Prairie soldiers in new book
The Korean War is sometimes referred to as the forgotten war.
Fargo author Merry Helm disputes that statement and is trying to help more people learn about the conflict.
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“I’ve
always thought of them as the ignored veteran rather than the forgotten
veteran,” Helm said, speaking of the men who served in the conflict.
“After all the adoration shown to World War II vets, Korean vets were
thought of as ‘less than’ or class b veterans.”
Helm will read from her book “Prairie Boys at War” at 4 p.m. Saturday at the All Vets Club in Jamestown. The reading is a benefit for the new library project in Jamestown. Helm’s book will be available for $22, and Helm will sign copies.
She is also the featured speaker for the gathering of Vietnam and Korean veterans held at the All Vets Club later that evening.
Helm said her interest in Korean War history started when she was a writer for “Dakota Datebook” on Prairie Public Radio.
Her research into military history led her to the story of Woodrow Keeble. Helm did some of the research that led to a posthumous award of the Medal of Honor to Keeble on March 3, 2008.
“After we got the Medal of Honor for him I decided to not let it go,” Helm said, speaking of Korean War history. “It started as a nice little book about North Dakotans in Korea.”
The little book has now turned into a planned three-volume set telling the stories of Korean War veterans from North and South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska and Montana.
Helm said her research has taken many forms.
“I do first-person interviews whenever possible,” she said. “Or I try to find men who fought beside them in Korea if they were killed.”
Other forms of research include letters written from soldiers in Korea to family at home and military records from the National Archives.
Helm said the research is important.
“I feel a tremendous responsibility to get this right,” she said.
Helm said the second volume of the series is probably a year away from completion. Recent grants will allow her to spend time in the archives of the Army War College continuing her research. She has also learned of a previously unknown battle that includes casualties from the region.
The research and book have been well received by veterans and the general public.
“We’ve had unbelievable response from the Korean vets,” Helm said. “First, they are grateful that someone cares.”
Sun reporter Keith Norman can be reached at 701-952-8452 or by email at knorman@ jamestownsun.com
Helm will read from her book “Prairie Boys at War” at 4 p.m. Saturday at the All Vets Club in Jamestown. The reading is a benefit for the new library project in Jamestown. Helm’s book will be available for $22, and Helm will sign copies.
She is also the featured speaker for the gathering of Vietnam and Korean veterans held at the All Vets Club later that evening.
Helm said her interest in Korean War history started when she was a writer for “Dakota Datebook” on Prairie Public Radio.
Her research into military history led her to the story of Woodrow Keeble. Helm did some of the research that led to a posthumous award of the Medal of Honor to Keeble on March 3, 2008.
“After we got the Medal of Honor for him I decided to not let it go,” Helm said, speaking of Korean War history. “It started as a nice little book about North Dakotans in Korea.”
The little book has now turned into a planned three-volume set telling the stories of Korean War veterans from North and South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska and Montana.
Helm said her research has taken many forms.
“I do first-person interviews whenever possible,” she said. “Or I try to find men who fought beside them in Korea if they were killed.”
Other forms of research include letters written from soldiers in Korea to family at home and military records from the National Archives.
Helm said the research is important.
“I feel a tremendous responsibility to get this right,” she said.
Helm said the second volume of the series is probably a year away from completion. Recent grants will allow her to spend time in the archives of the Army War College continuing her research. She has also learned of a previously unknown battle that includes casualties from the region.
The research and book have been well received by veterans and the general public.
“We’ve had unbelievable response from the Korean vets,” Helm said. “First, they are grateful that someone cares.”
Sun reporter Keith Norman can be reached at 701-952-8452 or by email at knorman@ jamestownsun.com
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