Colonel William E. Weber, Chapter #142, K.W.V.A. of Frederick County, Maryland, Inc. - Articles of Interest -
Frederick News-Post Honors Veterans November 2023
Frederick News-Post Honors Korean War Veterans with an article in their Nov 2023 special supplement insert titled Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway by Jack Walker. The following is a reprint of this article.
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway
Signs were erected to help erase the stigma of "The Forgotten War."
BY JACK WALKER
Today, I-70 commemorates Korean War veterans. Decades ago, local service members were still fighting to preserve their memory.
Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway sign dedicated in 2004
A sign sits solemnly in a Myersville median, with the phrase "Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway" printed atop a background of vibrant blue. At its side, a large, stone relief of the Korean peninsula casts its shadow on grass below.
Each time that 93-year-old Charles Chipley Jr. travels from his home in Frederick to Hagerstown, he spends a moment looking at the sign, reflecting on the storied past that brought its construction.
Decades before, Chipley followed in the footsteps of his father and enlisted in the United States Navy, setting sail to present-day South Korea to fight in the Korean War. Memories of maritime warfare at the Battle of Incheon still weigh heavy on his mind, but remind him of the value of his service.
Years later, the New York native carved a home for himself in Maryland, and found community with local Korean War veterans, too. That's how he found Chapter 142 of the Korean War Veterans Association, based in Frederick County.
And that's also how he came to play a part in the highway's designation.
In the early 2000s, the chapter formed a committee to determine ways it could honor the legacy of local Korean War veterans, Chipley recalled. He joined eagerly, and the group decided to encourage state lawmakers to name the entirety of I-70 in honor of those who served in the Korean War.
Historically, the Korean Was has often been referred to as the "forgotten war," because it was overshadowed by the fallout of World War II. For veterans like Chipley, that meant people at home were not always tuned into what was happening across the Pacific Ocean.
"People didn't know where Korea was," Chipley said. While family and friends were excited by his safe return, many people had not followed what happened.
In the years that followed, pushes from veterans and military service members nationwide bolstered the recognition of the U.S. Korean War veterans.
That context helped the Frederick chapter conceptualize ways to cast the memory of local veterans into stone, Chipley said.
After discussions, the chapter found lawmakers were only willing to designate a portion of the highway in memory of Korean War veterans - the segment that crosses through Frederick County.
In 2002,the Maryland General Assembly passed a bill that named this portion of the highway the Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway. In 2004, ornate stone signs commemorating the road as such were erected near Myersville and Mount Airy.
The chapter also spearheaded the creation of a Korean War veterans memorial in downtown Frederick; a small, stone monument in Memorial Park, which lists the names of service members who were killed in action.
While it was not all they had set out for, the group counted it as a win, Chipley said. And, to this day, it serves as a source of residual pride for Frederick's veterans.
"Every time I go by the monument, you can see the state keeps it up pretty good," Chipley said of the highway sign's quality and its surrounding landscaping. "Naturally, it makes me very proud to have a part in fighting for freedom in Korea."
The 22: Korean War International Legacy
The Korean War Legacy Foundation (KWLF) strives to preserve the memory of the Korean War and those who fought in it so that future generations will understand the sacrifices that Korean War veterans made during the war in order to promote democracy and freedom.
With this goal in mind, the KWLF's newest project is a website (The 22) designed to create an online community that honors and memorializes the service of all those who fought in the Korean War. The organization hopes to have profiles from all 22 participating nations in the war and eventually create lesson plans so that the Korean War has it rightful place in history classes across the country.
Hello From Hannah Kim
Hello all my KWVA Grandpas! Hope you have been well since my visit to the Korean War Memorials across the country and that you are staying healthy during these unprecedented times. Please forgive me for not contacting you sooner, however I have missed you so much and have been praying for you every day!
I am [writing] you with an exciting update: I will soon unveil a website that will feature photos of almost 180 Korean War Memorials I have personally visited across 6 continents in 30 countries that participated in the Korean War, as well as all 50 states in the United States plus 4 U.S. Territories of Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam and the American Samoa. The online portal will also present 400 videos with stories of nearly 1200 veterans I met altogether in my journeys, including YOU during my 90-day tour across America in 2018.
I had originally scheduled this launch in time for the 70th anniversary of the Korean War on June 25th; but since COVID-19 canceled all Memorial Day events across the nation, I decided to make it available sooner for you and all Americans to visit these memorials, VIRTUALLY, over the Memorial Day weekend. LEST WE FORGET. FREEDOM IS NOT FREE.
The website will display a virtual Wall of Remembrance with the names of nearly 41,000 worldwide killed in the Korean War (1950-1953), including more than 36,000 Americans from each U.S. state and Territory. Visitors will be able to pay tribute by leaving comments behind. And to help raise the funds for the Wall of Remembrance in DC, I will direct a link to the KWVMF’s donation page for anyone who wishes to support their efforts to memorialize the names of 36,000 Americans who died in Korea.
Please SIGN UP HERE TO RECEIVE NOTIFICATION WHEN THE WEBSITE IS READY.
In the meantime, I would like to share the Youtube video and article (below) that sums up my 50-state, 100-city, 90-day Journey across the US to honor YOU and your comrades. Meeting you and other Korean War veterans has been the greatest privilege in my life, and I will forever remain grateful.
I love and miss you so much!
Most gratefully,
Granddaughter Hannah Y Kim
Hannah Y Kim & Korean War Veterans around the US / Pacific / Korea
Remember 727
Hannah Kim, center, with Korean War Veterans, KWMF members and Deputy Consul to Republic of Korea, Jimin Kim
Hannah Kim and SF District 6 Supervisor, Jane Kim
On April 28,2018, Korean/American Hannah Kim made the first stop on her journey to visit Korean War Memorials in all continental States (including Alaska) at the memorial in the Presidio of San Francisco, CA (http://remember727.org). Hannah Kim, a tireless advocate for Korean War Veterans, founded Remember727 in 2008. In 2009, Hannah successfully lobbied to pass legislation that established July 27th as the National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day in the United States. She most recently has worked as chief of staff and communications director to Rep. Charles B. Rangel.
The goal of this journey is to raise awareness and funds to help build a Wall of Remembrance at the National Korean War Memorial in Washington, DC to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice and remind us all that "Freedom is not Free". Although the Wall of Remembrance Act was passed by Congress in 2016, plans to build the wall have languished due to a lack of initial funds. The goal is for the Wall of Remembrance to be built as soon as possible so that as many Korean War Veterans can attend the dedication ceremony.
The July 28th Wreath Ceremony was organized by the Korean War Memorial Foundation (KWMF), http://www.kwmf.org, a non-profit organization which raised funds for the San Francisco Korean War Memorial and completed the project in 2016. The ceremony began with a welcome and introduction from KWMF Executive Director, Gerard Parker, and was followed by an Invocation from Chaplain, 1st Marine Division Association, William D.Weisgerber. The National Anthem of the United States of America and the National Anthem of the Republic of Korea were sung by Noah Griffin and Joanne Cho, respectively. Judge Quentin L. Kopp, KWMF President and Chairman, gave remarks concerning the need to tell America about the Korean Conflict.
Hannah Kim spoke of her deep appreciation to all Korean Veterans, saying how she never would have been born without their service, and none who gave the ultimate sacrifice should be forgotten. She demonstrated her gratitude with a deep Korean bow. Then Ms. Kim and Judge Kopp laid a wreath at the memorial.
The Presidio is in San Francisco District 6, and Distict 6 Board Supervisor, Jane Kim, presented Hannah Kim with a Certificate of Honor. Man J. Kim, first KWMF Vice President and San Francisco restaurateur who annually hosts the Korean War Veterans Appreciation Dinner at his Golden Gate Grill restaurant, spoke about the importance of memorials and jokingly indicated the child in the San Francisco Korean War Memorial was him, pending DNA verification. Chaplain Weisgerber gave the Benediction and Wallace Stewart of KWMF played Taps. Gerard Parker closed the ceremony. Contributions to the Wall of Remembrance can be made to the Korean War Veterans Memorial Foundation (not to be confused with the KWMF) directly through the Remember727 website.
On Monday, July 23, 2018, Hannah Kim will visit the Frederick, MD Korean War Memorial.
Hannah Kim explains her mission at the San Francisco Korean War Memorial
San Francisco Korean War Memorial
Field Of Honor in Frederick
The Knights of Columbus organized a Field of Honor over Memorial Day weekend on the grounds of Saint Ignatius Catholic Church. With the help of Colonial Flag Foundation and local Boy Scout Troops, the Frederick Knights of Columbus displayed over 600 flags. Each US flag is poly-cotton measuring 3 feet by 5 feet and made in the U.S.A.
The flags are sponsored and dedicated by individuals or organizations. KWVA Chapter 142 sponsored two flags. Flags are purchased at $40 each ($20 for the flag and $20 for the cause), and can be saved for display in the following year at a cost of $20 each ($20 for the cause). Last year (2016) KWVA Chapter 142 purchased two flags for $80, and this year (2017) displayed them for $40.
The event benefits homes for veterans who are suffering from PSTD and other issues that have brought them to become homeless. The homes provide shelter, counseling and job support.
The event also benefits the community - no one can walk among the flags without being moved.
Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
Progress in Korea as of December 6, 2016
Korean War Statistics: Total unaccounted-for
7,779
Total joint field activities (JFAs) completed in North Korea: 1996 - present
33
Total joint field activities (JFAs/KFEs) completed in Soutn Korea: 1996 - present
54
Catagory
Total Each Catagory
Accounted- for
Remains recovered and repatriated through JFAs
229
126 (55%)
Remains repratriated through North Korean unilateral operations, 1990 - 1994 in 208 boxes
400
161 (40%)
Remains repatriated through North Korean unilateral operation 2007
6
6 (100%)
Remains disinterred from the "Punchbowl" Cemetery in Hawaii, 1999 - present
119
71 (60%)
Remains repatriated through recovery operations in China
1
1 (100%)
Remains repatriated through recovery operations in Japan
1
1 (100%)
Remains repatriated through recovery operations in South Korea, since 1982
21
12 (55%)
Total remains identified and accounted-for, 1982 - present
The Korean War Memorial in Washington, DC was not the only place on July 27, 2016 where those who fought in the Korean War were honored. In DC, Col. William Weber organized a tribute to the Koreans of the KATUSAs who died during the war. In a moving ceremony, Col. and Mrs. Weber, assisted by members of the KWVA Chapter #142, read the names of over 7,000 KIA and MIA KATUSAs.
On this same day in London at their Korean War Memorial, a US Marine Corps horse, Sgt. Reckless, was posthumously honored for her bravery during the battle for Outpost Vegas in 26 - 30 March, 1953. She was a Mongolian mare bought for $250 by Lt. Eric Pedersen. She carried ammunition for 75 MM recoilless rifles up the steep 45% mountain and retrieved the wounded troops of an anti-tank unit of the 5th Marines during the heavy shelling of Vegas. She did this 95% of the time without any assistance, making more than 51 trips in one day alone, doing her duty as she had been trained to do. She was wounded twice in this action, and later received two Purple Hearts.
Marines Bob Hilton and the late Bob Hertfelder both witnessed her heroics. Bob Hilton heard her first before he saw her, and suspected enemy infiltrators...but was shocked to see the valiant Sgt. Reckless on her courageously mission.
Sgt. Reckless, who died in 1968, was awarded the Dickin Medal, the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross, by a grateful United Kingdom. Since it was first awarded in 1943, one half of the recipients have been dogs, one a "commando collie" who made more than 20 parachute drops. Carrier pigeons have also been honored for their service, as well as a ship’s cat that did a yeoman’s job of catching rats during the 1949 shelling of his ship in China.
Don’t think that yours is a forgotten war...
Priscilla Rall August 6, 2016
Veterans Lose a Tireless Advocate
Secretary Edward J Chow, Jr., July 2010 photograph courtesy of Priscilla Rall
Edward J. Chow, Jr. died 22 July, 2016 of pancreatic cancer. Born in New York City in 1939, he was raised in Seattle where he attended the university. He then was commissioned a 2nd Lt in the US Army, serving in Germany before volunteering for Vietnam. There he served in combat as a Captain and was awarded the Bronze Star. Chow subsequently went into business, later serving Washington State by managing their disaster response teams, including the eruption of Mt Saint Helens. In 1993 he was appointed Deputy Assistant, Secretary for Policy at the US Department of Veterans Affairs. Most recently he was Maryland’s Secretary of Veterans Affairs from 2009 to 2015. In this capacity, he attended and spoke in Frederick at Memorial Park on the 60th Anniversary in 2010, an event sponsored by our own KWVA #142.
Col. William Weber, July 2010 photograph courtesy of Priscilla Rall
A tireless advocate for veterans, he was Washington State’s president of Vietnam Veterans of America, a member of the American Legion, AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans, the VFW and other veterans’ organizations. The proud son of the late Ruby and Shu Ping Chow, he is survived by his partner, Sara McVicker, son Dr. Ward Chow, daughter Dr. Elizabeth Chow, 6 grandchildren and three brothers. Former Sec. Chow will be buried at Arlington at a later date.
Priscilla Rall August 2016
Chapter 142 Color Guard Frederick Memorial Park, 2010 photograph courtesy of Priscilla Rall
Rupert Spring and Col. William Weber, July 2010 photograph courtesy of Priscilla Rall
Fact, Stranger? Than Fiction!
Article by Bill Weber
On 25 Jun 2015 the KWVMFnd [Korean War Veterans Memorial Foundation] sponsored a ceremony, at which we read at the Korean War Veterans Memorial the names of the 36,574 U.S. Soldiery KIA in the Korean War. Unknown to our people is that Republic of Korea Soldiers were assigned to U.S. units during the war due to a shortage of trained U.S. replacements. KATUSA combat losses would otherwise have been U.S.
They were called Korean Augmentation To U.S. Army (KATUSA). Approximately 25% of U.S. Army combat and combat support units were KATUSA. Over 23,000 KATUSA served during the war and continue to do so today in the 2nd U.S. Inf Div. Of these, during 25 Jun '50, to 27 Jul '53, 5936 were KIA! That's a ratio of almost 1 in 5 vs a U.S. ratio of 1 in 9 - almost twice as much! Irrespective of the ratio it is fair to assume every KATUSA KIA could otherwise well have been a U.S. Soldier!
Ergo, in honor of their sacrifice and the U.S. Soldiery lives they saved, this past 25 Jun 2016, we read the names of these KATUSA KIA, just as we did their U.S. counterparts last June. The 'reading symbolism' used was to have the name read first by a Korean (KATUSA vet, ROK Embassy military aides, Korean-American KATUSA veterans, Korean-American ROK Army veterans) and then by U.S. Korean War Veterans Association member, my Board members and active U.S. military members.
Readers were paired - a Korean national or Korean-American would first read the name in Hangul (Korean language), followed by an American reading the name in phonetical English. This process continued unabated for almost seven hours until all 5936 names were read!
Members from Chapters 33, 100, 142, 312 and 313 participated as 'readers' as did Tom Stevens (new President), and others from KWVA Board. To those of you who supported this ceremony, my thanks!
But, let me get to the reason for this short and, strangely named, article - for sometimes, 'Fact, Stranger? Than Fiction!' can be so!
One of the reading pairs was a Korean-American KATUSA war veteran, Wondo Chang and his partner, Robert Mount, currently President of KWVA Chapter 142 in Frederick, MD.
And it is at the juxtaposition of 'reading pairs', chosen at random, that the title of this article became manifested this past 25 Jun! KATUSA veteran Wondo Chang, and KWVA veteran Robert 'Bob' Mount were again (Note: I'm a firm believer that 'coincidence' is sometimes pre-ordained!), 'paired', though this time somewhat more intimately, as 'readers' to read together.
But, unbeknownst to all, that day and 66 years earlier, the TWO had also been 'paired' though unknowingly, (and somewhat indirectly), in a combat related activity in Korea in late Sep-early Oct 1950!
Col. Warren Wiedhahn (Ret.) points toward the Golden Gate which was the last sight of America for thousands of soldiers as they shipped out to Korea.
Representing Chapter 142 in San Francisco, Glenn Wienhoff's daughter, Linda Crilly, and her husband, Jeff Crilly, attended "The Groundbreaking Ceremony for the Korean War Memorial" on July 11, 2015 in the Presidio at the gates of the San Francisco National Cemetery. This Memorial is the first of its kind on the West Coast and is the culmination of the efforts by the Korean War Memorial Foundation. The Memorial will remember the 36,914 United States soldiers (2,273 of whom rest in the National Cemetery at the Presidio) and the 113,248 South Korean soldiers who gave their lives to keep South Korea free. A copy of the program can be viewed by clicking here.
Over 100 dignitaries, veterans and guests attended the ceremony. Of the dignitaries were UN representatives from Luxemburg, India and the Philippines; San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee and his wife; The Honorable Park Sung-choon, Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, Republic of Korea; The Honorable Kim Jung-hoon, Member, National Assembly, Republic of Korea; The Honorable Han Dong-man, Consul General, Republic of Korea; and Col. Warren Wiedhahn USMC (Ret.), First Vice President of the Korean War Veterans Association. Former Secretary of State George Shultz and his wife, Charlotte, also attended.
Former Secretary of State George Shultz gave accolades to Former President Eisenhower for supporting the South Korean people and told an anecdote about Former President Ronald Reagan. Mayor Ed Lee pledged assitance to veterans in San Francisco so that none would ever have to face homelessness. The Honorable Kim Jung-hoon, who flew in from South Korea expressly for the ceremony, presented a check for $1,000,000 to The Honorable Judge Quentin Kopp (Ret.) Captain, USAF, President of the Korean War Memorial Foundation. The Honorable Park Sung-choon spoke of the mobilization of the Korean community in America in support of the Korean War Memorial in San Francisco.
Col. Warren Wiedhahn spoke about the historic significance of San Francisco to the Korean War, remembering his departure for Korea on a ship through the Golden Gate. He also returned through the Golden Gate and was stationed at Treasure Island receiving the wounded and dead, reiterating San Francisco's role in the conflict. All speakers looked forward to a day when both Koreas may peacefully reunite.
View from The Presidio Nation Cemetery facing the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco Bay.
Korean War National Museum, Library & Cultural Center
The
Museum welcomed visitors of all ages and
from various areas of the city, state, country,
and world. Students from Millburn, Illinois
made a visit, and middle school and high school
students in Springfield
Public Schools Summer Program scavenger
hunt looked for facts
about the Korean War. We also enjoyed visits
from members of the
FFA and AMVETs as they held their annual
conventions in Springfield. Members of the VFW
also enjoyed the Museum in
June.
We held our third Speaker
Series event June 25 with the presentation
of Forgotten
Soldiers from Our Forgotten War.
Chicago actor Frank Farrell's presentation
included an emotional reading of several letters
from his new book Forgotten Soldiers from Our
Forgotten War: Letters from Korea from 1951 -
1953. Of the several young soldiers'
letters featured in Forgotten Soldiers from
Our Forgotten War, Frank chose ones written
by Corporal Edward F. Hines. His letters
illuminated what it was like to be a young soldier
serving overseas during the Korean War. Mr.
Farrell has been an actor and director in Chicago
since 1979, as well as an author, playwright, and
filmmaker.
The
Museum welcomes groups and speaking opportunities.
If your group would like to learn more about
the Museum and Korean War, contact [email protected]
or call
217-523-7230.
This Month in Korean War
History
June 25, 1950-North Korea invades South
Korea
June 27, 1950-President Truman deploys 7th
Fleet to Taiwan
June 27, 1950-First Air Combat Victory
June 29, 1950-Air Force bombs Pyongyang
June 10, 1951-Battle of the Punchbowl (Near
Hwach'on Reservoir)
June 6, 1952-Start of Operation Counter. Counter was
the securing of 11 key areas
along the front line.
June 15,1953-USS Princeton launches 184
Sorties
June 15,1953-Navy & Marine Corps
aircraft fly 910 Sorties (Highest single day
total)
June 30,1953-Far East Air Force Sabres
destroy 16 MiGs (Largest single day
total)
In the Spotlight
Featured Exhibit - R&R
during the Korean
War
When the
soldiers were able to grab some down time away
from the fighting, they would engage in many
activities to take their minds off the war. Some
would just simply listen to music. One song that
some veterans remember from their time was
the song, China Night. Other
soldiers would find other activities to occupy
their time, such as a game of checkers or
decorating for the
holidays.
Featured
Resource: War
Letters by Andrew
Carroll
This resource contains letters from many
American wars including Korea. It contains
dramatic eyewitness accounts from the front lines,
poignant expressions of love for family and
country, insightful reflections on the nature of
warfare. There are accounts from soldiers, nurses,
and journalists among others. The letters are an
astonishing historical record, a powerful tribute
to those who fought, and a celebration of the
enduring power of
letters.
The KWNM Library includes
a wide array of books, magazines, photos and other
resources relating to the
War.
Did You Know
United Service Organization
(USO)
After
being disbanded in 1947 due in large part to a
lack of funding, the USO was reinstated in 1951.
From 1952-53, the USO provided services and
support on a daily basis to American troops in
Korea. During the year of 1952, it provided
service to roughly 3.5 million people using the
same services it had utilized in WWII. Many
American movie stars and athletes contributed as
well. Big names such as Bob Hope, Marilyn Monroe,
Mickey Rooney, Jane Russell and Debbie Reynolds
all performed shows or visited troops while
overseas. Today, many veterans recall USO events
in vivid detail.
Coming Up
Speaker
Series
Plans
are being finalized for our 2016 Speaker Series on a wide
array of topics. The next event is July 23
at 2pm at the Denis J. Healy Freedom Center in
Springfield, IL featuring Dr.
Bonnie Oh presenting American Occupation of
South Korea.
Immediately following WWII, South Korea was
under the rule of the American Military government
for three years: 1945-1948. To be subjected to
another foreign rule after being liberated from
the harsh Japanese colonial rule of 35 years was a
humiliating shock to Koreans. Considering the
magnitude of disappointment Koreans experienced,
however, the subject has been awfully neglected as
a field of study. A multitude of reasons exist for
this lack of interest in serious examination of
the topic. Lodged at the outset of the
liberated Korea, however, the American Military
government played an important role in laying the
foundation for non-Communist South Korea, which
evolved into a democratic and economically vibrant
South Korea.
This presentation will survey the origin,
accomplishments, blunders, and consequences of the
rule of American Military Government in
Korea. It is not based on new research, but
the result of a fresh look at and synthesis of
existing materials.
Dr. Oh was born and raised in Seoul, South
Korea, and came to the US in 1956. For 38 years,
she served as professor and academic administrator
in American higher
education.
Attendees will have a chance to ask questions
following the presentation at this informal
event. Students, educators, and
media are welcome and encouraged to attend.
Visitors may also review the Museum's memorabilia,
uniforms, and artifacts. The KWNM encourages the
public to visit the Museum to learn about the
history of the conflict, its veterans and the
Armistice, now more than 60 years since its
signing.
The Museum aims to bring to life the stories
of individuals who served and partnered with
nations around the world, providing insight to the
challenges and accomplishments of the allied
nations who fought against communist aggression.
The KWNM further strives to recognize how the
United Nations, United States, Republic of Korea,
the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and
China negotiated the Armistice.
We continue to educate the
public and donors of the relevance and importance
of recognizing those who not only enabled
democracy but were change agents for our current
world's economic and technological impacts.
The Donor Wall in the
Denis J. Healy Freedom Center continues to receive
interest, and we welcome our new donors to this
growing recognition program. We recently
added several new donors to this program who now
have a presence on the wall. We appreciate
everyone who supports our efforts to honor those
who served.
If you would like to
support this effort, click here.
Museum Hours
Tuesday-Saturday 10 a.m. -
5 p.m.
Additional
hours for special events. Hours subject to
change.
If visitors or groups need
accommodations outside those hours, please contact
us.
We held our third Speaker
Series event June 25 with the presentation
of 
