Korean War veterans receive salute from community

Korean War veterans faced a challenging conflict, often enduring harsh conditions, and their “courage defined a generation,” said Maj. Gen. Kevin Meisler, the Army Materiel Command’s chief of staff.

“This year – on the 75th anniversary of the armistice – we honor you and the 5.7 million other Americans who served in the Korean War,” Meisler said at the 19th annual Korean War Veterans Luncheon on June 25 at The Summit. “You fought a war that often lacked clear front lines, battled not only a determined enemy but also the harsh Korean terrain and unforgiving weather – from scorching summers to the bitter paralyzing cold of the Chosin Reservoir.”

Meisler, who’s also the assistant deputy commanding general for the Army Reserve, said those who were killed in battle included 23 local service members whose names are inscribed in the Huntsville Madison County Veterans Memorial in downtown Huntsville.

“Each name represents a life cut short, a family forever changed and a debt we can never fully repay,” Meisler said at the event hosted by the Legacy 4 Korean War Veterans Foundation. “We remember them, and we remember you because your bravery did make the world a better place. And I’m gonna say that again: your bravery made this world a better place.”

He said those who served in the Korean War stemmed the tide of communism in Asia, defended freedom and democracy and helped secure “a future, a hope for millions.

“The Korean War was tragically labeled the forgotten war, overshadowed by the monumental events of World War II and concluding with an armistice rather than a clearcut victory. … But the Korean War was not forgotten by those who lived it, it was not forgotten by the families who worried endlessly and, most importantly, it was certainly not forgotten by the people of South Korea. The Korean War is not forgotten.”

South Korea is now a thriving democracy and a vital ally to the U.S., “a testament to your sacrifice,” he said. “That transformation is because of you.”

Paul Gulick was one of about 20 Korean War veterans who attended the event. A former master gunnery sergeant, Gulick’s 23 years of service in the Marine Corps included a tour in Korea and two in Vietnam.

“It means a lot” to be recognized, he said. “It’s good to feel appreciated for what you did when you were younger. It builds up pride.”

Richard Henson, the general manager of the HS Hyosung USA plant in Decatur, who read from the prepared speech of HS-Hyosung USA CEO/President J.B. Lee, said that Korean War veterans did not turn away from a distant land, but “you came from across the world and risked your lives for people you had never even met.”

Lee was unable to attend the event.

More than 36,000 Americans were killed and more than 100,000 were wounded, according to Lee’s statement.

“We will never forget the pain, the loss and the noble courage that accompanied those sacrifices,” Lee said. Today, South Korea is the world’s 13th largest economy with a gross domestic product of $1.95 trillion.

“Once devastated by war, Korea has risen from a developing country to a fully mature democracy,” Lee said in his prepared statement. “These accomplishments were made possible by your sacrifice and dedication.”

Korean companies support about 830,000 jobs across the United States and, in Alabama alone, more than 26,000 jobs have been created, especially in manufacturing. “Companies like Hyosung have helped drive local economic growth, employing over 1,700 employees nationwide.”

Henson shared that his own uncle, a private, joined the Army at age 17 and lied about his age so he could join his brother, also from Copper Hill, Tennessee. Only a couple of weeks after he was in Korea, Henson’s uncle was captured by the Chinese Red Army and spent 31 months in a POW camp. Henson said that as a young boy, he was able to spend time with his uncle, who never regretted his decision to join the military.

Henson thanked Korean War veterans for their service, courage and unwavering commitment to freedom.

“You are not forgotten,” Henson said. “You are heroes, and we honor you today and always.”

Retired Lt. Col. Audrey Ransom, the master of ceremony for the event, recognized several Gold Star families who attended:

• Mike Logan, who attended with his wife, Karen. Mike Logan’s father, Air Force pilot Maj. Samuel Porter Logan Jr., served in World War II and the Korean War. His plane was shot down on Sept. 9, 1950, and his remains were never found.
• Lt. Col. Paul Reeves, retired Army, who attended with his son, Gary Reeves. Paul Reeves served in Korea during WWII and later in the Korean and Vietnam wars. His younger brother, Pfc. Richard Walker Reeves, was killed in action in the Korean War on July 22, 1950.
• Staff Sgt. Arthur Hullett, who attended with his wife, Martha. Hullett served in WWII and the Korean War and his younger brother, Staff Sgt. Ervin Hullett, was killed in action in the Korean War on Christmas Day in 1952. In August, Hullett will celebrate his 99th birthday.
• Retired Chief Warrant Officer Josie Evens, the spouse of the late Chief Warrant Officer 5 Julian Evans III.
• Sun Goodloe, the spouse of the late Chief Warrant Officer 2 Julian Goodloe, and her two children, Brianna and Edward Goodloe.

During the event, Dennis Beeler, representing the Dr. Dennis Beeler & Family Philanthropy, presented scholarship checks of $1,000 each to Brianna and Edward Goodloe. Brianna Goodloe graduated from Emory University last month with a 3.99 grade point average and her Medical College Admission Test score was in the top 94 percentile. Edward Goodloe, who graduated from high school last month, will attend Calhoun Community College and later transfer to the University of Alabama in Huntsville.

Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, Madison Mayor Paul Finley and Madison County Commission Chairman Mac McCutcheon signed a proclamation designating June 25 as Korean War Veterans Day. The proclamation will be presented later to Lee.