A forgotten man in a long ago war, Junior Raymond "J. R." McDowell is finally being recognized for making the ultimate sacrifice for his county during the Koren War.
McDowell, a Crittenden County native, was killed early in the war that started when communist forces from North Korea invaded South Korea in the summer of 1950.
Until just recently his name had not been among those engraved on granite crosses at the Mapleview Cemetery war memorial in Marion. It is still a mystery how this Crittenden County war hero somehow was accidentally left off the KIA list.
After finding a notice in the Sept. 8, 1950 Crittenden Press, that read Sargent McDowell, Jr., son of Lou Vena McDowell has been reported missing in action in Korea since July 25, 1950 and then in Dec. 1955, an obituary was published. "The body of Sergeant First Class Junior Raymond McDowell, who died in Korea, Nov. 6, 1950, will arrive at the Hunt Funeral Home in Marion Sat. morning, Dec. 10, 1955. Funeral services will be conducted at Sugar Grove Church, with full military rites.
Survivors include his mother, Mrs. Lou Vena McDowell, Marion, two sisters, Mrs. Geneva James, Marion and Mrs. Ruth Rogalski, Detroit; one brother, James Dalton, Dalton, Ky.; two half-brothers, Herbert McDowell, Dalton, and Hobart McDowell, Princeton.
On Sunday, November 13, 2016, a public ceremony is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. at Mapleview Cemetery where McDowell's cross will be dedicated. Joining the ranks of those for fellow Korean War casualties and dozens of other men killed during World War II and the Vietnam War.
We salute you Sgt. Junior R. McDowell,
may your sacrifice never be forgotten.
No comments:
Post a Comment