Forgotten Bronx Korean War Heroes Honored at Memorial Day Weekend Ceremony

This weekend, a series of events sponsored by Congressman José E. Serrano (D-NY) and The Friends of Charlton Gardens, a South Bronx veterans group, brought new attention to a little known public space and to the heroic but largely forgotten stories of two Bronxites who died in the service of their country.

Both Sergeant Cornelius H. Charlton and Pfc. William Thompson were living in the South Bronx when they volunteered for service in Korea.  The two were the only African-Americans awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor during the Korean War.  Both died from wounds sustained while exhibiting extraordinary courage during battles at Chipo-ri and Hanan, respectively.

Charlton’s and Thompson’s stories faded into history before being rediscovered by a group of dedicated local veterans.  The veterans formed The Friends of Charlton Garden, committed to the celebration of their legacy and the building of a memorial at Charlton Garden in the Morrisania section of the Bronx.  The Garden had been named after Sergeant Charlton in the immediate aftermath of the war, but had long-since fallen into disrepair.  Memorial Day Weekend events at the Garden sponsored by Congressman Serrano and The Friends highlighted their story and celebrated the sacrifices of Korean War veterans from the borough while reenergizing efforts to build a memorial there.

“Today we have gathered here to pay tribute to these two individuals,” Serrano told the crowd of approximately 60 veterans and community members who gathered at the Garden on Saturday, “but we are also here to honor the many other brave sons of the Bronx who wore our country’s uniform proudly and with distinction during the Korean War.  Their stories are uniquely American and we must never forget their sacrifice for our freedom, especially at a time when their freedoms were not being fully respected here at home.  The Bronx honors them, and our nation honors them.” 

Saturday’s ceremony included a singing of the National Anthem by New York City Police Officer Joaquin Sepulveda, a Color Guard ceremony led by the Fort Hamilton Joint Services Color Guard, an invocation by VFW Chaplain Minister William Shoates, a playing of Taps by a member of Disabled American Veterans, Ronald Cruz, a 21-gun salute from soldiers of the US Army Garrison at Fort Hamilton, a reading by cadets of the Army JROTC at Morris High School of the names of the 112 Bronxites killed during the Korean War, and remarks from Korean War veterans Leroy Archible, Robert Gumbs, and Antony Melé.  The day before, volunteers from the community cleaned and re-painted Charlton Garden during a joint beautification effort led by City Year and the City Parks Department.

Archible, the President of the Friends of Charlton Garden, exhorted the crowd to “Never forget.  These guys are part of our history and they deserve to be remembered for their sacrifice.  We’re going to make this memorial a reality.”

Photos and videotape of the ceremony are available upon request.  Some photos are also made available in the “Photo Gallery” section of our website.  For more information abut Charlton Garden, see: http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_your_park/historical_signs/hs_historical_sign.php?id=8757. 

For more information about Charlton and Thompson, see: http://www.medalofhonor.com/AfricanAmericanKoreanWar.htm.

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Congressman Serrano has represented the Bronx in Congress since 1990.  He is a Vietnam War-era veteran and is a member of the Public Service Caucus which promotes service programs such as Americorps and its successful City Year program.