Grassley Honors Fallen Hopkinton Soldier Killed in Vietnam
03/26/2008
A Hopkinton soldier, who was killed in the line of duty more than forty years ago in Vietnam, was honored Tuesday night at a private ceremony in Delhi. Relatives and friends of the late Corporal Kenneth Jurgens gathered at Diny's Steakhouse as Senator Chuck Grassley presented military service medals to his family. Last March, on the 40th anniversary of Jurgens' death, his family decided to commemorate the sacrifice Jurgens made to his country. Jurgen's nephew, Rod Jurgens of Hopkinton, and retired Master Sergeant Gary Besler, also of Hopkinton, contacted Grassley's office for help in recovering Jurgen's medals and badges, which include the Purple Heart, Bronze Star and Vietnam Service Medal, among many others. They also had a memorial box built to house the medals. Jurgen's sister, Darlene Bradt, who now lives in Minnesota, says it was a beautiful gift.
Listen:
Listen:
Listen:
Listen:
Bradt says it also meant a lot to have Senator Grassley take the time to attend the ceremony in honor of her brother. Grassley says he was honored to be a part of it.
Jurgen's family appreciated the forty-some relatives and friends that payed their respects at Tuesday's ceremony. Old neighbors, former classmates from St. Paul's in Worthington, cousins and Vietnam veterans were there to remember Jurgens. Jurgens was just 19 years old when he was drafted and shipped off to Vietnam in 1967, dying two months later at the tender age of 20. Bradt says her brother was proud to be an Iowa farm boy.
Jurgens' family hope his memory will live on through a scholarship they've started at Maquoketa Valley High School through Dollars for Scholars.
Jurgens is laid to rest in St. Paul Cemetary in Worthington.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady®NSI