Norman entered the Army in 1944 and received his training at Camp Hood in Texas. He was sent to Germany and was wounded in action on March 13, 1945, the day before his mother's birthday. As his unit advanced through a wooded section toward an enemy town, enemy artillery opened up. Norman, who was carrying his mortar gun on his back, dived for a foxhole, but was hit by 888 millimeter shell fragments in the left leg and chest. Private Rothfolk was awarded the Purple Heart in September 1945.
V-Mail than Norman sent to his sister, Elda Barten
Western Union notification about Norman wounded in action while in Germany
Official notification that Norman was awarded the Purple Heart
Placque Norman made to hold display his Purple Heart
Norman next to the original "Freedom Rock" near Greenfield, Iowa
1/2 page Veteran support ad for the Manning Veterans' book
There are many ways to collect information from a Veteran...here is one way using a taper recorder.
Transcript of video interview by Lyle Mundt of his Uncle Norman Rothfolk on 6/18/2010
Transcription by Mark Mundt January 25, 2011
Lyle: ...back to the United States or did you just stay in
Germany there for a while?
Norman: Nope, I was in an English hospital for uh...
L: Oh, an English hospital.
N: They flew me across from France back to England on a plane and I was in a
hospital there for...oh, I don't remember how long but, from there then they
put me on a hospital ship back to New York.
L: And then from New York did you take a train back to Iowa then or something...
N: Yeah, yeah after they got us processed and everything and then we went along
the train ride from New York to Topeka, Kansas. That's where they had the hospital.
L: And then you stayed in Kansas for a while before you came back to Iowa then?
N: Basically I was discharged from the hospital there --- Winter General Hospital, Topeka, Kansas.
L: So did you start farming as soon as you got back then?
N: Not right away, no. No, no, I think I bummed around for at least a year or so. And in those days it was what they called a 52/20.
They called it a 52/20. For one year they'd give you $20 a week when you were unemployed.
L: Oh, and then after that that would stop and then you'd have to get a job or...
N: Yeah, no, well I could've went to school, but I
just didn't feel that I was smart enough to handle it.
L: So it was $20 a week, you said?
N: Yeah, for 52. A 52/20. (laughing)
They said, "Oh you're on the 52/20."
L: And then after that time you started farming then... after that was up?
N: A couple years afterwards I eventually got this little John Deere
(inaudible). I remember that. I thought I really had a tractor. Today they'd crush the thing, wouldn't they? (laughing)
L: Yeah.
N: These big outfits they have now...
L: Yeah, it's unbelievable...
N: They'd smash it to pieces.
L: Yeah, it's a tremendous change. So then you met Mary Jane before you started
farming or after you started farming?
N: After.
L: After.
N: Yeah, after.
L: Where was she living? How did you meet her?
N: I met her at a dance hall.
L: Like (inaudible) house or something?
N: I think in Arcadia. In a dance hall there.
L: Where was she living at the time then?
N: She lived in Manning.
L: Oh she did, OK. I can't remember her maiden name.
N: (inaudible) She had a brother that lived out in Washington, I think, Washington State, didn't she?
L: Was it Alan?
N: Yeah Alan, they moved out eventually to Seattle, where they have the big Boeing plant?
L: Yeah.
N: He got a job out there.
L: So did you end up shooting anybody then or it never got
to that point or...
N: I never fired no gun, no weapon. I never killed anybody. I've seen plenty
of at least dead GIs laying out in the field.
L: So what were you doing most of the time when you were
over there? What was your job?
N: Oh, well, they just were hauling us in a truck, I don't know, from here to
there to here. And for a while they even had us on a little old train. I guess
they knew what they were doing, I don't know.
L: You hope so, huh? (laughing) So were there other ones injured at the same
time you were injured from shrapnel then? Several of your buddies then?
N: Oh yeah, there were others, I know when I was in the hospital there, there
was a lot more wounded, uh, wounded GIs. They were in pretty bad shape. I
thought I can't handle this. You learn to handle it. In those days they didn't even have pain
killer like they do today and it hurt like the devil for a long time.
L: So when you got hit were you in that truck then that you
talked about…
N: Yeah.
L: You were being transported when you got hit?
N: Yeah, yeah. The knee joint is pretty tender, you know how it hurts if you bump it? (laughing)
Ahh, that's all a thing of the past. (pause) (laughing)
|
Manning Monitor article------ 1945
Manning Soldier is Recovering in England
As his unit advanced through a wooded section toward an enemy town, enemy artillery
opened up. Private Rothfolk, who was carrying his mortar gun on his back, dived for a
foxhole, but was hit by 888 millimeter shell fragments in the left leg and chest.
He will be released from the hospital at an early date. |
Norman Dean Rothfolk
Visitation
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2010 AFTER 4:00 PM OHDE FUNERAL HOME MANNING, IOWA
Funeral Service THURSDAY, NOVEMBER
18, 2010 10:30 AM UNITED METHODIST CHURCH MANNING, IOWA
REVEREND ANGIE LOOMIS
Processional "AMERICA" "BATTLE HYMN
OF THE REPUBLIC"
Hymns "AMAZING GRACE" "HOW GREAT
THOU ART"
Vocal Solo "ON EAGLE'S WINGS" KEVIN
AVERY
Recessional "ONWARD CHRISTIAN
SOLDIERS" JoAnne Karsten, Organist
Casket Bearers: AARON ROTHFOLK,
JENICA ROTHFOLK, JANELLE ROTHFOLK, JAROD TRECKER, JUSTIN TRECKER, MIKE BUBON
Honorary Casket Bearers: MELISSA
BUBON, LIBBY TRECKER, DEVIN DESING
Interment with
Military Honors
American Legion Emil Ewoldt Post 22
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3517
MANNING CEMETERY MANNING, IOWA
Visitation Wednesday
November 17, 2010, After - 4:00 PM at Ohde Funeral Home, Manning
Funeral Service Thursday November
18, 2010, 10:30 - AM at United Methodist Church, Manning
In August of 1944, Norman entered the United States Army at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. He served in the European African Eastern Theater with the 80th Infantry. He was wounded in action in Germany on March 13, 1945, and received his honorable discharge on November 14, 1945, at Topeka, Kansas. He was awarded the Purple Heart as well as a Bronze Battle Star and World War II Victory Ribbon. After recovering from his wound, he resumed farming on the Rothfolk family farm with his dad.
Norman was united in marriage on May 6, 1956, with Mary Jane Grage at Manning. They were the parents of five children. Norman and Mary Jane farmed until 1975 when Norman retired, however they continued to live on the farm until 1992 when they moved to Grimes.
In his spare time, Norman enjoyed camping, traveling to the mountains and messing around outdoors, especially growing flowers in their yard. Above all, he enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren. Norman was a member of the United Methodist Church and had a life membership in the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans and the Order of the Purple Heart.
When Norman's health began to give him trouble in 2006 they returned to the farm south of Manning to be nearer family. He had many hospitalizations and surgeries over the years and on Monday, November 8, 2010, he returned to the VA Hospital in Des Moines where he died on Saturday, November 13, 2010, at the age of 87 years, 8 months and 28 days.
Preceding him in death are his parents; sisters Lorraine Gruhn, Elda Barten and Eileen Mundt.
Norman is survived by his wife Mary Jane Rothfolk of Manning; children: Craig Rothfolk and wife Twyla of Bloomington, Minnesota; Cindy and husband Bob Bobun of Des Moines; Kathy Rothfolk of Manning; Lori Ann and husband Michael Trecker of Manning and Mary Jane and husband Eric Desing of Baxter, Minnesota; eight grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; two sisters Delores and husband William Fastje of Denison, and Mary Ann and husband Spence Birchard of Beaumont, California; two sisters-in-laws Wanda Grage of Portland, Oregon and Marilyn Avey of Lincoln, Nebraska; other relatives and friends.