(Beresford, SD) — A bridge on State Route 46 near Beresford is now officially named for the first South Dakotan to be killed during the Vietnam War. A dedication ceremony was held Monday at Beresford High School naming the bridge in honor of First Lieutenant Josef L. Thorne. He was 24 years old when his helicopter was shot down in 1965. Thorne’s name is the 21st listed on the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C. Thorne was a graduate of Beresford High School and South Dakota State University, where he was a running back for the Jackrabbits’ football team. He was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 12th round of the 1962 NFL Draft, but opted to enlist in the military. The Josef L. Thorne Bridge is located eight miles west of Beresford and crosses the Vermillion River.
