At least three Wilcox County soldiers lost their lives during the Korean War

Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Tomorrow – March 19 – will marked 67 years from the day that U.S. Army Pfc. James Phillip Westry was mortally wounded in North Korea, becoming one of at least three Wilcox County soldiers who lost their lives during the Korean War.

Westry, a 20-year-old native of Coy, was serving as a member of C Co., 461^st Infantry Battalion (Heavy Mortars) on March 19, 1953 when he was mortally wounded while fighting the enemy in North Korea. Sources say that he was evacuated back to the United States, where he eventually died on April 14, 1953. Just three months later, fighting ended with the signing of the Korean Armistice Agreement on July 27, 1953.

Born on Nov. 23, 1932, Westry was a highly decorated soldier. Records reflect that he received a Purple Heart, the coveted Combat Infantryman Badge, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal, the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, the United Nations Service Medal and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.

Westry’s remains were eventually brought home to Wilcox County, where he was laid to rest in the Tates Chapel AME Church cemetery at Coy. His grave is among at least a dozen other Westry family graves in this cemetery, and no doubt he was closely related to many of them. Chances are also pretty good that surviving relatives today may still remember him prior to his tragic death in Korea.

With all that is known about Westry’s military service, many questions still remain. When did his military service begin? Was he drafted or did he enlist on his own? What was his MOS, that is, his job in the Army?

What were the circumstances surrounding his death? How exactly did he get killed? Where exactly in North Korea was he when he was mortally wounded? Did this occur during a major engagement, an ambush or during routine operations? When transported back to the States, where exactly was he taken? Where exactly was he when he died?

As mentioned earlier, Westry was one of at least three Wilcox County soldiers killed during the Korean War. According to records at the Alabama Department of Archives and History, the other two Wilcox County service members killed in Korea were Army Pfc. James Clarence Stanford and Army Pvt. William Edward Watson.

Stanford was killed in action on July 16, 1950 while serving with the 19^th Infantry Regiment, 24^th Infantry Division in Taejon, Korea. Born on June 18, 1931 to John and Karlene Stanford, he was buried in the Friendship Baptist Church Cemetery in Pine Apple. He was just 19 years old at the time of his death.

Watson was killed in action on Sept. 4, 1951 while serving with the 17^th Infantry Regiment, 7^th Infantry Division in North Korea. Born on March 8, 1930 to Alco and Ada Watson, he was buried in the Antioch Baptist Church Cemetery at Ackerville. He was 21 years old at the time of his death.

In the end, if anyone in the reading audience knows of any other Korean War fatalities from Wilcox County, please let me know. Also, if you have any more information about the soldiers mentioned above, please pass it along to me. The Korean War is often called the “Forgotten War,” so let’s do our part to keep the memories of these men alive for future generations.