LeRoy Pennysaver & News

LE ROY PENNYSAVER & NEWS - JANUARY 13, 2019 by Lynne Belluscio Though the generosity of many people who knew Frank Elliott, a memorial fund has been established to add a Ko- rean War Veterans’ marker to the Veteran’s Park on Trigon. I hope to include the inscription, “Freedom is not free.” Frank’s wife Barb and I will be work- ing to find something appro- priate – perhaps a planter or a bench. In the meantime, we are trying to put together the story of those men and women who served during the Korean War. The war began on June 25, 1950 when North Korea in- vaded South Korea. The coun- try had been divided along the 38th parallel during the Cold War after World War II and af- ter the defeat of the Japanese who had controlled Korea. North Korea was supported by the Soviet Union and Commu- nist China. The United Nations Security Council authorized the formation of a military counter attack and twenty-one countries supplied forces, but 90% of the military forces were from the United States. President Truman wanted to avoid war with the Chinese and the Communists, but General MacArthur wanted to escalate the confrontation. MacArthur wrote, “There is no substitute for victory” over international Communism. In April 1951, President Truman fired MacAr- thur for insubordination. Never the less, the war was considered a war to prevent the spread of Communism and nuclear de- struction throughout the world and domination of the Soviets and the Chinese. During the war, control over Seoul, the capital of South Korea changed four times. In the first year, the United Na- tions Forces and South Ko- rea were often on the point of defeat. The air war produced massive bombing of North Ko- rea and for the first time in his- tory, jet fighters met in air-to- air combat when Soviet pilots flew in defense of the North Koreans and their Communist allies. It is estimated that near- ly 5 million people died, more than half of them were civil- ians (higher than World War II and Vietnam). Nearly 54,000 Americans died in action and 100,000 were wounded. Negotiations for the armi- stice continued but neither side would agree to how to handle prisoners of war. The United States proposed that prisoners of war be allowed to choose which country they would be returned to. The Chinese and the Soviet Union opposed that plan, yet on July 27, 1953, an armistice was signed. It creat- ed a 2 mile wide Demilitarized Zone and prisoners were al- lowed to return to their country of choice. Yet no treaty was ever signed, and according to some people, the two countries are technically still at war. The Korean War was de- picted in the television series, M*A*S*H which screened be- tween 1972 and 1983. Frank Elliott was wounded in Korea. When he was dis- charged at the end of the war, he shipped back home as far as Syracuse, but had to hitch hike back home. There was no wel- coming committee. Barb El- liott, his wife shared that a few years ago, when Frank went on the Honor Flight to Washing- ton, accompanied by his friend Ron Paganin, the welcome they received when they returned to the Rochester Airport, was overwhelming and he was most appreciative. Better late than never and that’s why it’s im- portant to recognize their ser- vice on Trigon Park. Sue Conklin, the former Genesee County Historian, had a group of volunteers who read through the Batavia Newspa- pers and recorded all the Korean War notices. That information is still available at the Histori- ans office and on line. I hope to find a couple of volunteers who would be willing to read through the LeRoy Gazette be- tween 1951 and 1953 to create a similar finding guide. This will help identify LeRoyans who served during the war. We will bring the bound Gazettes to the research library and if you can give a couple of hours, that would be great. And if any- one has additional information about LeRoyans who served in the Korean War, please contact the LeRoy Historical Society at 768-7433. Of if you’d like to donate to the Korean War com- memorative monument, send checks to the LeRoy Historical Society, Korean War project, PO Box 176, LeRoy NY 14482. Stories of Korean War Veterans 1 Church St. | LeRoy, NY 14482 | 768-2201 | www.lpgraphics. EMBROIDERY MAKES GREAT GIFTS FOR YOUR FAMILY • FRIENDS • ETC. CUSTOMIZED T-SHIRTS • HATS • JACKETS • TOWELS