GAINESVILLE - Even as Vietnam veterans from Gainesville gathered Sunday at the city's Rock Creek Park to remember those who perished in the Vietnam War, they were thinking, too, about their brothers who died in the Korean conflict.
Often called "The Forgotten War," there is confusion over the number who died in the battle. Some records indicate 36,576 lost their lives between June 1950 and July 1953. Other government statistics place the figure at over 50,000, a number calculated not only from those who died in battle, but also from those who died in service in locations other than Korea during that time frame.
What is known, however, is that 10 of those servicemen were from Gainesville, and those men are the ones that area veterans want to commemorate.
Johnny Hulsey, with Gainesville's Vietnam Veterans group, said after Sunday's ceremony honoring the Vietnam war dead, that his Korean War brothers are about halfway toward their goal of $14,500.
"I hope and pray by Veteran's Day that it'll be on the site. They're working very hard raising funds," said Hulsey.
He said the monument will be similar to the one erected at Rock Creek Park memorializing those from Gainesville killed in the Vietnam War.
Hulsey said once the Korean War memorial is erected, both groups plan to petition the city to change the name of the park to Veterans Memorial Park.
In a surprise to many of the veterans in attendance at the Sunday ceremony, LCpl. Sean Adams arrived to pay his respects to those who died in Vietnam.
The 19-year-old Adams, severely injured when he stepped on an IED in Afghanistan in February, spoke to the small crowd gathered for the ceremony.
"It's [war] not a fun game, but someone has to do it," the Marine said. "[It's important]for us to be able to stand here and keep the ones that have died still alive in our hearts."
To make donations to the Korean War Memorial, contact Paul Scroggs at 770-967-1329 or Charles Sexton at 770-532-0519.
Wednesday
April 2nd, 2025
7:49PM
