Johnson County Courier
Sterling, Johnson County, Nebraska
Thurs., Aug 9, 1951
Pg. 1 col. 1
Elmer R. Norton Killed In Action
Word of His Death In Korea Comes To Relatives This Week
Sgt. Elmer F. Norton was killed in action May 28, 1951, according to word received from the War Department Monday by his wife, Mrs. Marian Norton in Tecumseh.
Previous word was to the effect that Sgt. Norton was missing in action, but relatives know now that he has given his life in service for his country. To his wife, his two sons, step-son, and his foster parents, Mr. and Mrs. Herman Floerke of this place, is extended the deepest sympathy of a host of friends.
Elmer was born Jan. 21, 1917 and died May 28, 1951 in Korea. His age was 34 years, 4 months, 7 days. He came to Sterling to make his home with Mr. and Mrs. Herman Floerke on Sept. 1, 1925. They bestowed upon him all the loving care that any parents could give a son, and he in turn gave them his deep affection.
He was educated in the Sterling schools and graduated from high school here in 1936. He had two years of college education, attending at Chadron and Peru Normal schools.
During World War II he enlisted in the army in June, 1942. He went overseas in 1944, participated in battles in Northern France, the Rhineland and Central Europe. He was wounded on Nov. 18, 1944 and received the Purple Heart.
After his discharge from the army on Oct. 1, 1945, he returned to civilian life.
On June 28, 1946 he was married to Mrs. Marian Kesinger at Topeka, Kans., and two sons were born to them, Richard Linn and Dennis Lee. Mrs. Kesinger's son Charles, by a previous marriage, received the same affection from Elmer that his own sons did. Charles' father was killed during World War II.
After their marriage the Norton's moved to Sterling and lived on the Floerke farm east of town, where Elmer engaged in farming until he decided to make the army his career and re-enlisted in July 1948.
He was assigned to duty in Germany shortly after his enlistment and served there a number of months. Returning to the states, he enjoyed a visit with his family and friends then in July of last year he left Tecumseh, his destination being Korea. He was with the 7th Cavalry Regiment of the First Cavalry Division, which saw long and bitter fighting in Korea.
Sgt. Norton was deeply impressed with the necessity of maintaining the democracy to which we as a nation are accustomed, and dreaded the thought that the communists might be victorious in their attempt at taking over the world. He frequently wrote home, and vividly described life in the battle areas of the war torn country.
With the rotation of army men, Elmer's turn would have come in about two weeks and he was counting on the day when he would be back to the United States he loved so well. The last letter he wrote on May 24 expressed his dread of the coming offensive as if he may have had a premonition of disaster for himself. Four days later he was killed in action.
He was a member of the Methodist church and had transferred his membership to the Tecumseh church after the family home was established in that town. By nature he was friendly and considerate of others, and had many friends.
He is the first Korean casualty from Sterling and the community is saddened by his death.
Sterling, Johnson County, Nebraska
Thurs., Aug 9, 1951
Pg. 1 col. 1
Elmer R. Norton Killed In Action
Word of His Death In Korea Comes To Relatives This Week
Sgt. Elmer F. Norton was killed in action May 28, 1951, according to word received from the War Department Monday by his wife, Mrs. Marian Norton in Tecumseh.
Previous word was to the effect that Sgt. Norton was missing in action, but relatives know now that he has given his life in service for his country. To his wife, his two sons, step-son, and his foster parents, Mr. and Mrs. Herman Floerke of this place, is extended the deepest sympathy of a host of friends.
Elmer was born Jan. 21, 1917 and died May 28, 1951 in Korea. His age was 34 years, 4 months, 7 days. He came to Sterling to make his home with Mr. and Mrs. Herman Floerke on Sept. 1, 1925. They bestowed upon him all the loving care that any parents could give a son, and he in turn gave them his deep affection.
He was educated in the Sterling schools and graduated from high school here in 1936. He had two years of college education, attending at Chadron and Peru Normal schools.
During World War II he enlisted in the army in June, 1942. He went overseas in 1944, participated in battles in Northern France, the Rhineland and Central Europe. He was wounded on Nov. 18, 1944 and received the Purple Heart.
After his discharge from the army on Oct. 1, 1945, he returned to civilian life.
On June 28, 1946 he was married to Mrs. Marian Kesinger at Topeka, Kans., and two sons were born to them, Richard Linn and Dennis Lee. Mrs. Kesinger's son Charles, by a previous marriage, received the same affection from Elmer that his own sons did. Charles' father was killed during World War II.
After their marriage the Norton's moved to Sterling and lived on the Floerke farm east of town, where Elmer engaged in farming until he decided to make the army his career and re-enlisted in July 1948.
He was assigned to duty in Germany shortly after his enlistment and served there a number of months. Returning to the states, he enjoyed a visit with his family and friends then in July of last year he left Tecumseh, his destination being Korea. He was with the 7th Cavalry Regiment of the First Cavalry Division, which saw long and bitter fighting in Korea.
Sgt. Norton was deeply impressed with the necessity of maintaining the democracy to which we as a nation are accustomed, and dreaded the thought that the communists might be victorious in their attempt at taking over the world. He frequently wrote home, and vividly described life in the battle areas of the war torn country.
With the rotation of army men, Elmer's turn would have come in about two weeks and he was counting on the day when he would be back to the United States he loved so well. The last letter he wrote on May 24 expressed his dread of the coming offensive as if he may have had a premonition of disaster for himself. Four days later he was killed in action.
He was a member of the Methodist church and had transferred his membership to the Tecumseh church after the family home was established in that town. By nature he was friendly and considerate of others, and had many friends.
He is the first Korean casualty from Sterling and the community is saddened by his death.
Johnson County Courier
Sterling, Johnson County, Nebraska
Thurs., Aug 9, 1951
Pg. 1 col. 1
Elmer R. Norton Killed In Action
Word of His Death In Korea Comes To Relatives This Week
Sgt. Elmer F. Norton was killed in action May 28, 1951, according to word received from the War Department Monday by his wife, Mrs. Marian Norton in Tecumseh.
Previous word was to the effect that Sgt. Norton was missing in action, but relatives know now that he has given his life in service for his country. To his wife, his two sons, step-son, and his foster parents, Mr. and Mrs. Herman Floerke of this place, is extended the deepest sympathy of a host of friends.
Elmer was born Jan. 21, 1917 and died May 28, 1951 in Korea. His age was 34 years, 4 months, 7 days. He came to Sterling to make his home with Mr. and Mrs. Herman Floerke on Sept. 1, 1925. They bestowed upon him all the loving care that any parents could give a son, and he in turn gave them his deep affection.
He was educated in the Sterling schools and graduated from high school here in 1936. He had two years of college education, attending at Chadron and Peru Normal schools.
During World War II he enlisted in the army in June, 1942. He went overseas in 1944, participated in battles in Northern France, the Rhineland and Central Europe. He was wounded on Nov. 18, 1944 and received the Purple Heart.
After his discharge from the army on Oct. 1, 1945, he returned to civilian life.
On June 28, 1946 he was married to Mrs. Marian Kesinger at Topeka, Kans., and two sons were born to them, Richard Linn and Dennis Lee. Mrs. Kesinger's son Charles, by a previous marriage, received the same affection from Elmer that his own sons did. Charles' father was killed during World War II.
After their marriage the Norton's moved to Sterling and lived on the Floerke farm east of town, where Elmer engaged in farming until he decided to make the army his career and re-enlisted in July 1948.
He was assigned to duty in Germany shortly after his enlistment and served there a number of months. Returning to the states, he enjoyed a visit with his family and friends then in July of last year he left Tecumseh, his destination being Korea. He was with the 7th Cavalry Regiment of the First Cavalry Division, which saw long and bitter fighting in Korea.
Sgt. Norton was deeply impressed with the necessity of maintaining the democracy to which we as a nation are accustomed, and dreaded the thought that the communists might be victorious in their attempt at taking over the world. He frequently wrote home, and vividly described life in the battle areas of the war torn country.
With the rotation of army men, Elmer's turn would have come in about two weeks and he was counting on the day when he would be back to the United States he loved so well. The last letter he wrote on May 24 expressed his dread of the coming offensive as if he may have had a premonition of disaster for himself. Four days later he was killed in action.
He was a member of the Methodist church and had transferred his membership to the Tecumseh church after the family home was established in that town. By nature he was friendly and considerate of others, and had many friends.
He is the first Korean casualty from Sterling and the community is saddened by his death.
Sterling, Johnson County, Nebraska
Thurs., Aug 9, 1951
Pg. 1 col. 1
Elmer R. Norton Killed In Action
Word of His Death In Korea Comes To Relatives This Week
Sgt. Elmer F. Norton was killed in action May 28, 1951, according to word received from the War Department Monday by his wife, Mrs. Marian Norton in Tecumseh.
Previous word was to the effect that Sgt. Norton was missing in action, but relatives know now that he has given his life in service for his country. To his wife, his two sons, step-son, and his foster parents, Mr. and Mrs. Herman Floerke of this place, is extended the deepest sympathy of a host of friends.
Elmer was born Jan. 21, 1917 and died May 28, 1951 in Korea. His age was 34 years, 4 months, 7 days. He came to Sterling to make his home with Mr. and Mrs. Herman Floerke on Sept. 1, 1925. They bestowed upon him all the loving care that any parents could give a son, and he in turn gave them his deep affection.
He was educated in the Sterling schools and graduated from high school here in 1936. He had two years of college education, attending at Chadron and Peru Normal schools.
During World War II he enlisted in the army in June, 1942. He went overseas in 1944, participated in battles in Northern France, the Rhineland and Central Europe. He was wounded on Nov. 18, 1944 and received the Purple Heart.
After his discharge from the army on Oct. 1, 1945, he returned to civilian life.
On June 28, 1946 he was married to Mrs. Marian Kesinger at Topeka, Kans., and two sons were born to them, Richard Linn and Dennis Lee. Mrs. Kesinger's son Charles, by a previous marriage, received the same affection from Elmer that his own sons did. Charles' father was killed during World War II.
After their marriage the Norton's moved to Sterling and lived on the Floerke farm east of town, where Elmer engaged in farming until he decided to make the army his career and re-enlisted in July 1948.
He was assigned to duty in Germany shortly after his enlistment and served there a number of months. Returning to the states, he enjoyed a visit with his family and friends then in July of last year he left Tecumseh, his destination being Korea. He was with the 7th Cavalry Regiment of the First Cavalry Division, which saw long and bitter fighting in Korea.
Sgt. Norton was deeply impressed with the necessity of maintaining the democracy to which we as a nation are accustomed, and dreaded the thought that the communists might be victorious in their attempt at taking over the world. He frequently wrote home, and vividly described life in the battle areas of the war torn country.
With the rotation of army men, Elmer's turn would have come in about two weeks and he was counting on the day when he would be back to the United States he loved so well. The last letter he wrote on May 24 expressed his dread of the coming offensive as if he may have had a premonition of disaster for himself. Four days later he was killed in action.
He was a member of the Methodist church and had transferred his membership to the Tecumseh church after the family home was established in that town. By nature he was friendly and considerate of others, and had many friends.
He is the first Korean casualty from Sterling and the community is saddened by his death.
Gravesite Details
Korea in army
Family Members
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