Korean War veterans honored in ceremony in Plover

WausauDailyHerald: Korean War veterans honored in ceremony in Plover

PLOVER -- It's often called the forgotten war.

But on Sunday, Korean War veterans from around the state received the message that their service was not forgotten.

More than 75 veterans from central Wisconsin and around the state were awarded the Ambassador for Peace medal in front of the state's Korean War Veterans Memorial in Worzella Pines Park.

The medals were part of an annual service held at the state's memorial in the village of Plover.

Korean dignitary Jin Hyun Lee awarded the medals to U.S. veterans who were stationed in his country during and after the war.

"The Korean people are eternally indebted to you for your sacrifice," Lee said.

More than 132,000 Wisconsin residents served in the Korean War. Of those, 4,286 were injured and 801 were killed during the war.

"It's often called the forgotten war, but it's not forgotten, not by everyone here today," said Wisconsin Board of Veterans Affairs Chairman Dan Naylor, himself a Vietnam War-era veteran.

For former U.S. Army Sgt. Glen Rutz of Rosholt, the medal was a surprise.

"To some people it might be forgotten," said Rutz, who served in Korea in 1952 and 1953, "but not for those of us who were there. It stays with you."

The day was a special honor for David Hanson and his father, John, both of the Plover Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 10262. John Hanson served in Korean during the 1950s and retired from the Army, and David Hanson served in the 1980s, long after the war.

Both said they were honored to receive medals together.

"Of course, we didn't plan to both be sent to Korea," David Hanson said. "But we were about to talk the talk together."

John Hanson added, "We're really proud of it, for Plover hosting the state memorial. It's an honor."