SFC Donald J. Hurt Memorial Bridge gets new sign

Heading west from Bristow on Route 66, travelers and residents alike will view a newly replaced sign identifying the SFC Donald J. Hurt Memorial Bridge at Catfish Creek. Although the sign is new, the memorialized name of the bridge is not.

On May 1, 1995, when the bridge was dedicated in honor of Sergeant First Class Donald Hurt of Bristow, the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) placed an identifying sign at its location. After many years, the Oklahoma sun and weather left the sign remarkably faded and needing replaced. Joe Trigalet of the Bristow Historical Society contacted and maintained an open line of communication with ODOT to ensure the sign’s replacement materialized, befitting the honor and memorialization SFC Donald Hurt deserves. Born September 7, 1931, to parents Everett and Amy Hurt, Donald was both born and raised in Bristow. He attended school, participated in many activities, excelled at wrestling, and graduated from Bristow High School in 1949. He even attended the local junior college in Bristow before joining the Oklahoma National Guard, where he ultimately served as Platoon Sergeant, Company G, 2d Battalion, 279th Infantry Regiment. In September 1950, he served with the U.S. Army due to the federal mobilization following North Korea’s invasion of South Korea. For his service, he received several awards. A couple of the awards included the Combat Infantryman Badge and Purple Heart; however, the most prestigious award SFC Donald J. Hurt received was awarded posthumously: The U. S. Army’s Distinguished Service Cross.

According to the Department of Defense, “The Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) is the second highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the United States Army. It is awarded for extraordinary heroism… Actions that merit the Distinguished Service Cross must be of such a high degree that they are above those required for all other U.S. combat decorations but do not merit award of the Medal of Honor.” (Further information can be found at https://valor.defense.gov.)

SFC Donald J. Hurts’ award states “The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 25, 1963, has awarded the Distinguished Service Cross posthumously to Sergeant First Class Donald J. Hurt, United States Army for extraordinary heroism in actions: Sergeant First Class Donald J. Hurt distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism as Platoon Sergeant, Company G, 2d Battalion, 279th Infantry Regiment, while engaged in ground operations against an opposing armed force near Pakkea Ridge in the Yonchon-Chorwan Area, Korea, on 10 April 1952. While conducting a night patrol operation, Sergeant Hurt was leading his platoon through an abandoned village when they came under intense fire from enemy automatic weapons located on a small hill. After insuring that the platoon was in the proper defensive position, Sergeant Hurt fearlessly started up the hill with his carbine and several grenades to engage the enemy. At this time, he was knocked down and seriously wounded by a grenade blast. Completely disregarding his wounds, he managed to get back on his feet and throw several grenades to silence an enemy automatic weapon which was located on the forward slope of the hill. Additional enemy automatic weapons fire was now coming from the top of the hill and from the left right slopes. Continuing to ignore the pain caused by his wounds, Sergeant Hurt called for an artillery barrage to neutralize the enemy positions. Only after all enemy fire had ceased did he finally consent to be evacuated for medical treatment. The gallantry and aggressiveness displayed by Sergeant First Class Hurt directly resulted in routing the enemy and minimizing the casualties suffered by his comrades in this battle. His extraordinarily heroic actions, at the ultimate cost of his own life the next day, were in keeping with the most cherished traditions of military service and reflect the highest credit on him, the 45th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.”

Because Bristow’s own Donald Hurt is an American hero, the intensely weather-worn sign identifying the bridge dedicated to memorializing his heroism needed replaced for years. Finally, the new sign is in place with renewed context to reflect the honor of the hero it represents.