Korean War veterans, spouses and family members gathered Oct. 11 at the American Legion Club in Le Mars for a meal and time of remembrance. [Click to enlarge]

They served their country in military service in what some historians call "The Forgotten War."

Area veterans from the Korean War era gathered at the American Legion Club in Le Mars Saturday, Oct. 11, for the 11th annual banquet of the Korean War Last Man's Club.

Seventy-one veterans, spouses and family members attended the dinner and program.

Club member Richard P. Brouillette of Wheatland, Mo., brought his display of Korean War memorabilia to share. [Click to enlarge]

The evening gave veterans a time to share memories of their time in the military service and their experiences whether in active combat or support services at military bases around the world. It also brought out their love and loyalty to their country.

"We're glad to see all of you here, gray hair and bald heads and all," said President Don Law with a smile.

Following the meal, Law called a brief meeting to order.

The ritual bottle of whiskey, to be shared by the last three surviving members of the Korean War Veterans Last Man's Club, is displayed each year at the banquet. [Click to enlarge]

Law read the names of three members who died since the last meeting Oct. 11, 2007.

George Kilker.

Jim Munday.

Arden "Lefty" Anderson.

Law asked for a moment of silence to remember all those who died, "the work they did, their service to the country to protect our freedoms."

There are currently 84 members in the club, with 23 members deceased.

The club also gained one new member, James Grahlmann, who was presented with his membership certificate. A charter member, Ron Smith, also received his membership certificate.

The current officers, Don Law, president; Norm Lang, vice president, and Herman D. "Bud" Vander Well, secretary/treasurer, were unanimously approved for re-election to their positions.

The ritual bottle of whiskey, to be opened by the last three surviving members of the Last Man's Club, held a place of honor at the head table. The whiskey bottle is a symbol handed down from the World War I and World War II Last Man's Clubs. Club bylaws state that the bottle will be opened and served at the annual banquet when only three members of the club are living.

Guest speaker was Wayne Thieman of Le Mars, who spoke on his recent experience as an Honor Flight guardian for World War II veterans from the area who traveled to Washington, D.C. to see the World War II memorial and other memorials in the area. He also presented pictures of the Honor Flight and memorials.

Guardians on the Honor Flight were assigned veterans who they assisted throughout the day, whether with medications, wheelchairs, getting through security checkpoints or other needs.

"Our flight left at 7 a.m. on Sept 9 and it was a full day," Thieman said. "We returned home at midnight."

The youngest veteran was 80 1/2 years old, Thieman said, with three female veterans among the group of 101 veterans, along with guardians, doctors and emergency medical support individuals.

"When we got to the D.C. airport, there were about 1,000 people there, clapping and welcoming the vets," said Thieman. "All the veterans were smiling and there was a bounce in their step."

Thieman related that while at the Iwo Jima Memorial, the guide was giving the facts about the memorial. Thieman stood among three veterans in wheelchairs who were talking about the memorial, and who told the guide his information wasn't quite accurate. "I listened to the three of them talking at the memorial," Thieman said and learned the three, who had never met until that day, had served in three different areas of Iwo Jima.

"Half of the Honor Flight group had fought in the Pacific Theatre, and half in the Atlantic Theatre," Thieman said. "It was very interesting to listen to them."

"Arlington Cemetery is an awesome memorial," Thieman told the Korean veterans. He was impressed with the unique and awe-inspiring precision of the changing of the guard ceremony at the cemetery.

The Korean Memorial, dedicated in July 1995, features a wall mural etched with more than 2,500 documentary photographs sandblasted into the graphite, providing a background for the 19 battle-ready soldier statues in ponchos and full gear. Their reflection on the wall makes it 38 soldiers, a reference to the 38th parallel dividing North and South Korea.

"This Korean War memorial is just awesome," Thieman said, "the detail in the statues and the pictures on the wall. It seems like the eyes are always following you. With all the detail superimposed on the wall, it is very haunting," he continued. He said when one looks at the wall, they seem to become a part of the wall.

"Be proud of the service you gave to your country," Thieman told the Korean veterans. "You have a very unique memorial in D.C. They did you good and proud."

"I learned so much from the veterans on this trip," Thieman said. "I heard more stories and more jokes from these veterans."

Thieman said he was told to observe the trip home on the plane, the World War II veterans would be talking and smiling, the guardians would be sleeping.

"They were right," Thieman said. The WWII veterans belied their age as they kept a busy schedule that day. Thieman said some guardians had a hard time keeping up with their assigned veterans.

Three Le Mars veterans, Rudy Adler, Virgil Brockel and Ken Lubben, made the trip, along with Thieman, Larry Ruchti and Jack Guenthner as guardians.

Thieman closed his presentation by honoring the Korean veterans for their service.

"Make sure you give our current service men and women the support they need and deserve," Thieman said.

Membership in the Korean War Last Man's Club is open to any person, male or female, who is a member of the American Legion or VFW and who has served in the Armed Forces of the United States of America, or was a member of the American Red Cross, during the period of June 25, 1950, through Jan. 31, 1955. The only dues is the initial membership fee of $5.

The club held their first meeting in October 1998 following a membership drive. There are currently 84 members in the club, with 23 members deceased.

Memberships will be accepted at the meeting or by contacting Bud Vander Well. The group encourages new memberships of those who served in the time frame specified.