J. Vernon Iverson

John Vernon Iverson was born June 6, 1919 on the Eureka Farm, Highwater Township, Cottonwood County, to Iver O. and Martha Hofstad Iverson. He was drafted into the U.S. Army from June 9, 1942 to December 28, 1945, and served with the Army's 321st Regimental Combat Team, 81st Infantry Division, serving in the Pacific Theater in the Philipines and the battle for Peleliu. His duty was as radio operator. He used the Morse Code and was partnered with Hopi Codetalkers. Hopi Codetalkers were a small select group of the military. They had a mission to do: get essential information to U.S. troops without the enemy deciphering their coded messages. They couldn't be captured, and they knew it. They had top-secret knowledge, and there was too much danger that the enemy could force it from them if they were captured. So, they took a vow to end their own life rather than be captured. They had a job to do, and they did it. After leaving Leyte, Philippines, on August 6, 1945, his unit was on the way to Japan when they heard on the radio that the atomic bomb was used on Hiroshima, Japan. His duty then became as an occupying soldier on the north part of Honshu Island, Japan, until December 10, 1945. After 3 years and 7 months, spending time at several southern states, several ships and islands and Japan, Vernon returned home to a wonderful mother, brothers and sisters. Vernon and his brother, Marlow, were successful, hard-working farmers on Eureka Farm for the rest of their careers. He was the beloved uncle to the surviving nephews and nieces: Ralph (Ginny) Iverson, Shirley Sampson, Judy O'Malley, Romelle (Melvin) Wojahn, Ronald (Betty) Schneider, Anita (Grover) Bynum and Spencer (Dawn) Iverson; and great-great niece, Emily (Tamara) Patterson Berven. Preceding him in death were his parents; brothers, Iver, Raymond, Pearl and Marlow; and sisters, Vivian Iverson, Agnes Schneider and Corinne Iverson; and great niece Christine Patterson. First Visitation 10:00 am - 11:00 am Monday, July 1, 2013 Nora Unitarian Universalist Church, Hanska, MN 12333 155th Ave. Hanska, Minnesota, United States 56041 Service Information 11:00 am Monday, July 1, 2013 Nora Unitarian Universalist Church, Hanska, MN 12333 155th Ave. Hanska, Minnesota, United States 56041 Second Visitation 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm Friday, July 5, 2013 Sturm Funeral Home, Lamberton Chapel 502 S. Main Lamberton, Minnesota, United States 56152 Interment Information Mt. Pisqua, Hanska, MN 12333 155th Ave. Hanska, Minnesota, United States 56041