A bridge north of Hospers will soon become a permanent memorial to a Northwest Iowa soldier who gave his life while serving in Iraq.
The Iowa Department of Transportation plans to dedicate the bridge carrying Iowa Highway 60 over Willow Creek as the Private First Class William E. Thorne Memorial Bridge on August 24, the 20th anniversary of Thorne’s death in Iraq. A dedication ceremony will be held at the Iowa DOT maintenance garage in Alton before memorial signs are installed at the bridge site.
A Lasting Tribute
The effort to designate the memorial bridge was spearheaded by retired Iowa Army National Guard Major and Sioux County American Legion Commander Cory Van Sloten. In a letter to the Iowa DOT, Van Sloten said the memorial bridge would serve as a lasting tribute to Thorne’s selfless service and sacrifice and ensure he is not forgotten.
The Sioux County Board of Supervisors approved a resolution supporting the designation on June 16. County leaders noted the bridge is a fitting memorial because of its proximity to Hospers, where Thorne and his wife made their home before enlisting in the U.S. Army and where Thorne is buried.
Remembering William Thorne
William Edgerton Thorne, known as “Willy” or “Wilbur” by family and friends, was born in Rock Valley and graduated from Rock Valley Community High School with the Class of 1999. He enjoyed tenting, fishing, and playing pool.
In September 2000, he met Corey Jasper. The couple married on November 10, 2001, and made their home in Hospers. Thorne attended Western Iowa Technical Community College, where he studied criminal justice, and worked for several Sioux County businesses before entering military service.
Thorne and his wife both enlisted in the United States Army in May 2005. He completed basic combat training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, and graduated as a Cavalry Scout before being assigned to the 4th Infantry Division, 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment at Fort Hood, Texas.
On February 13, 2006, Thorne deployed to Iraq, serving south of Baghdad before later being transferred to Camp Falcon in southern Baghdad. On August 24, 2006, at the age of 26, Private First Class William E. Thorne was killed after an improvised explosive device, or IED, detonated near his vehicle during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
According to his obituary, Thorne strongly believed in the cause for which he was fighting and viewed military service as an opportunity to protect the people he loved. One of the reasons he joined the Army was to save enough money so he and Corey could someday have or adopt a child. He also loved making children laugh and remained devoted to his family, friends, and community.
U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley later paid tribute to Thorne on the Senate floor, saying his death was deeply mourned in Rock Valley, Hospers, and across the nation.
“We, the American people, are forever indebted to Willy for his great strength and heroic sacrifice,” Grassley said.
