401 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 213E Phone: (415) 817-1858 San Francisco, CA 94102 NEWSLETTER Email: [email protected] Web: www.kwmf.org July–September 2019 A Special Day of Remembrance: Dedication of Final Commemorative Tiles Photos by Tom Graves, Jeny Kwak Weber, and Chris Moore Thursday, September 26 was a proud ents. One of the Tuskegee Airmen. A day for more than 100 Korean War member of the Turkish Brigade. And veterans, their families, and survi- a soldier from the last vors. They had gathered to bear wit- segregated unit in the ness to the unveiling and dedication U.S. Army. Some are of their tiles, the last commemorative still with us. Many are tiles to be installed at the Korean War gone. But they all share Memorial in San Francisco, in honor one common bond: of 72 of those who served in the Ko- they fought together to rean War. defend the freedom of South Korea. The honorees included members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Merchant Marine. POWs and MIAs. Koreans as well as Amer- icans. Three Medal of Honor recipi- In This Issue: Final Commemorative Tiles (p. 1) Portrait of a Local Korean War Veteran: Denny Weisgerber (p. 6) KoreaGovernment Bestows Special Honors on KWMF (p. 4) Two Nations. Two Generations. One Memorable Encounter (p. 8) July–September 2019 Page 1 The final 72 commemorative tiles The ceremony began with remarks by several dignitaries, including Consul Hyun Jung Kim of the Consulate Gen- eral of the Republic of Korea, and KWMF Treasurer and Korean War veteran Donald Reid. The guests were attentive and patient during the speeches. It was evident, however, that they were there for an- other purpose: to see their tiles, to re- member, and to remind the younger generation of those long-ago events that bind them all together to this day. As novelist William Faulkner wrote, “The past is never dead. It isn’t even past.” Page 2 July–September 2019 And so after a brief formal ceremony, the guests, from nonage- narians to toddlers, slowly walked down to the Memorial’s com- memorative tile wall to view their newly installed tiles. They then spent their time in quiet moments of remembrance and re- flection. Here are some images of those moments. July–September 2019 Page 3 The Government of the Republic of Korea Bestows Special Honors on KWMF The Government of the Republic of Korea honored the Korean War Memorial Foundation (KWMF) in two separate ceremonies in one day on September 10. That morning, a delegation from the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Af- fairs (MPVA) from Seoul, together with officials from the Consulate General in San Francisco, visited the Korean War Memorial for a small, informal gathering. There they were welcomed by KWMF’s officers, directors, and friends. Among the dignitaries in attendance Jin, Ph.D.; Marines’ Memorial As- It should be noted that Chairman were, as seen from the left in the sociation & Foundation President & Chung’s MPVA is the largest do- photo above, KWMF Education Di- CEO Jan Huly, Lieutenant General, nor to the Memorial, having given rector Wally Stewart; KWMF Vice USMC (Ret.); KWMF Treasurer KWMF just under $1 million dur- President Man J. Kim; KWMF Board Don Reid; KWMF Secretary Mitch ing the early design and construction member Frank Jordan, former May- Leiber; and Deputy Consul General phase. Without that generous gift or of San Francisco; KWMF Board Kwangyong Chung. from MPVA, Republic of Korea, the member Pete Gleichenhaus, Colo- Memorial might not be here today. nel, US Army (Ret.); Consul General Park Joon-yong; KWMF President & Chairman of the Board Judge Quen- tin L. Kopp (Ret.); MPVA Entitle- ments Commission Chairman Chung After brief introductions, Judge Kopp led Chairman Chung and the other dignitaries on an informal tour of the Memorial. The two men then presented a commemorative wreath at the Memorial wall. The wreath was a gift from Chairman Chung’s superior in Seoul, Minister Park Sam Duck, MPVA. Judge Kopp and Chairman Chung with the commemorative wreath Page 4 July–September 2019 The group then headed from the Pre- KWMF, when both Chairman Chung sidio to the historic Marines’ Memo- and Consul General Park expressed rial Club and Hotel in downtown San the gratitude of the people of the Re- Francisco for a private luncheon in public of Korea for KWMF and for the Club’s library. The luncheon was America’s Korean War veterans. sponsored courtesy of the Govern- ment of the Republic of Korea and hosted by Marines’ Memorial Association and Foundation President and CEO Jan Huly, Marines’ Memorial Club and Hotel Lieutenant General, USMC (Ret.). This was the setting for the second honor of the day for Consul General Park then present- ed Judge Kopp with a citation for KWMF from Republic of Korea Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon. Consul General Park Joon-yong addresses the guests. Visible on the left are Chairman Chung and Lieutenant General Huly. Seated on the right is Judge Kopp. After the citation ceremony, the guests posed for a group portrait in the library. It marked the end of a memorable day for the Korean War Memorial Foundation. Prime Minister’s Citation From L: Deputy Consul General Kwangyong Chung; KWMF Secretary Mitch Leiber; Consul Hyun Jung Kim; KWMF Vice President Man J. Kim; Consul General Park Joon-yong; KWMF President Judge Quentin L. Kopp (Ret.); MPVA Chairman Chung Jin; KWMF Treasurer Don Reid; Marines’ Memorial Association & Foundation President Jan Huly, Lieutenant General, USMC (Ret.); and KWMF Education Director Wally Stewart July–September 2019 Page 5 Portrait of a Local Korean War Veteran: Denny Weisgerber William D. “Denny” Weisgerber Denny soon saw intense combat ac- was born in Bend, Oregon on May tion on a number of isolated outposts 5, 1930. He attended Boise High forward of the Jamestown Line, in an School, where he lettered in football, area known as “The Hook”: Outposts basketball, track, and boxing. More Bunker Hill, Reno, Vegas, Warsaw, importantly, it’s where he met his and Seattle. On October 2, 1952, high school sweetheart and wife-to- during an assault on Outpost Seattle, be, Marianne Tillery. February, 1949 Denny was severely wounded. Af- marked two pivotal events in Den- ter a long medical recovery for his ny’s life: he married Marianne, and wounds, he was medically retired he enlisted in the Marine Corps. in May, 1953. In recognition of his heroic actions on Outpost Seattle, Denny was awarded the Navy Cross, the nation’s second-highest award for valor in combat. Denny and Marianne, 1951 CITATION: daring charge against a machine- The President of the United States gun emplacement, succeeding in of America takes pleasure in pre- destroying the enemy position with senting the Navy hand grenades and Cross to Staff small-arms fire. Al- Sergeant William though painfully D. Weisgerber wounded by the in- (MCSN: 1072880), tense enemy fire, he United States Ma- steadfastly refused rine Corps, for ex- medical treatment traordinary hero- and courageously ism in connection moved forward to aid with military opera- a wounded comrade. tions against an armed Fearlessly exposing enemy of the United himself to a veritable hail PFC Weisgerber, right after boot camp, Nations while serving as of hostile fire falling over 1949 Right Guide in a Platoon of the area, he personally carried Company I, Third Battalion, the casualty down a hazard- Denny spent most of his first year in Seventh Marines, First Marine ous slope. Severely wounded radio communications at Camp Del Division (Reinforced), in ac- by a burst of mortar fire while Mar and Marine Corps Recruit De- tion against enemy aggres- engaged in this heroic act, pot, San Diego. When the Korean War sor forces in the Republic he continued to assist his broke out in June, 1950, his Military of Korea on the night of wounded comrade until Occupational Specialty was changed 2 October 1952. With physically incapable of proceeding any to 0300, Infantry. For the next two his platoon engaged in attacking a well- further. By his out- years, he trained Marines bound for entrenched enemy standing leader- Korea, and for his outstanding per- force occupying ship, great personal formance he quickly rose through the an outpost forward valor and intrepid ranks. By May, 1952 he was a staff of the main line of fighting spirit, Staff sergeant, and in July of that year, he resistance, Staff Ser- Sergeant Weisgerber was shipped to Korea and assigned geant Weisgerber aggres- served to inspire all who to Item Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th sively led his men in the face observed him and upheld Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Divi- of a devastating barrageof the highest traditions of the sion as an assistant platoon sergeant. hostile small-arms, artillery, mor- United States Naval Service. tar and grenade fire and initiated a Page 6 July–September 2019 Denny’s other awards include the been active in the Ma- Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, rine Corps League and Korean Campaign Medal with two a number of other vet- stars, United Nations Korea Medal, erans’ organizations. Navy Unit Commendation Medal, And he has dedicated Presidential Unit Citation, Combat his time and energy Action Ribbon, and National De- to wounded warriors fense Medal. In 2011, in recognition at the VA Hospital in of a lifetime of achievements, Secre- Palo Alto and Menlo tary of the Navy Ray Mabus selected Park, California. He Denny Weisgerber for honorary pro- helps them with their motion to Gunnery Sergeant in the benefits, and mentors United States Marine Corps. them through the dif- ficult ordeal of living Marianne and Denny at the Marines’ Memorial Club, San From 1953 through the end of the with their wounds.