Soldier’s sacrifice to be honored
Sgt. Howard Belden of Hague died during Korean War battle
A Korean War soldier from Warren County whose remains were identified last year will be honored Tuesday in Albany.
Sgt. Howard R. Belden of Hague was classified as missing in action during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir on Dec. 1, 1950, according to the U.S. military. His remains were recovered in July 2018 and identified Oct. 14, 2021.
Veterans groups and elected leaders from Albany, Columbia,
Greene and Rensselaer counties and beyond will gather at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Albany’s Korean War Memorial on Madison Avenue between the State Museum and Swan Street for the 45minute ceremony. The local tribute is in advance of Belden’s burial May 12 with full military honors in Arlington National Cemetery, event organizers said.
Albany County Executive Dan McCoy will provide opening remarks and state Sen. Daniel Stec and Assemblyman Matthew Simpson will pay tribute to Belden with the New York State Liberty Award and an Assembly resolution to honor the soldier’s heroic service, which includes a Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster.
A second tribute will be at 6 p.m. Friday, April 22, in Veterans Memorial Park in Hague.
Casualties were high on both sides during the battle in a mountainous area where Belden was killed. Temperatures fell as low as minus 35 degrees. Belden’s body was lost in North Korea along with thousands of other combatants. He was 19 when he died.
Belden is at least the third area resident to have remains returned following a 2018 summit with North Korea. Army Cpl. Walter A. Smead, of Hadley, was identified in September, and Army Pfc. John Martin, of Schuylerville, was laid to rest in November 2018. The fighting in Korea ended in 1953.