Nearly 57 years ago, New Florence resident Norbert Overkamp, Jr. became the first Montgomery County casualty at the Vietnam War.

Now, three Vietnam veterans are looking to honor his memory by naming a portion of Highway 19 after the fallen soldier.

Richard Penn of Middletown, Ron Overkamp of Hermann and Wayne Watson of Brighton, Ill., are getting 100 people to sign a petition to have Highway 19 to be called the Sgt. Norbert Overkamp, Jr. Memorial Highway. There will be a sign on Kimmich Road, which is south of Montgomery County High School, and another sign on the intersection of Highway 19 and Highway B.

“It’s something he deserves,” said Ron Overkamp, who is Norbert’s cousin.

Penn, Watson and Ron Overkamp had a meeting on July 30 with members of VFW Post 4436 at Sugar and Spice Laura’s Delights in Montgomery City to talk about the petition. Watson said the VFW agreed to help.

“They have taken the bull by the horns,” Watson said.

The project is part of the MoDOT’s Memorial Designation Program, which allows individuals, organizations, places or events to be memorialized along the state’s roadway system.

“MoDOT runs the program,” Watson said. “They have certain rules and those rules are you have to have at least 100 signatures from the county where the sign is going to be or any contingent county.”

Watson said he and his Vietnam mates wanted the portion of Highway 19 named after Overkamp since he was born and raised in Montgomery County.

“We want people to remember him,” Watson said.

Overkamp was born on June 6, 1945 in Americus. He graduated from MCHS in 1964. He went to Vietnam on Sept. 9, 1966 and was 22 years old when he was killed on Aug. 24, 1967. He would have returned to the United States in September 1967.

Overkamp was survived by his parents, two brothers and a sister. A full military service was held at Immaculate Conception Church on Sept. 4, 1967 and the burial was at St. Martin’s Cemetery in Starkenburg.
Watson nicknamed Overkamp “Kid.”

“He just wasn’t one to mingle,” Watson said. “When he died, he was a man. He was a leader. He took that job extremely seriously and he was a squad leader at the time of his death.”

The Vietnam War lasted 20 years from 1955-1975. Up to three million people were killed during that conflict.

“It was a conflict here at home, for sure,” Watson said. “There were a ton of people against it, so when we came home, we didn’t talk about it. I was a state policeman for 30 years and didn’t know anybody else who didn’t go to Vietnam. The only reason I know that they were in Vietnam was because now that we’re out, they’re dying and you’re seeing their obituaries.”

After the war ended, Penn worked as a farmer and Ron Overkamp was a carpenter. Watson said he was thrilled that he got to reunite with his old Vietnam buddies.

“We all still try to stay in some kind of contact with the other guys in the unit,” Watson said.

Watson, Penn and the Overkamp cousins were part of the Fourth Infantry Company C, Third of the 12th Battalion during the Vietnam War. Watson said there were 40 members in that group.

“It’s very unique,” Watson said. “We were very close to each other. It wasn’t just a bunch of strangers and you replaced somebody and you really didn’t know them. You live together. We took care of each other. Now, we’re trying to take care of Norbert again.”

Anyone who wants to sign the petition must contact VFW Post 4436 at vfwpost4436@gmail.com.