‘Freedom is not free’: Mansfield Korean War veterans celebrate monument update (2024)

MANSFIELD — Though Dale Walker endured guerilla warfare, enemy fire and the deaths of fellow soldiers while he was stationed in South Korea, he still counts his military service as a blessing.

“I am blessed so much,” he said. “To serve the U.S. Army in Korea and to receive guidance from a wonderful Army chaplain Captain Henry L. Hunt are among my greatest blessings,” Walker said.

“My wife Virginia has been there through it all. My parents Gene and Sarah gave their twin boys over to Uncle Sam during the Korean War.”

Walker, Korean War Veterans Association chapter 51 president, led the dedication service for the updated Korean War monument in Mansfield’s Central Park on Saturday.

More than 100 people attended the dedication event. The monument now reflects defense era veterans who served in South Korea after the Korean Armistice Agreement of 1953.

A permanent peace treaty was never signed after the war, and the United States has more than 28,000 troops stationed in the South Korea today.

North Korean forces entered South Korea for the first time after the armistice was signed in 1966, when Walker and other defense-era veterans were stationed there.

“They had ambushed our unit in 1967,” Walker said. “Within minutes, there were four dead and 17 wounded. Until recently, us defense-era veterans didn’t have monuments dedicated to our service.”

Walker said attending the national Korean War Veterans Association (KWVA) conference in 2022 got him thinking about updating Mansfield’s Central Park monument.

“The national board of directors were talking about having monuments put up throughout the United States for the defense era,” he said. “Our monument is already up, so all we had to do was get enough people together to support it and inscribe the other side.”

Walker said he was pleased with the number of people who attended the dedication service, which included the Korean vice consul of Chicago, local KWVA members and Boy Scout Troop 138 of Mansfield.

“We had a good turnout and I’m really glad with how it went,” Walker said. “I hope people can appreciate the memorial and learn of the legacy that generations before them sacrificed so that they can have their freedom.

“I think this will leave people with a better understanding that freedom is not free.”

Richland County first location in Ohio to have a dual-sided Korean War monument

The Fun Center Chordsmen sang the national anthem and the Armed Forces Medley at the dedication ceremony. Jay Haar, secretary of the KWVA, sang the South Korean national anthem.

Richland County Veterans Service Commission president and Korean War veteran Doug Theaker described the history behind the original 2003 monument to attendees.

“On that monument is the name of 23 Richland countians, who paid the ultimate price — they died for freedom,” he said.

“We called it the Forgotten War. Because of the Korean War veterans in chapter 51 and many others, we will never forget them, and we will never forget the Korean War and the stop of communist aggression.”

J.T. Huffer-Cole, a representative for Sen. Sherrod Brown, read a proclamation from the senator.

“Ohio is full of heroes and nothing symbolizes this better than the people here today, and most importantly, the heroes that this monument honors,” the proclamation stated.

“On behalf of a grateful state, thank you for all that you’ve done to preserve and protect our country and the values that we hold dear.”

Gov. Mike DeWine and Mansfield Mayor Jodie Perry also presented proclamations.

The mayor said Mansfield and Richland County now has the first monument in the state of Ohio that has dual sides honoring veterans who served in South Korea during the war, and after the armistice was signed from 1955 through present day.

“Their legacy lives on not only in the hearts of the American people, but in the Republic of Korea that is free and prosperous in a world that is safer for your service,” Perry said. “Your service to our country and our community is greatly appreciated.”

Longstreth Memorials in Mansfield engraved the back of the monument to include a recognition of defense era veterans.

The bronze Korea Defense Service Medal mounted on the monument came from Skylight Studios in Massachusetts. The original monument, designed by Bob Hutchinson and dedicated in 2003, names 23 men from Richland County who died in combat.

The newly inscribed side is dedicated to defense-era veterans who served from Feb. 1, 1955 to present day.

“All veterans have a story,” Walker said. “Since I’ve become a member of the KWVA, I have listened to the stories of the guys that went before me, I’ve learned so much that I never knew while I was in Korea.

“This monument is now a dual-purpose monument in gratitude to all who have served and sacrificed in both the war era and defense era. Today’s military men and women serving in Korea deserve our support.”