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A new memorial

Last Veterans Day, the first Korean War Memorial that lists the names of more than 36,000 U.S. military members killed in the war was unveiled in Fullerton. The names are on five large, black granite stars, each listing 7,500 service members who died. The $1 million cost for the wall was paid for by donations, including by the South Korean government.

Orange County resident Joe Pak was the inspiration for the newly dedicated memorial that took a dozen years to become reality. Pak, who had been in the U.S. for 52 years, told reporters at the dedication, “Even with the nearly 37,000 American casualties, the Korean War has been referred to as the ‘forgotten war.' It is not a forgotten war to us.”

A new film

“Devotion” is based on Adam Makos' bestselling book, “Devotion: An Epic Story of Heroism, Friendship, and Sacrifice.” According to Military.com, “Devotion” will be the first movie about the Korean conflict from a major studio since “Pork Chop Hill” starring Gregory Peck in 1959.

Lt. Jesse L. Brown, left, was the first African American aviator for the U.S. Navy.

Brown and his squadron were dispatched to the Chosin Reservoir, where approximately 100,000 Chinese troops had surrounded 15,000 U.S. troops. Brown and other pilots flew dozens air support missions to prevent the Chinese from overrunning the U.S. troops.

After Brown was shot down by enemy fire, his wingman Thomas Hudner crashed his own plane in an attempt to rescue his friend. Hudner was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions at the Battle of Chosin Reservoir on Dec. 4, 1950.

The film opens Thanksgiving weekend.

The U.S. Navy named a ship in honor of Lt. Jesse L. Brown. It was commissioned in 1973 and decommissioned in 1994.

MARK RIGHTMIRE, SCNG Joe Pak at the Fullerton Korean War Memorial dedication in 2021.