MKA Welcomes Korean War Veterans at the Upper School
Veterans of The Korean War - sometimes labeled “The Forgotten War”- proved that they certainly have not forgotten their experiences when they met with the MKA junior class this week. Students and faculty were treated to some enthralling first-hand accounts from the veterans as they exchanged war stories along with personal triumphs.
Upper School history teacher Thomas Jones had arranged for the visit of combat veterans, including some who had served under General MacArthur. Equipped with photos, military maps, and sundry articles of interest to augment their stories, veterans George Bruzgis, Erwin Burkert, John DiLonardo, Ed Frye and Hank Leonard ’48 described how their lives were forever changed by President Harry Truman’s decision to declare war on North Korea.
To help students gain a clearer understanding on what took place in the field, John DiLonardo, a native of Clifton, NJ, described the raw conditions faced by the soldiers, “The weather would get to 10-15 degrees below zero and flesh would stick to metal weaponry.” Ed Frye then informed students on the logistics between the front line and the back line soldiers. “For every one man on the front line there were ten men assisting him on the back line, running up ammo, supplies, etc…” George Bruzgis exemplified the bravery shown by many, explaining, “I was in the tank outfit, and when my tour was over…I re-enlisted to go back to Korea" while Erwin Burkert, a German refugee shared that, “I was told I had two choices, join the army or go back to Germany. I wanted to become an American citizen, so off I went.” Finally, Hank Leonard, a member of the Montclair Academy Class of 1948, met with students and explained the significance of the military patches displayed on his combat jacket, as well as weaponry artifacts including bullet shells and grenades.
Whether their experiences were made on the front or back lines, the veterans each brought a piece of history to life and thanks to the continued efforts of Bruzgis, Burkert, DiLonardo, Frye and Leonard, MKA students will not soon forget the bravery of those who served and lost their lives during The Korean War.
To view photos from the visit, click here.