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Korean War vets still looking out for each other

Printed in yesterday’s Times Daily:

The Korean War, a conflict between neighboring North Korea and South Korea that still simmers, may have ended 56 years ago Monday, but the camaraderie among servicemen remains to this day.

Instead of looking out for each other on mine-sweeping ships and during stealth underwater operations, the aging Korean War veterans help each other with medical appointments, mowing lawns and sharing car rides.

The Korean War veterans were remembered nationwide Monday, the anniversary of the war ending in 1953.

The Korean War – known to many as the Forgotten War – began after unification between North Korea and South Korea failed and the northern neighbor invaded the south June 25, 1950.

The United States military was fatigued after World War II ended and the Korean War ushered in the beginning of the Cold War.

Since the early 1960s, the Northwest Alabama Korean War Veterans Association in Sheffield has tried to attract local Korean War veterans to the organization, while also bringing awareness of the war efforts that many veterans say is rarely mentioned.

The Korean War Veterans Memorial, 19 sculptures of servicemen among juniper bushes, in Washington highlights the war effort.

The local association boasts nearly 200 members in nine counties, some too elderly to be active.

Back in 1951, James Taylor entered the Navy service where he spent two years fighting in the Korean War, out of a total of 10 years in the Navy. Taylor, now president of the veterans association, emphasized that – like the war effort – the strength of a group is important, not necessarily the individuals.

Taylor, who joined the Navy at 19, worked on a sweep mine control ship in the Wonsan Harbor region. He helped run boats from the control ship to support vessels that provided food, water and mine sweeping equipment. Now 77, Taylor said he hopes to bring awareness of the Korean War and to foster camaraderie among other Korean vets.

“We have no agenda, no ax to grind,” he said of the group that meets once every other month for breakfast to share stories from the past and offer help to each other.

He said it’s discouraging to read the obituaries in the morning newspaper and seeing a Korean War veteran who wasn’t known to the group.

“Our whole mission is to let Korean veterans come sit with us,” Taylor said.

The group will next meet for their annual picnic at Veterans Park on Sept. 12.

Bill Gober, then a 22-year-old in the First Marine Division, stayed in Korea from Sept. 15, 1950, to April 5, 1951, helping with amphibious operations to land troops from ship to shore.

The war resulted in 54,000 casualties in three years and 8,700 who remain classified as missing in action.

“We just never had the recognition that we feel we deserve,” Gober said.

For further information, contact: James Taylor at 256-383-8172 or Bill Gober at 256-383-7719

Local heroes honored in ceremony

Courtesy of the North Jefferson News:

Newton Duke was honored June 7 at Gardendale First Baptist Church during a ceremony in which he received his Purple Heart medal more than 50 years after he earned it in Korea.

Above, Ronnie Guin of Mt. Olive, a member of the Dixie Division Military Vehicles Club, drives Newton Duke to the ceremony.

In the back seat is Duke’s grandson, Sgt. Chase Duke. During the ceremony, Duke pinned an End of Tour award onto his grandson for meritorious service while serving in Afghanistan.

Right, Lt. Gen. Kevin Campbell, the commanding general of Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, pins the Purple Heart onto Duke.