When Markus Krueger, Services Coordinator at Moorhead’s Hjemkomst Museum, asks young school children if our country is currently at war, they invariably say “no.” It is only when pressed that one or two mention the War in Afghanistan. “They don’t recognize war anymore,” Krueger said. Indeed, the country is a far different place than it was during World War II. The current war oversees does not have the global impact of previous wars. There is no rationing to deal with; there are no scrap drives. Millions of men have not been plucked from their lives and asked to fight thousands of miles away. The War in Afghanistan has not infused itself into the very fabric of our nation. It is therefore easy to forget that there are Americans are currently risking their lives overseas; called to action by the desire to fight for those who are less fortunate. It is a different time; which makes the reality that was World War II that much more unbelievable.
On June 6, 1944, 160,000 Allied troops landed along a 50-mile stretch of French coastline to fight Nazi German on the beaches of Normandy, France. More than 5,000 ships and 13,000 aircraft supported the D-Day invasion. More than 9,000 Allied soldiers were killed or wounded during the invasion, but more than 100,000 soldiers advanced through the beach to begin the march across Europe that would eventually lead to the defeat of Hitler. World War II took a heavy toll on both the country and the world. When all was said and done, over 16 million Americans served in World War II, including 291.557 who didn’t make it home.
To commemorate the 70th anniversary of D-Day, the Hjemkomst Center in Moorhead has developed an impressive exhibit entitled, “Doing Our Part: Clay County in WWII.” The exhibit tells the stories of the men, women, and children of Clay County who were affected by the war and how it changed everyday life. The exhibit will be on display until December 31, 2015. Markus Krueger was instrumental in securing the exhibit and now spends much of his time giving tours to local school children. “We thought it was important for people to commemorate D-Day,” he said. “We need to appreciate the people involved while we can.”
The exhibit includes many personal stories from Clay County men and women who served during their war. Their stories are some of the most poignant of the war; and quite possibly some of the most unknown. Few people understand the sacrifices that were made throughout the area; nor realize the history of the heroes living among us. Their stories need to be told; both to honor their brave sacrifices and to help those who are able to live unaffected by current events understand the harsh realities of the country’s history.
Engel and John Bergseid from Rollag:
Engel and John were twin brothers who grew up near Rollag. They signed up for the Marines on the condition they would not be separated from each other in the service. They initially hoped to liberate their cousins in Norway. Instead, they went to the Pacific together. Since they had experience driving tractors on the farm, the Bergseid brothers were assigned to drive “amph tracs,” amphibious troop carriers used for invasions that were motorboats in the water and armored trucks on land. In February of 1945, they were part of the invasion of Iwo Jima. Two days after landing, Engel’s amph trac was ripped apart by enemy fire. His dog tags and helmet were found in the wreck. Engel’s parents, Joe and Ida, were informed that their son was dead. John, however, felt that his twin brother was still alive and went looking for him. Sometime later, he happily found Engel on a hospital ship, wounded but still alive. Both men survived the war and returned to Rollag, where they married and farmed across the road from each other.
Erwin “Lefty Johnson” from Hawley:
Erwin Johnson joined the Army so he could afford to study engineering at the University of Minnesota. As the platoon leader for the 531st Engineer Shore Regiment, Johnson’s specialty was invading enemy-occupied beaches. Johnson stormed the beaches of northern Africa at Algiers in August, 1942. He landed in Sicily in July of 1943 and Salerno, Italy three months later. Because he had so much experience invading beaches, he was picked to help plan the most important beach landing of the war; the invasion of Nazi-occupied France on D-Day. He was given the security clearance called “Bigot,” a level above Top Secret that meant he was one of the very few people who knew the exact beaches and where Allied Forces would land. Johnson landed at Utah Beach on D-Day. He returned to Hawley after the war and lent his engineering expertise to several city projects. Throughout the 1970s, he became an important part of Robert Asp’s Hjemkomst Viking ship project. Johnson’s leadership solved the complicated problem of getting the 16-ton Viking ship out of a potato warehouse and onto a truck bound for Lake Superior.
Lloyd Sunde from Felton:
After his father died, Lloyd Sunde took over the family farm and also graduated from Concordia College in 1941. As a farmer supporting his family, Lloyd was exempt from the draft, but he decided to join the Navy. He was assigned to the USS Henrico, a troop transport designed for amphibious invasions. Sunde was the pilot of one of the Henrico’s 28 landing craft (LCMs) designed to carry infantrymen to enemy held beaches. Sunde’s first taste of combat was D-Day, June 6, 1944. His LCM made two trips to Omaha Beach carrying troops and supplies for the Allied Invasion of France. Of the 96 infantrymen he carried to the beach in the third wave of landings, only one made it to shore. Two months later, Sunde and his LCM crew carried soldiers to storm the beaches of France’s southern Mediterranean coast. A year later, he was on the other side of the world when his ship, the USS Henrico, was hit by a Japanese kamikaze airplane during the invasion of Okinawa. It was his 25th birthday. Sunde returned to Moorhead after the war and married. He farmed and taught school in Dilworth, Glyndon, and Moorhead. He also served on the board of directors for the Hjmekomst Center.
The Fighting Dragons:
MSTC (now MSUM) football coach Alex “Sliv” Nemzek was the commander of Moorhead’s Minnesota National Guard unit. He strongly encouraged his players to join the National Guard. In February of 1941, ten months before America entered the war, Moorhead’s Battery F was activated to man coastal defenses in California. Along with Coach Nemzek went the line coach, the team’s trainer, and eight members of the football team. A ninth teammate was shipped off to the Pacific a few weeks later as part of North Dakota’s National Guard. Needless to say, 1942 was not a winning year for Dragon football. MSTC football was cancelled for the duration of 1943.
Fairmont Creamery:
After Pearl Harbor, American industrial production quickly ramped up to fill the demand for war products – including food. In February of 1942, Moorhead’s Fairmont Creamery added an egg-drying plant to its poultry processing and dairy products line. Dried eggs weighed much less than fresh eggs and kept for years, making them easier and cheaper to ship overseas. The plant increased its workforce by 50%. Most of the new hires were women, including 100 hired to crack eggs. By 1945, Fairmont produced half a million dried eggs per day. After the war, Fairmont closed the egg drying plant and laid off most of its female workforce. The company hired returning serviceman to take their places. Fairmont Creamery closed in 1980 and the building is now a retirement home.
It is easy to forget the sacrifices that were made so we can enjoy the freedoms and luxuries of our current society. World War II is the biggest mass war in history, and one that deserves our utmost respect and gratitude. Although D-Day was seventy years ago, the effects of that invasion can still be felt today in the lives we lead. It may be difficult for people, young and old alike, to remember that the country is currently involved in a war, which makes the reality of World War II that much more remarkable.
The World War II exhibit at the Hjemkomst Center is a must see for any Clay County resident. All veterans get in free on June 6th, thanks to tickets purchased by Lefty Johnson, Lloyd Sunde, and other local World War II veterans. In addition, as a Blue Star museum, the Hjemkomst Center is always free to those serving in our armed forces and their families.
