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July 8, 1999
Staff photo by Steve Muscatello Leroy Bock of Lamberton recently received a Purple Heart for being wounded during the Korean War in 1951. He built a monument in his yard that honors his war buddies who died in Korea. Veteran receivesPurple Heart --48 years laterBy GUY PRIEL Journal Staff Writer LAMBERTON -- In our nation's capital stands a relatively new memorial dedicated to what many Americans refer to as America's Forgotten War, the Korean War. It may be forgotten by many, but to one Lamberton man, it will never be forgotten. He has his memories and, thanks to U.S. Congressman David Minge, he now has his Purple Heart. Leroy Bock, 71, a native of Wabasso, received his Purple Heart for being wounded in combat during a ceremony in Redwood Falls Wednesday night. The honor comes 48 years late due to administrative oversight. Bock was drafted into the Army toward the beginning of the Korean War. After basic training, he was shipped to Korea, where he arrived in April 1951. He served in the First Cavalry Division of the United States Army. "I was on the front lines the whole time I was in Korea," he said. "I saw a lot of combat, and I also saw a lot of my buddies get killed." He was wounded in August while trying to take Hill 347 during face-to-face combat while in the midst of small arms fire. "We didn't get hit the first time we tried to take the hill, but there was a lot of shrapnel flying while we on the hill," he said. A member of his division got killed on the hill, and he saw another one die about 2 feet away. "I got hit in the hand with a piece of the flying shrapnel and reported to the aid station for treatment," Bock said. "I was immediately sent back to the front line." He spent eight months on the front lines and was wounded only once. The administrative error occurred because the officers staffing the aid station forgot to record his name among the wounded. "It felt strange to me because I knew a man who was wounded in the conflict and he got his medal right away," he said. "People forget about you when you don't get recognized right away." But, in Bock's case, people refused to forget about the injury he received during combat. Some of his companions started writing letters to the government stating that Bock had been wounded in combat, but never received the Purple Heart. The letters were brought to the attention of Minge, who petitioned the Army to review its records so the oversight could be corrected, Minge spokesman Jason Kelly said. Upon careful review of the matter, the Department of Defense agreed that Bock had indeed been wounded and deserved to receive the Purple Heart. "My service officer called me a couple of weeks ago and told me about the error and that I would receive the medal," Bock said. "It felt good to be notified of that." Serving his country was an honor that Bock felt needed to be done at the time. He admits the experience was scary, but he made a lot of friends. Although he received an infantry combat badge, which simply recognizes his participation in combat. The Purple Heart means he was wounded and is considered a higher honor. In front of his house stands a granite plaque Bock erected five years ago to honor the memory of his friends who gave their lives in the Korean War in defense of their country. For a while he placed flags around the plaque every day. However, that task soon became too much trouble for him because of the effort involved in removing them when the weather changed. The plaque is listed in the Southwest Minnesota travel brochure, and visitors stop to look at the plaque throughout the year.
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