LAWTON — For the past 11 years, New Light United Methodist Church has held a service in late June to honor all of Comanche County’s Korean War veterans.
This year the service was on June 25 -- exactly 73 years since North Korea invaded South Korea and began the three-year battle that included the United States military and the United Nations.
In 2012, the church with the fundraising efforts of Pastor Ki-Young Jeong, helped build the Elmer Thomas Park monument that honors the sacrifices of soldiers from Comanche County.
Jeong, a former U.S. Army chaplain, said the annual church service is a testament to the men who helped protect his birthplace of South Korea. An estimated 40 Comanche County men fought in the war and 27 died, Jeong said.
“It (South Korea) is a long distance and they devoted themselves to my home country,” said Jeong, who still holds the U.S. soldiers in high regard. “Most Americans say the Korean War is the forgotten war, but we do not forget. They sacrificed themselves for us.”
As a result, Jeong, his church members, and others in the Lawton community raised $100,000 for the construction of the monument. In addition, Lawton city officials donated an acre of land to be used as a park that honors the war veterans.
Each year, the church service is held at the park as members and Korean War veterans gather to remember the sacrifices made in a faraway land. After the service, church members and the veterans gather for lunch at the park.
As time has passed, fewer Korean War veterans attend the memorial service since most are in the mid to late 80s.
“Most have already passed away,” Jeong, 63, said.
However, the pastor said he doesn’t plan to stop the annual memorial service any time soon. This year’s service drew about 100 people, including many U.S. veterans.
“All of us at the church are very enthusiastic about the service,” Jeong said. “Even during the pandemic, we delivered lunch boxes to the Korean veterans. We will continue our work with Korean War veterans. We have a feeling and attitude that appreciates the U.S. and U.N. soldiers.”
Jeong lived in South Korea until he was 32 and then moved to the U.S. where he attended Southern Methodist University and graduated with a doctorate in ministry. He also joined the U.S. Army Chaplain Corps and was on active duty for three years. Later, he joined the Army’s reserve chaplain program and stayed there until 2014. He has been the pastor at New Light Methodist Church, located at 5901 SW Lee Blvd., since 2004.
The Korean War started in 1950 and ended with an armistice between South Korea and North Korea on July 27, 1953. North Korea invaded the South in a coordinated attack at several strategic points along the 38th parallel, the line dividing communist North Korea from the non-communist Republic of South Korea.