Tallahassee Korean War vet remembers the ‘forgotten war’

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – The battle between North and South Korea got here to a head within the Summer season of 1950 and inside a three-year span, a lot of the world’s strongest nations have been concerned within the battle.

The struggle was short-lived however lives on within the minds of those that supported it by means of navy service.

One specific Korean Conflict veteran who now lives in Tallahassee lately recalled how rapidly his life modified ceaselessly after America was pressured to leap into motion to defend its United Nations ally within the South.

“That is the place I got here into Korea, in Wonsan. That’s in North Korea,” stated 89-year-old Leonard Martin, as he walked across the Korean Conflict Memorial in Cascades Park.

“I turned 18 on July 24. Two weeks later they activated my unit. Seven weeks later, I used to be on the ship going abroad.”

The struggle, which was fought greater than 70 years in the past, continues to be contemporary in his thoughts. Martin can recall the names of international cities, fellow comrades, and dates intimately.

“I give it some thought on a regular basis,” he informed WCTV’s Katie Kaplan. “I’ve seen a whole lot of issues that most individuals don’t see, or haven’t seen, or shouldn’t see.”

Martin stated he enlisted within the Marine Corp Reserves when he was simply 17 and a senior in highschool. By the point the Summer season rolled round, his reserve unit was activated to assist create a whole fight division for the U.S. Navy, which noticed declining numbers after World Conflict II. He didn’t even have time to finish boot camp.

The struggle unfolded so rapidly, he stated, that a lot of his pals again residence didn’t know the place he had gone when he disappeared for a yr and a half. instance of why it has been nicknamed ‘the forgotten struggle.’

“I had some pals that stated, ‘The place you been? We haven’t seen you,’” he recalled. “Folks don’t give it some thought. They don’t speak about it. Lots of people don’t even know what it was.”

Shortly after he was deployed, Martin discovered himself braving frigid nights whereas standing guard at a machine gun outpost.

“It was chilly, 20 to twenty levels under zero,” he stated of the expertise which has left him with lingering points that at the moment are handled on the native VA.

Martin was assigned to a specialised platoon that had flame-throwing tanks, an expertise cataloged in a e-book written by a fellow Marine known as, ‘Hearts of Iron.’ Martin, who finally labored his approach as much as tank commander after which sergeant, is featured all through.

The e-book, in addition to the big, native memorial, “carry again reminiscences” for Martin who stated he was shocked at how good it was when he first found it on Christmas Day a few years in the past.

Within the a long time which have handed since his time serving, he stated he has had a pleasant life. He met his soul mate, Kathleen. They’ve been married for greater than 65 years.

“I really feel like I used to be there at instances,” Kathleen stated, by means of laughter. “He remembers the whole lot in regards to the struggle, however he can’t bear in mind what he did yesterday.”

Collectively the couple raised 4 youngsters. Their solely daughter, Lynn Diemer has been influenced by her father’s struggle expertise her complete life.

“I’ve grown up listening to his struggle tales,” Diemer stated.

She now works for Tallahassee Nationwide Cemetery giving again to Veterans like her dad.

“It’s the most effective job I’ve ever had,” she stated.

In 2021, Governor Ron Desantis declared June 25 ‘Korean Conflict Remembrance as Day’ in Florida.

This story is the second installment of WCTV’s ‘It’s Our Honor’ collection, which is airing prematurely of a reside broadcast from Washington, D.C., on Monday, April 25 at 4 p.m.

Watch the primary installment: ‘It’s Our Honor’: Valor Workforce offers terminal veterans remaining salute

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