A soldier died today

On this Memorial Day we honor our war dead. Countless are those who heroically gave their lives so that we can live ours, knowing our freedom is because of them. Our Gold Star families cherish the memory of their loved ones lost in war. Our Blue Star families pray every day that their loved ones will come home safely. The families who live in freedom here at home while their loved ones are doing battle in foreign lands, know the sacrifice, not only of their troopers, but their own anguish. Currently it is said that one percent serve to protect the 99 percent here at home. These brave men and women on the front lines of freedom need and deserve our devotion. To the families who have loved ones who gave it all, we honor them on this 150th anniversary of Memorial Day.

Some 15,000 veterans live in and around North Idaho, and thrive in our veteran friendly biosphere. Unlike our returning vets from Vietnam, our warriors are cherished and welcomed home with pomp and circumstance befitting returning heroes. Our Vietnam vets are finally getting the long recognition they deserve. It’s about time. The “Wall” is tribute to the 58,220 that died in that war. Our Korea vets, too, are being recognized for their service in their war that cost 36,574 American lives. The latest edition of the VFW magazine features a Memorial Day article “America’s War Dead 1775-2016” that delineates each military action, and of those that were killed or wounded. We have had 83 wars and military actions over the last 241 years, with each costing the lives of Americans honorably doing their duty.

We remember the “BIG” ones of course, but who remembers Fireman Duane Hodges, a sailor of the USS Pueblo, who died Jan. 23, 1968, while carrying documents to be thrown overboard while the Pueblo was being attacked by North Korean torpedo boats, submarines, and two Mikoyan-Gurevich MIG-21 fighters. On that afternoon, the USS Pueblo was surrendered to the North Koreans by its commanding officer, Cmdr. Lloyd M. Bucher. He and his crew of 82 were held in captivity and tortured until their release on Dec. 23 that year. On Dec. 24, arriving at Kimpo airport near Seoul, Hodges’s flag-draped casket was escorted off the aircraft, followed by Bucher and his crew. I was in the honor guard that day and vividly remember how happy we were of the release of the sailors, proud of their service, and sad that one of ours was killed in action. The Christmas season for families was joyous as the crew returned home, with heartfelt sorrow for their departed crew member, Fireman Duane Hodges.

The loss of the Pueblo was the first capture of a U.S. Navy vessel on the high seas since the War of 1812. Incidents between North Korea and the United States continued in 1969, and in April that year, a North Korean MiG-21 fighter shot down a U.S. Navy intelligence aircraft, killing all 31 men aboard. We were put on high alert during April and May, with heavy restriction on travel outside military bases. Korean and coalition forces were also on high alert, with periodic readiness drills. South Korea was already under a midnight to 4 a.m. curfew to address infiltrators from the North, with shoot on sight orders by police and Korean military who patrolled the area. The increased presence of the patrols was a deterrent to the threat of invasion. As tensions eased, so did the restrictions. The incident caused a large U.S. troop buildup, and in 1970 troop levels were eventually reduced to normal. South Korea was no longer on alert status.

There is a YouTube video entitled “Just a Common Soldier” that portrays Memorial Day as a day of remembrance, and tells of the sacrifices made by those who serve and their families. Every American is touched in some way of those who serve, whether it is a family member, friend or acquaintance. For those who gave it all, please honor their memory and sacrifice this Memorial Day.

“Our country is in mourning because a soldier died today.”

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Press Correspondent Jack Evensizer is a resident of Dalton Gardens.