Iowa town honors superheroes of the big screen, ball field and beyond
Teresa Kay AlbertsonNorwalk is home to a pair of big screen superheroes in Brandon Routh and Jason Momoa, but there are plenty of everyday superheroes walking the city's streets.
To honor some of those who fly under the radar — and to give a nod to those who draw the spotlight, too — the city created the Norwalk Superhero Awards.
The first four award winners were announced at the annual Norwalk State of the City address last week. They are:
- Retired Brig. Gen. Douglas M. Pierce, a former Norwalk mayor and Iowa Air National Guard fighter pilot.
- Corpsman Clay Garcia, who served with a Navy medical unit and currently works with the Norwalk and Clive fire departments.
- Brandon Routh, a Norwalk native who starred as Superman in 2006's "Superman Returns" and currently plays Atom on the CW's "Legends of Tomorrow."
- Matt Dermody, a Norwalk High School graduate and Toronto Blue Jays pitcher.
Douglas Pierce, a 1968 graduate of Iowa State University, entered the Air Force immediately after graduation.
“I knew the draft was coming and the Army would have taken me,” he said.
Pierce saw combat on several overseas tours while flying F-16 fighter jets. He was deployed in Asia, South America, Europe and the Middle East.
“It was exciting, that’s why I stayed in,” Pierce said by phone a few days after the award ceremony. “I just couldn’t believe they were paying me to do this.”
After serving as a pilot for five years, he transferred to the Air National Guard, and later served as the Guard's chief of staff and assistant adjutant general.
He has lived in Norwalk since 1975, picking the city because of its close proximity to the airport. He served as the city's mayor from 2010 to 2014.
Clay Garcia served as a Navy medic during multiple tours in Iraq.
He was awarded the Bronze Star for saving lives while serving with the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force.
Garcia "risked life and limb" under heavy enemy fire to treat his company commander, company executive officer and a gunnery sergeant, according to Norwalk officials who presented the award. In a separate engagement in Al Fallujah, Garcia ran 100 meters across an open field covered by enemy sniper and machine gun fire to aid a wounded Marine. He provided lifesaving care and carried the Marine back across the enemy field of fire to evacuate him safely.
“I was told not to go help this Marine that was injured,” Garcia said by phone a few days after the award ceremony. “But a few guys grabbed my hand and we went out and helped him and he got medevaced out. He’s alive today.”
Garcia is a full-time fire marshal with the Clive Fire Department and a part-time fire fighter and paramedic with the Norwalk Fire Department.
When he left the service, Garcia went to paramedic school and moved to Norwalk.
“I’m kind of a country boy,” the Lytton, Iowa native said. “Norwalk had kind of a country feel to it and it gets us out of the city. So here I am.”
Pierce and Garcia were able to attend the ceremony last week to pick up their awards.
Brandon Routh’s parents, Ron and Katie Routh, and Matt Dermody's parents, Pat and Stephanie Dermody, accepted the awards on behalf of their sons.
Teresa Kay Albertson is a lead news reporter covering Warren County for the Indianola Record Herald and the Des Moines Register. She can be reached by email at talberts@registermedia.com, by phone at 515-284-8561. Follow Teresa on Twitter @TeresaAlberts11.
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