Bridge to be Dedicated in Honor of Local Korean War Veteran Dirk Abbas
A fallen son of Britton will be honored in a lasting way in a couple weeks when a state bridge is named in his memory.
Sergeant Dirk Robert Abbas, who was killed in action during the Korean War at the age of 19, will be recognized through South Dakota’s Fallen Heroes Bridge Dedication Program. A bridge on Highway 27 over the Crow Creek two miles south of Britton will carry his name, with a dedication ceremony set for Friday, October 3, at 2 p.m. at the Britton Event Center.
The event will include remarks from local, state, and military dignitaries. Refreshments will be served afterward by the American Legion Auxiliary. The public is invited to attend.
About the Program
The Fallen Heroes Bridge Dedication Program was launched in 2019 by the South Dakota Departments of Veterans Affairs, Military, and Transportation, with the Governor’s endorsement. The program honors South Dakotans killed in action or missing in action by naming state bridges in their memory.
Each year, the Fallen Heroes Bridge Dedication Committee selects bridges and fallen service members to recognize. Since the program began, more than 70 bridges across South Dakota have been named for local heroes.
“The program gives us the opportunity for remembrance, reflection, and respect—to honor the men and women who gave their lives in service to this nation,” said state officials.
About Sgt. Abbas
Dirk Abbas was born October 20, 1932, in Aberdeen and grew up in Britton, graduating from Britton High School in 1950. While in school, he worked part time at the Britton Journal and continued there full time for nearly a year before entering military service.
Abbas volunteered for the Marines on February 14, 1951, and received boot training at Camp Pendleton, California. That June he volunteered for submarine duty and trained aboard the U.S.S. Perch. He returned home for Christmas in 1951 before being assigned to the Reconnaissance Company, Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division.
Abbas left for Korea in June 1952 and arrived in July. On October 6, 1952, while on a night patrol, he was killed by enemy fire. He died just two weeks before his 20th birthday.
An article published in the Britton Journal after his death noted, “A Britton youth was killed in action in Korea, according to word received by his mother Friday…a later message reported his death while on patrol with the 1st Reconnaissance Company of the 1st Marine Division on Oct. 6.”
Family’s Role in the Dedication
The bridge dedication was made possible through the efforts of Abbas’s niece, Vicki (Vold) Johnson of Colorado. She first applied for the honor in 2022 after learning about the program.
“I really did it for my mother, Dirk’s sister, who died in 2012,” Johnson said. “She had a soft spot for veterans and would have wanted to do this if she could have.”
Johnson spent time gathering records and piecing together her uncle’s service story, much of which had been lost over time. “My grandmother threw things away, so I had to send away for his records,” she explained. “It was interesting to learn how he trained on submarines before his unit was sent to Korea. He died just two weeks before his 20th birthday.”
After applying, Johnson waited a few years before receiving a letter this April from Governor Larry Rhoden, informing her that her uncle had been chosen.
“At first, I thought he had been declined again, so I was very pleased to learn he was finally selected,” Johnson said. “We were able to request the bridge location, and it meant a lot to have it here in Marshall County.”
Honoring His Sacrifice
For Johnson and the rest of the family, the dedication ensures that Dirk’s sacrifice will be remembered by future generations.
The October 3 ceremony will mark another chapter in South Dakota’s ongoing effort to honor its fallen heroes, one bridge at a time.
