02 Broadcaster Press May 27, 2014 www.broadcasteronline.com We remember Norm Herren By David Lias david.lias@plaintalk.net A former Vermillion business leader, community volunteer and member of the Greatest Generation has passed away. Norman Herren, who moved with his wife, Mildred, to Vermillion in 1954 and began Norm Herren Building Supply here in the fall of 1969, passed away in Fargo, ND, on April 28. He was 92. Herren joins a growing list of local World War II veterans who have passed away. What many local residents may not have realized is while serving in the U.S. Navy, Herren took part in the D-Day Invasion at Normandy on June 6. 1944. Herren was born in a logging camp near Eldred, IL, and after graduating from high school in Karnak, IL, attended from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, IL, and graduated in 1943 with a bachelor’s degree in economics. On Sept. 8, 1942, he enlisted in the United States Naval Reserve V-7 program and was put on inactive duty for one year. After completing the V-7 program at Notre Dame University, he was commissioned as an ensign in the United States Navy in January 1944. He was assigned as communication officer aboard USS LST 528 for the duration of World War II. He was aboard this ship at daybreak of D-Day, June 6, 1944 off Normandy Juno Beach. He talked about some of his military experiences during a segment of the South Dakota Public Broadcasting program, “Homefront: South Dakota Stories.” NEW CASE IH HAY EQUIPMENT * NEW WINDROWERS - DISC AND SICKLE * BALERS - ROUND AND LARGE SQUARE * RAKES - FINGER WHEEL AND ROTARY — ALL IN STOCK — READY TO GO! — USED EQUIPMENT SPECIALS Herren’s first business experience may have come while he served on the newly commissioned USS LST 528. “The first order that I received – the captain told me to start a ship’s store,” Herren told Bob Bosse, SDPB’s director of television in a 2007 interview. “He didn’t tell me how.” Since he was on a brand new ship, there was no information available to Herren for how to begin. He found a compartment near the crew’s quarters that would serve well as a location for the ship’s store. He also asked officers and other crew members for money to buy the inventory for the store. He then went to the PX on the naval base and purchased cigarettes, candy, razors and razor blades that could be available for his fellow crewman once the ship had left the U.S. Herren was also qualified to be “on watch” while the ship was underway. “You were up on the bridge, and you were in charge of the ship – the ship was yours,” he said. “After I became communication officer after a few months, the ship was also mine when general quarters was sounded.” Herren’s ship sailed from New Orleans, LA to Panama City, FL for a two-week “shakedown cruise,” that served as a One & two bedroom apartments. Scotland Apartments, 821 Main St. Scotland, SD 57059. Laundry. Rental assistance available to those who qualify. For appointments or applications please call 605-624-5218 or visit www.oakleafpm.com. Equal Housing Opportunity training exercise. The ship then returned to New Orleans, where it was fully loaded with fuel and supplies. The ship then sent sail for the east coast, with stops in New York and New Jersey, where it was loaded with various types of ammunition. The USS LST 528 began its ocean voyage on April 18, 1944, as part of a convoy of 127 ships. “It took us 19 days to get across (the Atlantic),” Herren said. In May 1944, the ship arrived at Northern Ireland, and a few days later was ordered to sail to Plymouth, England. On May 31, 1944, the ship sailed to Tillbury, located south of London, where tanks, trucks and jeeps were added to its cargo. The ship originally was to set sail for Normandy on June 4, but that order was delayed for 24 hours. The ship and the rest of the invasion fleet departed from SouthendOn-Sea, England, for France at 5:30 p.m. June 5, 1944, and arrived at Normandy at approximately 5:30 a.m. the next morning. “We had a few tanks which could go in water, and we let those off at sunrise,” he said. The ship also had six Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel (LCVP) boats aboard, which were used to haul troops to shore. “We let those off, with 26 men,” Herren told Bosse. “We were set up for third wave, and we weren’t too happy. We preferred the first wave. We went up on Juno Beach, which was the Canadian beach … and we had a lot of respect for those guys.” The ship was designed to land on shore, where it could be unloaded, and it including the Lions Club, Masonic Lodge, American Legion, Vermillion Chamber of Commerce and Development Company, and the First Baptist Church. He was honored as South Dakota Lumberman of the Year (1986) and Grand High Priest of Royal Arch Masons (1993-1994). He and Mildred supported both academic and athletic programs at the University of South Dakota from which she and both their children earned degrees. Herren was proud that the USD Track and Field program began the Norm Herren High School Invitational Track Meet in 2007. “I think that we are on this earth to help people,” Herren told Bosse during the 2007 interview. “Otherwise, why are we here? I think having served, and seeing the casualties that I saw, and different things during war, has made me a much better person. I’m more aware of my faults … I’m very happy that I was able to serve.” A link to the audio interview may be found by logging on to http://www.dakotastories. org/homefront/Vermillio n/Herren.html. finally accomplished that goal on June 8. “When the tide went out, there we set, high and dry, and we let our tanks out. Then we picked up wounded there. On D-Day, there was almost 10,000 killed, but there were 41,500 wounded,” he said. “So they were all picked up by different ships on that day, so they could be brought back to England. It was pitiful.” Seeing the aftermath of the D-Day invasion, he said, was “terrible.” He mentioned during the interview that he never viewed the film “Saving Private Ryan,” which very realistically portrayed the carnage of that day. Herren said he viewed his role on the ship as a protector of his crewmen. “I wasn’t afraid to take action. There were over 100 crewmen aboard, and it was my responsibility to see that they arrived safely,” he said. “I felt that I came out of this service a better person than I was when I went in.” The Vermillion community benefited greatly from Herren’s personal philosophy to serve and care for others. He was involved in a variety of activities and civic organizations, GARY D. NEBELSICK • ELK POINT, SD Home: (605) 356-2877 Cell : (605) 670-1199 NICE SELECTION USED ROUND BALERS - LG. SQ. BALERS SP AND PULL WINDROWERS - RAKES LO-RATE FINANCING Over 20 Years Experience Licensed & Insured PARTS SPECIALS Tuesday June 3rd!! 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