The Keough Corner: The Oregon Korean War Veterans' Memorial at Willamette National Cemetery

Oregon Korean War Veterans' Memorial
Memorial Day 2014

Willamette National Cemetery in Portland, Oregon is one of three Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemeteries located in Oregon. Willamette National Cemetery is the largest Veterans Cemetery on the West Coast. Authorized by the Secretary of War in 1941, it remained unfunded due to the United States' efforts in World War II. The State of Oregon donated a total of 201 acres between 1949-1952 and construction began in 1950. Burials began in 1951. In 1997 and again in 2011 additional land was purchased to expand for current and future needs. Today the Cemetery is is contained on 307 acres. Willamette National Cemetery is designated a Blue Star Memorial Highway site.

One war memorial - the Oregon Korean War Veterans' Memorial - is located at Willamette National Cemetery. On June 22, 1996 it was dedicated to the Oregon Veterans who participated in the Korean War. The memorial consists of a central bronze relief and the eight side panels (four on each side of the central memorial) list the names of 287 military personnel who answered the call and made the ultimate sacrifice for their County.

As part of the ongoing Honor Roll Project of blogger Heather Wilkinson Rojo of Nutfield Genealogy, this Memorial Day 2014, I went to Willamette National Cemetery, took photos of the memorial, and transcribed the names that appear on it.

Notes:
The individuals are listed by surname, given name and initial, branch of service (there is one medal of honor recipient, indicated by MOH). The branches of service are: USAF (Air Force), USA (Army), USMC (Marine Corps) USN (Navy). I transcribed the names in the order they appear (there are nine names out of alphabetical order and I have put an asterisk * beside those names).