Norbert John Ruskamp was born June 14, 1930 in rural Cuming County, Dodge, NE to Lorenz and Elizabeth (Oesselke) Ruskamp.   He attended Sared Heart Academy, Olean through the 8th grade.   He farmed with his father and brother, Irvin, prior to being drafted in the United States Army.
On September 27, 1956 he was united in marriage to Mary Ann Peitzmeier at St. Aloysius Catholic Church, Aloys (rural West Point, NE).  They had seven children: Jeanette, Eileen, Carol, Thomas, Randal, Bernard and Christopher.  Norbert  and sons, Tom and Randy continued farming, raising livestock and crops for many years.   Norbert and Mary Ann retired to Dodge, NE in 2000, but Norbert, if possible, would go to the farm every day.   He always said, "he would rather wear out than rust out."   For entertainment, he enjoyed bowling and playing cards with family and friends.    He also enjoyed following the school sport's games of his children and grandchildren.
Norbert was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Olean, serving as a trustee, parish council member and was on the church grounds mowing cirlce for approximately 60 years.   Norbert has been a member of the Catholic Order of Foresters since 1940, serving as financial secretary for over 25 years and was a recipient of the Legion of Honor Award in 2007; he was a member of the Knights of Columbus Countil #5439 in Howells, NE.   Norbert was also a member of the Dodge American Legion Post #122 and Dodge Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #8597, marching in many fair parades and serving on many military honor details for funerals.   He served on the Cooperative Supply Board in Dodge for six years.
Norbert passed away on February 17, 2013.

 

Mr. Alex Meyer from Snyder, NE Interviewed Norbert on the Army Life During the Korean War
Norbert Ruskamp was drafted on December 13, 1952 and was inducted into the Army in Fort Omaha, then on to Camp Crowder, Missouri for indoctrination.   From there he went to Louisiana for 8 weeks of Basic Training.   Norbert then went to Fort Dix, New Jersey for Military Police training.  In May of 1953, he had two weeks leave.   Seattle, Washington was the next stop.   After getting held back twice because the ships were filled with troops, he boarded the ship and headed on to Japan.
From Japan, Norbert went to Pusan, Korea.   He was assigned to P.W. Camps.  After the war ended, they took the prisoners back to Panmujon on the 38th Parallel, then they went back to Pusan where they boarded the L.S.T. to Chejue Island for a month.   They didn't have anything to do there because the prisoners had gone back home.   Norbert said they went back to Pusan and were assigned to guard at the Pusan Military Post stockade.   
In the meantime, Norber enjoyed watching the way of life of the Koreans, such as plowing the field with plows drawn by bulls and planting the rice plants by hand.   After the rice was ripe, it was gathered up and they beat out the rice with a switch.   Some farmers had a few hogs and they took them to market by loading (one at a time) on an A-frame, which they carried on their back.   The A-frame was the hub of their machinery.  They carried their plows to the field on these and also took their grain to market on this A-frame.  
In October of 1954, Norbert got orders to rotate home.   He was so happy.  He went back to Seattle, WA, where he took a train to Fort Carson in Colorado for discharge.  
Norbert received the United Nations Service Medal-Korean Service Medal with National Defense Medal-Bronze Service Star-R.O.K. Presidential Unit Citation-and a Good Conduct Medal.
The Korean War was the "Forgotten War" because it happened between World War II and the Vietnam War.   It never was declared a war.   It was called a Police Action.