Six South Dakota bridges will soon be renamed after veterans who died while serving the nation in World War II.
These are part of the South Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs Fallen Heroes Bridge Dedication Program.
A State Bridge Dedication Ceremony is scheduled for Veterans Day, at 2pm at the South Dakota Military Heritage Alliance in Sioux Falls.
The US HWY-14 bridge, two miles east of DeSmet, will be dedicated as the WT2 Porter L. Rich Bridge. Water Tender Second Class Rich served in the U.S. Navy and was killed in action on December 7, 1941, while serving on the USS Oklahoma, which was anchored at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
The SD HWY-38 bridge over the East Fork Vermillion River, east of Montrose, will be dedicated as the MM2 Milton L. Muller Bridge. Machinist’s Mate Second Class Muller served in the U.S. Navy and was killed in action on December 25, 1943, while serving on the USS Leary in the Atlantic.
The SD HWY-11 bridge over Split Rock Creek, two miles north of Brandon, will be dedicated as the CPL Harvey H. Henle Bridge. Corporal Henle served in the U.S. Army and was killed in action on June 16, 1944, just days following D-Day in Normandy, France.
The SD HWY-42 bridge over the James River, eight miles west of Ethan, will be dedicated as the SGT Alvin W. Erpenbach Bridge. Sergeant Erpenbach served in the U.S. Army and was killed in action on September 7, 1944, while defending a bridge in Italy.
The SD HWY-19 bridge over the West Fork Vermillion River, north of Parker, will be dedicated as the PVT Marvin L. Gunderson Bridge. Private Gunderson served in the U.S. Army and was killed in action on April 3, 1945, in Okinawa, Japan.
The SD HWY-19 bridge over the Vermillion River, 11 miles north of Volin, will be dedicated as the PFC Leland L. Nielson Bridge. Private First Class Nielson served in the U.S. Army and was killed in action on June 29, 1945, in Mindanao, Philippines.
