korean war roll call
This page is under construction. As of May 2017, we do not have a list of veterans. A list will be added when secured. This page is basically a placeholder.
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lawrence wilcox - died in action in 1950
Lawrence Wilcox in 1949. Photo shared by Carrie Wilcox Farset. Photo 3089.
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Lawrence Wilcox (1932 - 1950) was one of the large family of Addie and Ernest Wilcox. There were 12 children: Herald, Richard, Lyle, Robert, Lawrence, Ruth, Doris, Jean, Dorothy, Lourain, Lucille and David.
He joined the U. S. Marine Corps in 1949. Some Many of his brothers also enlisted to serve in the Korean War, including Rich, Lyle, and Chauncey. According to the post about him on the website of the American Battle Monuments Commissioner, "Private First Class Wilcox was a member of Company B, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Provisional Marine Brigade. He was Killed in Action while defending his position on Hill 202, overlooking the Sachon River near Sachon, South Korea on September 1, 1950." Awards: Private First Class Wilcox was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal. Lawrence was born in Steinauer. He went to school there, although four of his siblings later graduated from Table Rock Jean (Class of 1938), Dorothy (Class of 1940), Rich (Class of 1943), and Lyle (Class of 1948). Lawrence is buried in the Table Rock Cemetery. His memory is honored by the Steinauer community as well, at the Steinauer Heritage House. |
in korea
Lawrence Wilcox was with Co. B, 1/5th Marine Regiment and temporarily attached to the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade. Larry Obrist explains that this unit was a unique fabrication at the beginning of the Korean War.
Larry also found a description of that unit's military activity near the Sachon River that was close to the time that Lawrence Wilcox was killed. We don't know whether Lawrence was involved in the Chindong-ni-Sachon offensive described below, this particular action. He was listed as Missing in Action on August 13, 1950, and then later identified as killed on September 1, 1950. However, the report shows what things were like in the part of Korea where Lawrence was serving.
According to the Marine Corps Association and Foundation, "The Marine Brigade fought in three major battles during August and September 1950: the Chindong-ni Sachon offensive, the counterattack at the Naktong Bulge, and the second battle of the Naktong Bulge." (Lawrence was killed before the Naktong Bulge battles.) These battles were fought against "a highly determined and ingenious enemy in extraordinarily rugged terrain." At one point, the North Korean People's Army began to aggressively slip into American lines. They were repelled, but:
Larry also found a description of that unit's military activity near the Sachon River that was close to the time that Lawrence Wilcox was killed. We don't know whether Lawrence was involved in the Chindong-ni-Sachon offensive described below, this particular action. He was listed as Missing in Action on August 13, 1950, and then later identified as killed on September 1, 1950. However, the report shows what things were like in the part of Korea where Lawrence was serving.
According to the Marine Corps Association and Foundation, "The Marine Brigade fought in three major battles during August and September 1950: the Chindong-ni Sachon offensive, the counterattack at the Naktong Bulge, and the second battle of the Naktong Bulge." (Lawrence was killed before the Naktong Bulge battles.) These battles were fought against "a highly determined and ingenious enemy in extraordinarily rugged terrain." At one point, the North Korean People's Army began to aggressively slip into American lines. They were repelled, but:
Despite their heavy losses, the NKPA continued to disrupt Task Force Kean's attack through the infiltration of light infantry into the task force rear area. On 12 August, the NKPA 6th Division infiltrated a regiment into the Task Force's rear, which then assaulted and overran the 555th Field Artillery Battalion. For a second time in the Chindong-ni-Sachon battles, 3/5 was dispatched to clear an enemy force from behind friendly lines. The Marines combined air, artillery, and mortar fire with a two company infantry assault and cleared the enemy as night fell on 12 August. These tenacious, light infantry efforts on the part of the NKPA provided an excellent preview of what the brigade could expect in the battles to come. |
Read the whole story:
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Larry Obrist sums up the situation:
History wise, Lawrence Wilcox sadly was one of the young and untrained Marine Corps guys they stuffed early on into battle within six weeks of the North Korean invasion. They were poorly equipped and undermanned, which put them at a distinct disadvantage. He may have been hit by sniper or been overwhelmed in one of the human wave assaults. He died in a far away land for little purpose, one that never really changed the war in any form.
Table Rock Argus, July 5, 1951.
Military Funeral Set For Friday
COMMUNITY TO PAY LAST RESPECTS
TO MARINE WHO DIED IN ACTION IN KOREA
Military Funeral Set For Friday
COMMUNITY TO PAY LAST RESPECTS
TO MARINE WHO DIED IN ACTION IN KOREA
A full Military Funeral will be held Friday of this week for Pfc. Lawrence A. Wilcox, son of Mr. and Mrs. Earnest Wilcox of the Steinauer community, who was killed in action in August, 1950, while fighting with the Marines in Korea. He was 18 years old.
Services will be held in the Methodist Church in Table Rock Friday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. Oden of Hickman, Nebraska, Reserve Marine Chaplain, conducting the services, assisted by Rev. E. P. Booher of Elk Creek.
Marine pallbearers, a Marine Color Guard, and a local Legion Post firing squad will be included in the final rites. Local Legion Post members met the body at the train Wednesday afternoon and escorted it to the Kovanda-Beethe Funeral Home. Burial will be made in the Table Rock cemetery.
Lawrence Wilcox joined the Marines in October, 1949, and after basic training was sent to Korea, where he was listed as missing in action on August 13, 1950. On September 1, 1950, the War Department reported him as having been killed.
Wilcox attended grade school in Table Rock and had attended high school here before enlisting with the Marines.
Table Rock business places will close from 1:45 to 3:00 p.m. during the funeral services.
Pawnee Republican, May 21, 2005
10 Years Ago file: Pawnee Republican, article by Carol A. Sisco- Lest we forget...Forgotten soldier, forgotten war. Lawrence Wilcox was just getting a good start at life when suddenly it was over. He ran out of tomorrows at an age when most of us feel that we finally own our todays and will never run out of tomorrows.
Lawrence signed up for the Marines in the late 1940's. When Lawrence returned to duty at the end of leave, he was sent to Korea. He arrived in Korea on August 2, 1950. Seventeen days after his 18th birthday, he was killed on the Inchon Landing of Korea.
10 Years Ago file: Pawnee Republican, article by Carol A. Sisco- Lest we forget...Forgotten soldier, forgotten war. Lawrence Wilcox was just getting a good start at life when suddenly it was over. He ran out of tomorrows at an age when most of us feel that we finally own our todays and will never run out of tomorrows.
Lawrence signed up for the Marines in the late 1940's. When Lawrence returned to duty at the end of leave, he was sent to Korea. He arrived in Korea on August 2, 1950. Seventeen days after his 18th birthday, he was killed on the Inchon Landing of Korea.