LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending the members of the Willard Hospital
Division of the 343rd General Hospital Unit upon the occasion of their
deployment to serve their country during the Korean War

WHEREAS, Thousands of military personnel from the great State of New
York have served their country faithfully and courageously, with dedi-
cation and sacrifice, and are due the praise and just recognition of
this Legislative Body for their role in defense of our Nation's liberty
and freedom; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend
the members of the Willard Hospital Division of the 343rd General Hospi-
tal Unit upon the occasion of their deployment to serve their country
during the Korean War; and
WHEREAS, On June 25, 1950, Communist North Korea invaded South Korea
with approximately 135,000 troops, thereby initiating the Korean War;
and
WHEREAS, In response to a June 27, 1950, United Nations resolution
calling for assistance for the Republic of Korea (South Korea), Presi-
dent Harry S. Truman ordered American air and naval forces activated
and, on June 30, 1950, committed United States ground forces to the
Korean battle zone; and
WHEREAS, Approximately 5,720,000 members of the Armed Forces served
during the Korean War, of which 482,000 were from New York State, to
defeat the spread of communism in Korea and throughout the world; and
WHEREAS, The Seneca County soldiers who were deployed on September 3,
1950, include: Lieutenant Colonel James A. Brussel, Major Oscar K.
Diamond, Captain Harold E. Cuer, First Lieutenants Laurence C. Gardner,
Marion E. Mathews, Aurora M. Morganti, Josephine M. Schramm, Master
Sergeants Harold L. Belile, Francis P. Flynn, Gerald M. Van Nostrand,
Sergeant First Class John W. Bradley, Herbert J. DeLyser, Sr., Arthur M.
Johnson, Arthur K. Miller, Kenneth P. Van Huben, Sergeants William E.
Colburn, David F. Covert, Robert J. Doane, John B. Garlick, Charles O.
Holmberg, Robert L. Kaufman, Eldred L. McCoy, Leon T. McWhortler, Cecil
J. Meyer, John L. Pierson, Edmund J. Redditt, William M. Reed, Joseph P.
Rizzieri, Edward V. Thompson, Corporals Charles H. Boyer, James H.
Braneiforte, Edward F. Brewer, Eugene A. Cannuli, James G. Dibble,
Charles F. Dineen, Kenneth A. Hoff, Harold F. Johnson, Jesse M. Jones,
Lloyd B. Kenyon, William R. Langley, Thomas J. Lewis, Jr., Myron M.
McCoy, Herbert J. McCutcheon, Richard T. McMinn, Calvin J. Miller,
Harold Potis, Lester T. Rice, Jr., George W. Slack, Albert R. Thompson,
Jack K. Van Nostrand, Privates First Class Robert E. Cool, Wilfrid M.
Cotter, Frederick Doolittle, Kendrick A. Kellogg, Gordon E. Mitchell,
Frank W. Porter, Ray C. Porter, Alfred W. Prouty, James W. Van Atta, Ray
H. Van Nostrand, John J. Wooledge, Privates Norman F. Andrews, Albert G.
Brown, Walter F. Caward, James J. Dalusio, Torrey K. Fritts, John W.
Guthrie, Bruce F. Hammond, Donald D. Herman, William T. Lattimer, Valen-
tine A. Lisk, Bernard J. Long, Edward J. McArdle, Theodore A. McCann,
Edward McDonald, Joseph H. McDonald, Edward M. McGuire, Louis R. Rizzi-
eri and Recruits James P. Mannix, Jr., Donald A. Rice, Laurence P. Shel-
don, Robert M. Sibley; and
WHEREAS, The fighting lasted three years; during the 37-month period
more than 54,000 Americans died; 33,651 were killed in action; there
were 103,000 Americans wounded; 8,177 missing in action; and 7,000 pris-
oners of war; and
WHEREAS, The death toll included 2,249 New Yorkers, with another 6,530
wounded; and

WHEREAS, The Korean War was the first direct conflict of the Cold War
between the United States and communist forces; and
WHEREAS, The Korean War was the first deployment of United States
troops to a combat zone to contain communist aggression; stemming the
spread of communism was a foreign policy goal during the Cold War; and
WHEREAS, The Korean War is referred to as the "forgotten war" because
it came on the heels of World War II and was overshadowed by the Vietnam
War; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body, acting on behalf of
the citizens of this Empire State to act now, with great respect and
reverent esteem, in honoring the members of the Willard Hospital Divi-
sion of the 343rd General Hospital Unit who served their State and
Nation so valiantly and honorably in the defense of freedom and democra-
cy during the Korean conflict; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend the members of the Willard Hospital Division of the 343rd Gener-
al Hospital Unit upon the occasion of their deployment to serve their
country during the Korean War; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the members of the Willard Hospital Division of the 343rd
General Hospital Unit.