Home › News › Local News
Veterans of 'forgotten war' to be remembered
Download this story as a podcast!
STORY TOOLS 
More from Local NewsMike T. Hidalgo went to Korea to fight in 1952, survived battle and came home the following year, relieved. But he doesn't remember anyone thanking him for his service.
The only greeting he can recall was from a sergeant who ordered him onto a bus back to military camp.
In recent years, though, Hidalgo feels he and other veterans are more appreciated.
And the 76-year-old Oxnard resident has contributed to the memory of the war, participating in ceremonies conducted by Ventura County's Korean War Veterans Association.
On Saturday, the association will once again honor veterans who fought and died in what many call the "forgotten war." The ceremony at Santa Paula's Veterans Memorial Park will commemorate the anniversary of the war's end.
The Korean War began in June 1950 and ended in July 1953.
The county chapter was established in 1997 and began conducting ceremonies five or six years ago, members said. It will honor veterans with various activities, including a 21-gun salute and an American flag-folding ceremony.
"It's emotional because of all the veterans that have been killed in action or died," said Richard Ruiz, a 76-year-old member of the chapter who served in the war.
Hidalgo said 45 county veterans who have died in the war will be honored in the ceremony. Nearly 20 additional veterans, most of them county residents, will also be honored, he said.
Santa Paula City Councilman Bob Gonzales will speak at the ceremony. County Supervisor Kathy Long will place the first wreath at the service.
Hidalgo said that before the local chapter started, he and other Korean War veterans longed for the kind of appreciation and honor they've more recently begun to receive.
That war — and its veterans — are "no longer forgotten," Hidalgo said.
Posted by AnnaWhaat on July 28, 2007 at 9:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Mr. Hidalgo, I would LOVE to be the first online to THANKYOU from the bottom of my heart for fighting for all of us ! Your a true HERO !!!!!!
I was very glad to hear they are having a service for those that lost thier lives over there and for those that fought. GOD BLESS YOU !!!!!!!!!
(Requires free registration.)
Article discussions on this site are to support community debates of issues related to our stories and editorials.
Discussions should not stray from the subject of the story or editorial.
We do not allow the following:
We reserve the right to delete threads and/or ban users for these or other reasons we deem necessary.
Opinions are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.