Baldwin - Suzie Zach - article
By Suzie Zach Baldwin
That was Then … This is Now … Korean War
Korea … first thing that popped into my pea brain was the Single Shard (If you haven’t read the tale by Linda Sue Park – it is great!) This book was a Newbery award winner in 2002 and is based on a 12th Century Korean potters’ village where Tree-ear, a 13 year old orphan, learns to throw the delicate celadon ceramics. Prior to visiting a potter’s home, Tree-ear is content on surviving on very little food and living under a bridge with his friend Crane-man. Unfortunately, Tree-ear breaks a piece of pottery and then works to pay off his debt. Granted, this doesn’t sound like it would be an article based on genealogy or local history, but, this young man is forced out into a bizarre and peculiar world just like the soldiers from Montgomery County, Indiana in the 1950’s.
When I heard what the topic this month would be … I was slightly perplexed. To reflect on the Korean War, I perused the World Book Encyclopedia to familiarize myself with the 1950-1953 conflict. The Korean War began on June 25, 1950, when troops from Communist-ruled North Korea invaded South Korea. I didn’t remember this being the first war in which a world organization, the United Nations (UN), played a military role. The 38th parallel was a reminder of the difficulties facing soldiers (and citizens) during this bloody event. Sadly, around a million South Korean citizens lost their lives and several million became homeless. Obviously, war involves many obstacles and tragedies.
Men from this community served during this time and many names I recognized in newspaper articles because of the draft being in affect. Article after article appears telling of who had to get a physical, which “boys” had to report for duty, who received their orders and who was leaving their familiar home. One such article caught my eye because “Recruit Loran K. Rutledge, age 24, has been ordered to report Monday morning to Battery C of the same field artillery battalion to which Sgt. Vaught (James A. Vaught) reports. Also a World War II veteran, Rutledge saw 28 months of service, of which 18 months were served in Germany, France and Austria. He was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds suffered in action. “(Journal Review 8 September 1950) Mr. Rutledge has spent countless hours helping others in our community in numerous capacities.
Another name I recognized was Alex Lebedeff. Mr. Lebedeff taught my dad in high school and I’ve also helped him at the library. Mr. Lebedeff’s mother, Olga, lived in my grandparent’s apartment when I was a younger girl. My husband’s Uncle Albert (Albert Miller) is a Korean Veteran and has a photo in the library database
(http://history.cdpl.lib.in.us/images2013/20130617-1009.jpg). Paul Ludwig’s grandson (Michael Demeter) is my son, Dane’s (and was AJ’s last year) tennis coach. Joseph O’Rourke visits the library for Kiwanis on Thursdays. I’ve read about Don Hunt several times in the newspaper and I’ve probably met him at some point. A fellow “restautant-er” Wilfred “Bill” Arola served our country in Korea too. My first cousin, twice removed, Charles “Clayton” Morgan was killed in action and is memorialized by a book found in the Local History shelving at Crawfordsville Library. One interesting thing I noticed when researching the local gentlemen was that several of them celebrated their 50th wedding anniversaries in recent years. This is an amazing accomplishment. Thus, they must have married their sweethearts as soon as they returned from action (Lloyd Dorsey 50th in 2003, Jerry Walls 50th in 2005, Don Hunt 55th in 2011, Wesley Greavu 50th in 2003, Bill Arola 50th in May 2003).
Doing research into the past reveals amazing accomplishments by individuals as well as entire families. Soldiers have such a unique legacy and I’m so thankful to know many of these men, along with others who are self-less, who traveled the world to ensure the safety of others, and at times gave their own life so another might live. History is always fascinating, but even more so when you know the men who so valiantly sacrificed for others. So, in the future, remember soldiers, thank a soldier, and look into the eyes of the young and be encouraged that they will also be brave, protect and serve. Until next time, don’t forget to look around at the rich history right in front of your eyes!
