Vet gets medals, 55 years late

By SARA SYVERSON

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Norman Kalk, of Morgan, received a long-deserved Purple Heart and a Bronze Star Sunday -- 55 years after World War II ended.

Kalk was awarded the medals in a ceremony at the Redwood Falls National Guard Armory.

"It was a glorious day for me, Kalk said Sunday. "There was a big crowd there. I was surprised so many relatives and friends came."

A retired mechanic, Kalk, 81, received encouragement and help from Rep. David Minge; his wife, Edna; and Harold Read, his County Service Officer in obtaining the over-due recognition.

Kalk, who was a member of the 2nd Battalion of the 314th Infantry of the 79th Division, arrived in France approximately four days after the initial D-Day invasion in June 1944.

Seven months later, Kalk's battalion sustained heavy losses in a January 1945 battle at Grusenheim, France, near the French/German border. Soldiers who survived were either wounded or captured.

Kalk valiantly fought to save the rest of his company at Grusenheim. These efforts entitled him to the Bronze Star.

"We were losing and getting pushed back 10 miles into France," said Kalk, "All they could report to my mother was that I was Missing In Action," said Kalk. " The U.S. government just presumed I was a Prisoner Of War."

Kalk, a machine gunner in the heavy weapons company, was wounded just minutes before he was captured by German soldiers. His wounds eventually healed, and he was marched to his first POW camp.

The reason it took so long for Kalk to get his Purple Heart was that all the records were destroyed. In 1978, he met his commanding office Lt. Paul Phiffer at a reunion in Branson, Mo.

Phiffer learned that Kalk had never been recognized for his wounds and bravery. Phiffer insisted Kalk take action to receive the medals.

"It took writing and writing and phone calls. You name it to get it," said his wife, Edna on Sunday. "It was a long ordeal, but it finally came through."

As a POW, Kalk worked on bombed-out railroad tracks for approximately 100 to 115 days until American soldiers of the 30th Division liberated his POW camp.

"It was very dangerous work because American, British and Russians all watched the railroad lines and bombed them," said Kalk, "The railroad was the main form of transportation."

After Kalk and other soldiers were finally liberated from the POW camp, they were taken to a hospital in Paris for recuperation.