In 1936, George Koon enlisted in the Army right out of high school.  As if fighting in WWII wasn’t enough, this hero reenlisted In November 1950 and was sent to Korea .  One month later, he was captured by the Chinese and was sent to a POW camp.  In January 1951, his family was advised of his MIA status.  In April 1951, the Chinese began moving SFC Koon and a number of other prisoners to a second POW camp.  SFC Koon was weak from malnutrition, and was suffering from dysentery and gangrene.  Despite his illnesses, he was expected to endure the 30 mile hike to the second war camp.  Unfortunately, SFC Koon died in route to the other POW camp.  

It was later learned that two young boys were hiding in the bushes as these prisoners were being moved.  They watched as SFC Koon and 10 others who had also died, were buried in a mass grave, presumably by Chinese or North Korean forces.  Miraculously, years later the two would recall their observations to American forces, who in cooperation with the North Koreans, located the grave in 2002.  Of the eleven who were buried that day in 1951, only SFC Koon and one other soldier have been identified.  

SFC George Koon was one of nine children.  George’s brother, Rev. Carl Koon, age 88, and their sister, Alice Crapps, 96, are the only surviving siblings.  Rev. Koon’s son, also named George and also a minister, will deliver the eulogy.

Carl Koon summed it up well: "Freedom isn't cheap, and it isn't free, and I think it's also a message of heroism that America needs.”   Amen, brother!

We, the SC PGR, need to honor this man’s ultimate sacrifice.  We need to support his brother, sister, other relatives, and friends.  I know many of you have pulled double, triple, and more duties in the last few weeks.  I thank you for taking the time to welcome home so many of our armed forces.  On Saturday, though, it’s time to respond again, as you always have and always will.  Thank you for your dedication to our heroes.

Services for SFC George W. Koon will be Saturday, May 17, at 1600 hr., at the Old Lexington Baptist Church, 800 Old Lexington Road, Leesville, SC.  The church is 1.7 miles north of US 378 on the right side of Old Lexington Road, at the intersection of Rock’N’Creek Road.  There is a Shell gas/convenience store on US 378 where Old Lexington Road starts.   We will need to park across the street from the church in a grassy area.  Kickstand pads are suggested.

Map: http://tinyurl.com/3kpfre

Staging will be at the church at 1500.  Brief will be at 1515 hr. with flag line in place immediately following the brief.  Service will begin at 1600 hr.  After service begins, flag line will stand down for approximately 30 minutes.  (Service is expected to run about 45 minutes.)   We will reassemble at the church’s cemetery (behind the church) for the grave site service.  Full military honors are planned.

Dale Austin, RCIC
803.338.0912

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IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 424-08 May 16, 2008

Soldiers Missing from The Korean War are Identified               The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office announced today that the remains of two U.S. servicemen, missing from the Korean War, have been identified and are being returned to their families for burial with full military honors.               They are Sgt. 1st Class George W. Koon of Leesville, S.C.; and Sgt. 1st Class Jack O. Tye of Loyall, Ky.; both U.S. Army. Koon will be buried tomorrow in Leesville, and Tye will be buried Monday in Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, D.C.               Representatives from the Army met with the soldiers' next-of-kin to explain the recovery and identification process, and to coordinate interment with military honors on behalf of the Secretary of the Army.               In late November 1950, Koon was assigned to the Medical Company, 9th Infantry Regiment, and Tye was assigned to Company L, 38th Infantry Regiment. Both were members of the 2nd Infantry Division advancing north of Kunu-ri, North Korea. On Nov. 25, the Chinese Army counterattacked the Americans in what would become known as the Battle of the Chong Chon (River). This combat was some of the fiercest of the war, and the 2nd Division initiated a fighting withdrawal to the south. Koon and Tye were captured by Chinese forces during the intense enemy fire, and subsequently died while in captivity from malnutrition and medical neglect.                       In 2002, two joint U.S./Democratic People's Republic of Korea teams, led by the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC), investigated and excavated a mass burial site located 20 miles northwest of Kunu-ri, along the route taken by captured U.S. POWs being moved to permanent POW camps along the Yalu River. The teams recovered remains at the site believed to be those of several U.S. servicemen, including Koon and Tye.                Among other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory and JPAC also used mitochondrial DNA and dental comparisons in both Koon's and Tye's identification.                For additional information on the Defense Department's mission to account for missing Americans, visit the DPMO web site at http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo or call (703) 699-1169.