Earl E. Kerkhoff

Korean War

Earl Kerkhoff was born on October 8, 1929, near Templeton to Henry and Pauline (Sextro) Kerkhoff. He attended Sacred Heart School in Templeton before graduating from high school at Loras Academy in Dubuque, IA with the class of 1948.

After graduation, Earl returned to Templeton and the family farm. On October 3, 1951, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps at Omaha, NE. He was assigned serial number 1218016. Earl was immediately sent to the USMC Recruit Depot at San Diego, CA. There he was part of Platoon 328, Company A of the 4th Recruit Training Battalion.

Earl completed his basic training by the end of 1951. He was assigned to Company I, 2nd Battalion of the 2nd Marine Division at Camp Pendleton near Oceanside, CA. He was also promoted to PFC (private first class) at his time. Earl underwent training for Marine MOS (military occupational specialty) 0334. This means he was trained to fire the anti-tank bazooka.

By April, 1952, Earl was assigned to Weapons Company, 1st Battalion of the 3rd Marine Division also at Camp Pendleton. The 3rd Marine Division was in the midst of being reactivated. Training was conducted in new aspects of combat including helicopter landings, airborne operations and nuclear weapons and missiles.

Training continued into early 1953. Earl was promoted to Lance Corporal and was promoted again to Corporal in July, 1953. The 3rd Marine Division departed the United States in August, 1953 for Japan to support the 1st Marine Division. However, Earl did not accompany this unit likely due to the upcoming end of his enlistment. Instead, he was assigned to Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion of the 2nd Marine Division likely to train new recruits.

Earl was discharged from the Marine Corps on October 3, 1953, at San Diego, CA. He returned to Templeton and farming. There is some indication Earl remained in the Marine Reserves and is listed on a muster report of the Enlisted Reserve in Chicago, IL in July, 1954. On September 8, 1956, Earl was married to Elizabeth “Betty” Kalkhoff in Templeton. Earl farmed until moving into Templeton in 1987.

Earl died at Manning, IA on November 1, 2011 at age 82. He was buried in Sacred Heart Cemetery in Templeton.