KOREA:  FIRST PEORIAN TO DIE

 

                                                      NORMAN V. KELLY

 

 This is what I wrote in my book, lost in yesterday’s news, in 2005.  “First Peorian to die in the Korean conflict was PFC Bernard Zimmerman, all of eighteen. God, what a waste of life.”  I never thought another thing about Luther Bernard Zimmerman until just a few days ago.  That is when I discovered that he was not even listed on the Korean/Viet Nam Memorial plaque located inside the Peoria County Courthouse.  I made telephone calls to our county clerk and several other places and those calls netted me absolutely zero.  Seems a soldier that has been dead sixty years hardly garnered anyone’s interest, so I decided to find out all I could about PFC Zimmerman.

 

Even though his name was Luther, he went by the name of Bernard, or ‘Bernie.’  He was born in

Smithfield, Illinois on November 19, 1931.  His father’s name was Luther Zimmerman and he was born in Fairfield, Illinois and resided in Abington and Avon, Illinois.  I was never able to find out his biological mother’s name.  His stepmother was Blanche Mae Utzinger (White) and she was born in Smithville, Illinois. Bernard’s parents were divorced and he lived with his stepmother here in Peoria at 906 Hurlburt.  Blanche died on January 19, 1963, and Luther Zimmerman died on August 27, 1979.

Bernard, Blanche and Luther are buried in the Wiley Church Cemetery located in Deerfield Township, Fulton County, Illinois.

 

                                           PEORIA  CONNECTION

 

While living with his stepmother over on Hurlburt, Bernard attended McKinley Grade School. In late 1946 he moved to Abington, Illinois and then to Avon, Illinois.  His father lived over there, and Bernard went to live with him. Of course he came to Peoria and stayed with his stepmother on many occasions, but his residency was there in Avon, Illinois.

 

                                                     ENLISTMENT

 

On November 11, 1949, at the ripe old age of seventeen he enlisted in the United States Army.  We can only assume that his dad signed for him because of his age. So that put him in the army in 1949, and just nine months after he became a soldier he was killed in combat.

 

PFC Luther Bernard Zimmerman was a member of the 5^th. Regimental Combat Team and was killed in action on August 15, 1950 while fighting the enemy near Chindong-ni, South Korea. Here in Peoria, Illinois this is what the local newspaper said of Bernard Zimmerman. 

 

          BERNARD ZIMMERMAN FIRST PEORIAN TO DIE.  They of course were referring to the Korean Conflict, which was raging at the time of his death.

 

                                                        MONUMENT

Located there, inside the courthouse, and just outside the Circuit Clerk’s office is a plaque mounted on the wall.  It lists 51 soldiers from Peoria that gave the ultimate sacrifice when they answered their country’s call to arms.  Since Bernard was Peoria’s first casualty, surely his name would be up there among his combat comrades, right?  Well, it is not.  WHY?

 It is just a guess on my part, but I feel that since Zimmerman enlisted in Knox County, and was not living here when he was killed, he was either inadvertently over looked, or perhaps they felt he did not fit the criterion as ‘One of our boys.’  The newspaper article stated that he WAS living with his ‘mother’ at the time he went into the service.

Since his stepmother and father are gone, who is there to speak for PFC Luther Bernard Zimmerman? I guess it boils down to this.  Does PFC Zimmerman belong up there with his Peoria comrades or not?  It’s up to you. Maybe the mayor, the county clerk, or the Peoria County Board could help.  Take the time to give them a call or write them and tell them what you think.

Editor’s note:  Norm found 5 police officers that died and were never honored. They are now on our police memorials.

norman.kelly@sbcglobal.net