Sherburne History Center Blog

Every so often I strive to recognize Sherburne County men and women in military service.   Individuals who sacrificed for their country.   I want to acknowledge the life of Robert Darrow, a Lieutenant in the Army Air Corps, who died in combat in Italy in September 1943.   Robert Darrow, born in Elk River; for a short time, lived in Big Lake before returning to the city.   He graduated from Elk River High School in 1939.   He trained as a pilot at the North Dakota State School of Science.   He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1941 and received his commission as Lieutenant in July 1942.   Bob Darrow received some recognition as an excellent pilot.   The Sherburne County Star News published a report of Darrow, during a training session in Louisiana, landing a crippled plane at high speed.   He kept the plane, with damaged wings, in the air for an hour to allow his crew to bail out.   To a man, the crew stayed with Darrow. ...

Senior Class photo of Jack Bade, 1938. When I first arrived in Sherburne County I began to explore the history of the county through biography.  I was developing my list of “profiles in courage” in Sherburne county, a type of historical/biographical exploration.  Recently I was directed to the life of one man in Sherburne County that most assuredly should be on a list of “profiles in courage:”  Jack A. Bade was born in 1920 in Minneapolis.  His family moved to Elk River when he was still an infant.  He grew up in Elk River.  In high school he played football and basketball, and had the lead in the school play, Robin Hood.  After he graduated in 1938, he attended the University of Minnesota majoring in engineering.   For a time he worked at Honeywell Corporation before enlisting in the Army Air Corps.   He received his commission and flight wings at Luke Airfield on July 26, 1942.  He then joined the 44th fighter squadro...