiliated with the Deer Creek Evangelical Lutheran church and he was confirmed by Pastor O.A. Langehough May 7, 1944.

He continued school in Northwood and was graduated from the Northwood high school with the class of 1947. He was an active 4-H and FFA member, serving one year as president of the Worth County 4-H.

A/2c Dierks enlisted in the U.S. Air Force July 6, 1951, and received his basic training at Sheppard AFB, Wichita Falls, Texas. He then took 15 months schooling in Ground Radio Maintenance at Scott AFB near St. Louis, Mo.

Airman Dierks left for Korea January 14, 1953, and was assigned to the 605th Tactical Control Squadron. He was located 45 miles northeast of Seoul on an isolated mountain with a crew of men operating a radar and radio station. Here he was stricken with hemorrhagic fever and removed to a base hospital in Korea by helicopter.

On March 14, he became critically ill and died six hours later. He was 23 years, one month and 14 days old at the time of his death.

He is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. H.L. Dierks, three brothers, George, Paul and Robert, all of St. Ansgar; two sisters, Mrs. Anne Marie Feley of Northwood and Mrs. Mary E. Beane of Miami Springs, Florida, and a host of other relatives and friends.

Burial was in the First Lutheran cemetery in St. Ansgar with Rev. O.A. Langehough in charge of the committal services.

St. Ansgar Enterprise