The Graybeards - KWVA - Korean War Veterans Association

KWV 5oth Comm
DoD Honors African-American Kore
Plaque honoring African American Veterans who served
in the Korean War.
From left, Korean Ambassador Yang Sung Chul, Secretary of the Army
Thomas White, Korean War veteran, retired U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Julius
Becton.
Bugler and Honor Guard at wreath
Attendees salute during a wreath laying ceremony at the
Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery.
(Your Editor with camera in hand standing near top with
wife Susan to his left. Sam Fielder MD Chapter top left.
Photos by USAF Tech. Sgt. Michaeel Dorsey
By Technical Sgt. Michael Dorsey
On July 23, at 10 a.m. in Arlington
National Cemetery, the Department of
Defense honored all African-Americans
who fought in the Korean War.
The event featured a tree planting and
plaque dedication ceremony that began
at the cemetery’s Tomb of the
Unknowns.
One of the former soldiers who was
honored at the Arlington National
Cemetery ceremony is retired Army
Sergeant First Class Lionel West. Last
year at the 24th Regimental Combat
Team’s annual reunion in Seattle, Wash.,
West read names and looked at images of
people like Medal of Honor recipient
Cornelius Charlton. Spending time
around his Korean War comrades later
that evening brought back memories.
He remembered how leadership,
regardless of rank in the military chain of
command, is important beyond words.
“Treat your troops right and they will
do right by you,” said West.
A decorated soldier in Korea and
Vietnam, West followed the high standard
set by Charlton and led by example.
On Sept. 2, 1950 in Haman, Korea, West
earned a Bronze Star for saving lives
using a 105-mm howitzer to fight off a
heavy attack by enemy forces.
What he remembers most were the
hardships and heartbreaks that soldiers,
sailors, airmen and Marines suffered in
combat.
“The difference between Korea and
Vietnam was television,” said West.
“People at home could see what was
going on there. There were no TV
reporters in Korea.
“We lost just as many lives in three
years as Vietnam did in its time,” continued
West. “It was bad. A lot of good
men were lost.”
The ceremony, part of the congressionally-mandated,
three-year commemoration
period from June 25, 2000 to
Nov. 11, 2003, was attended by many veterans
service organizations and featured
speeches by Secretary of the Army
Thomas. E. White, New York
Congressman Charles Rangel and retired
Army Lt. Gen. Julius Becton, both
Korean War veterans. His Excellency