It’s been more than 60 years since the Korean War ended. On Sunday, area veterans involved with the conflict were finally acknowledged.
“For years after I got out, nothing was ever said to recognize what we did,” said Korean War veteran Abe Saunders, who served 3 years, 4 months and 14 days in the U.S. Navy. “It’s only been in the last couple of years that people have recognized the misery we went through.”
“It’s about damn time,” he said. “It took too long.”
Stationed aboard the USS Brush 745 destroyer, or The Mighty Beno, as a gunner’s mate, Saunders said the 360-foot vessel sustained two attacks. Sitting next to kegs of gunpowder and artillery shells, Saunders said he’s lucky to be alive as more than a dozen crewmembers were injured in the second incident.
“It was scary,” said the 80-year-old. “How we didn’t die is beyond me.”
VFW Post No. 5231 honored Saunders and 45 other local Korean War veterans on Sunday at its annual Pearl Harbor Day memorial. Event organizer and former infantry Marine Rich Kriner said it was important to honor veterans. About 100 people attended Sunday’s luncheon, which was sponsored by the VFW Ladies Auxiliary.
“They need the recognition,” said Kriner. “It means so much.”
Last year, the ceremony recognized World War II veterans, including Floyd “Chief” Norris. He’ll be honored again next year as officials plan to commemorate Vietnam-era veterans.
Grateful that his service is remembered, Norris said the reaction troops faced after each war was dramatically different. He recalled a personal encounter with a Vietnam War protester after disembarking from a ship in San Francisco. He and several sailors simply wanted to take in the sites, he said.
“This gal came up handing out protest leaflets,” Norris said. “I said, ‘Are they chocolate-covered, because you’re going to start eating them right quick.’”
“It was a different time,” he said. “After World War II, people looked up to us.”
Approaching 92 years old, Norris gave 20 years to the military. His three sons also served.
More than 3,500 U.S. troops were killed or injured, 21 ships sunk or damaged, and more than 340 aircraft damaged or destroyed during the raid on Pearl Harbor 73 years ago.
About 2,400 veterans currently reside in Montezuma County.
tbaker@cortezjournal.com