Iver Emil Norgard (Norgord)

Lilah Crowe2021-12-29T11:14:33-06:00

Name: Iver Emil Norgard (Norgord)
Location of Birth: Trout Lake Township, Itasca County, Minnesota
Date of Birth: August 9, 1920
Date of Death: May 2, 1994
Parents: Jacob Norgord & Maria (Soronen) Norgord
High School and Class:
College:
Highest Rank: S SGT (Staff Sergeant)
Branch: Army
Other Branch:
Date Sworn In: October 23, 1942
Place Sworn In: Fort Snelling, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Date of Discharge: February 14, 1946
Place of Discharge: Fort Logan, Colorado
Military Awards:
American Service Medal
World War II Victory Medal
Good Conduct Medal

Military Highlights:
WW II Draft Registration Cards – 10/16/1940 – 03/31/1947
State: Minnesota
Name: Iver Emil Norgord
Race: White
Age: 21
Birth Date: August 9, 1920
Birth Place: Trout Lake, Bovey, Minnesota, USA
Residence Place: Trout Lake, Bovey, Minnesota, USA
Registration Date: February 16, 1942
Employer: Grand Rapids Oil Co., Grand Rapids, Minnesota
Weight: 175
Height: 6-1
Complexion: Ruddy
Eye Color: Blue
Hair Color: Brown
Other Characteristic: Scar on 1st finger of right hand
Next of Kin: Jacob Norgord, Rt. 1, Bovey, Minnesota

Newspaper article: Bovey Press, Bovey, Minnesota - December 4, 1942 - "Bovey Service Men's Club: Thanks a lot for the Diary I received from you. This is a bit late as I got it while I was still at home. Seems that I've been moving so much since I got in this Army, that I haven't had time to write even. I got the first copy of the Bovey Press today. It feels good to read up on the news from the Home Town. It's been kind of warm here, but give me good old Minnesota weather any day. I miss the snow we get up there. Wish I could have been there for deer hunting. I guess I'll have to console myself by shooting a Jap some day. This week I start my airplane mechanics training. After I start on that I won't have much time to myself. Well, keep the home fires burning. Pvt. Iver E. Norgard."

Newspaper article: Bovey Press, Bovey, Minnesota - January 1, 1943 - "Dear Friends: Thanks a lot for the swell Christmas package, and I want to thank the Bovey Girl Scouts for their gift enclosed, also. You folks back home are certainly doing a good job. Not all of the fellows here get packages like that! According to letters from up there, you'll have a "White Christmas" as everybody hopes for. I don't think I'll see any snow this year, though. We certainly get plenty of rain down here and it really feels cold this time of the year. I guess the output of airplanes is jumping up in the factories, the way they send new men here for mechanics training. It takes quite a few men to keep an airplane in flight. Well, I hope I can do my part to "Keep 'em Flying," in the very near future. One of the former Trout Lake farmer boys. Pvt. Iver E. Norgard

Newspaper article: Bovey Press, Bovey, Minnesota - April 2, 1943 - "GRADUATE MECHANIC. Keesler Field, Miss. - Completing a 17-week course in the upkeep and maintenance of B-24 Liberators, largest combat bombers used today by the Army Air Forces, Private First Class Iver E. Norgard, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Norgard, Route One, Bovey, was graduated as an airplane mechanic from Keesler Field's Army Air Forces Technical Training Command. Private Norgard, who with other members of his class, will be ready for early assignment to some tactical unit of the Army Air Forces, successfully completed the 14 phases of the course, which includes training in B-24 maintenance, structures, hydraulic systems, fuel systems, engines, electrical systems, instruments, propellers and aircraft inspection. The latest phase of the course is an eight-day training period in the open and under simulated combat conditions. The students must know how to apply what they have learned in school, camouflage their planes, and even provide their own shelter against attack, as no buildings stand in the training area."

Newspaper article: Bovey Press, Bovey, Minnesota - April 16, 1943 - "April 11, 1943. Dear Friends: Arrived here yesterday afternoon from Keesler Field, Miss., to get further instruction on the maintenance and servicing of various aircraft. It will be a 28-day course here. This is a very beautiful place here, nestled among the mountains. We're also very fortunate in being so close to Los Angeles, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and Santa Monica. I'd like to have the Press catch up to me as soon as possible, so here's my new address: Corp. Iver E. Norgard, Class V-25-43, Bks. No. 9, Lockheed-Vega Service School, Burbank, California. Thanking you very much and wishing you all a Happy Easter. Your Friend, Iver Norgord. P.S. I hereby cast my vote for longer letters by Ann, instead of her shortening them."

Newspaper article: Bovey Press, Bovey, Minnesota - September 3, 1943 - "Pyote, Texas, August 27, 1943. Dear Friends: Many thanks to the American Legion for the Hospitality card which I received not long ago, and also for the swell letter by Mr. Barnes. I certainly appreciate all the things you've done and I hope to be able to thank you personally in the near future. I suppose the old "Hometown" has changed quite a bit, but it'll sure be swell to be up there for even a few days. The Minnesota lakes, forests and green grass will be a real sight for sore eyes. This seeing sand, cactus, sagebrush and some more sand doesn't quite agree with a guy like me. We've been kind of busy here lately, working 12 hour shifts to "Keep-em-Flying" and the day shift is none too easy on a hot tramp. I'm getting pretty well used to this hot weather already, but it sure sounds funny to hear that you've had freezing temperatures up there already. Sure hope it didn't ruin the crops. Well, I guess this is enough for this time and this being my day off, I'll probably go up town and see what's cooking. As ever, Iver Norgard."

Newspaper article: Bovey Press, Bovey, Minnesota - October 15, 1943 - "October 5, 1943. Mrs. J. C. Martin. Dear Neighbors: I am sorry I couldn't see every one when I was home, but time went so fast and it just seemed impossible to see everybody in that short week I was home. It sure felt good to be up there again and the weather was perfect the entire time. I agree with you that fall is the nicest time up in the northwoods, too. It sure beats this Texas weather all hollow. I received your letter when I got back here and thanks an awful lot. Mr. Ball sure wrote a wonderful letter, too, and sets a guy to thinking a bit. Bovey was kind of quiet, but I think the old atmosphere is still there and I sure wish we can all be back soon. Sure hope Bob makes good on his cadet training, and I think his work as a mechanic at Northwest Airlines will help an awful lot. Things are a lot more familiar that way. Say hello to Bud, also, when you write, will you? It was swell that Edwin got to see him, too, as seeing someone from back home sure hits the spot. It's getting a bit cooler here nights and we can sleep under covers already. We don't see any frosty mornings, as yet. Days get pretty warm, but nothing like it was along in July and August. Well, I guess I'll close for now and get some sleep again. As ever, Iver Norgard."

Newspaper article: Bovey Press, Bovey, Minnesota - January 1, 1944 - "Pyote, Texas; January 1, 1944. Hello Friends: The two of us brothers had the rare opportunity of getting together to ring out the old and ring in the New Year, so will also take this opportunity to jointly thank you for the Christmas card and news of a subscription to the Readers Digest. We certainly do appreciate something like that and think it's a grand gift. Thanks also to the Press for the handy pocket calendar. Yours, Oscar and Iver Norgard."

Wars Involved:
World War II

MIA / POW:

Civilian Life:
Iver Norgard married Norma Erkkila in 1947 in Bovey, Minnesota. The couple lived in Grand Rapids, Minnesota for a few years before moving to Coleraine, Minnesota. Iver was employed for Mobil Oil in Grand Rapids, Itasca Oil in Bovey, and Continental Oil in Kelly Lake as a petroleum products supplier, retiring in 1984. He was a member of the Itasca Finnish Club, Greenway Lions Club, Loyal Order of Moose Lodge 1061 of Bovey, Canisteo Masonic Lodge 271, and the American Legion Post 60 of Grand Rapids.

Iver died in Grand Rapids, Minnesota and is buried in Lakeview Cemetery, Coleraine, Minnesota (Block 146). He is survived by his wife, Norma; two daughters, Marie Dueman and Ruth Tobie; one son, Alan Norgard; and two granddaughters.

Tribal Affiliation(s):