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By Jim Carney
Beacon Journal staff writer
POSTED: 11:44 a.m. EDT, Apr 30, 2009
Three area men are among 20 veterans who will be inducted into the Ohio Military Hall of Fame in ceremonies Friday morning in Columbus.
Included in the Class of 2009 are a Korean War veteran who died two years ago and two Vietnam veterans.
Inductee Robert H. Walker, an Akron native now living in Cordova, Tenn., received the Distinguished Service Cross for actions March 17, 1969, in Dinh Tuong Province in Vietnam.
Walker, 64, a 1962 graduate of Kenmore High School, works for FedEx and was a first lieutenant when he received his Distinguished Service Cross.
Upon landing for a raid, the team leader and radio-telephone operator were killed, and Walker assumed command, according to his citation.
''While his men fired upon the enemy, Lieutenant Walker crawled forward and destroyed the emplacements with two hand grenades,'' the citation reads.
As the battle continued, Walker saw that the Viet Cong were going to take the remains of the two soldiers in his unit who had been killed. Walker ''directed his men to drive the enemy away while he crawled outside the permitter to save both bodies, as well as their equipment,'' the citation reads.
Chester P. Larson, Jr., 63, of Brewster, served in Vietnam from 1967 to 1968 and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with ''V'' Device.
Retired as a train engineer and dispatcher, Larson was a first lieutenant when he was discharged from the Army.
His Bronze Star was awarded for actions south of Phu Long in July 1967.
''Seeing that the first platoon was pinned down by heavy automatic fire, Lieutenant Larson without regard for his own personal safety, exposed himself by running across an open rice paddy,'' the narrative for his citation reads. ''Upon reaching his platoon, he directed fire upon the enemy's position causing them to retreat.''
The Stark County resident said he is proud of the award but thinks of the soldiers he served with who never came home.
''Most of the guys will tell you that most of the heroes didn't walk back, and some of them are still over there,'' Larson said.
Army Cpl. Joseph Gaborsky Jr., an inductee who died two years ago, also was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with ''V'' Device.
He grew up in Rittman and lived much of his life in the Wadsworth area, said his widow, Ann Gaborsky.
After he was wounded in Korea, he spent two years recovering from his wounds, Mrs. Gaborsky said.
Gaborsky died in June 2007 at age 78. He was a packaging designer who also worked in real estate, his wife said.
''Corporal Gaborsky's courage amid disregard for his personal safety served as an inspiration to his fellow soldiers,'' said the citation given to him with the hall of fame induction.
Friday's event, at 11:30 a.m. at Veterans Plaza at the Ohio Statehouse, is the 10th annual induction ceremony.
This year's class brings the number of veterans in the hall of fame to 161. Five of the inductees have received the Congressional Medal of Honor.
For more information, go to http://www.ohioheroes.org.
Jim Carney can be reached at 330-996-3576 or jcarney@thebeaconjournal.com.
Three area men are among 20 veterans who will be inducted into the Ohio Military Hall of Fame in ceremonies Friday morning in Columbus.
Included in the Class of 2009 are a Korean War veteran who died two years ago and two Vietnam veterans.
Inductee Robert H. Walker, an Akron native now living in Cordova, Tenn., received the Distinguished Service Cross for actions March 17, 1969, in Dinh Tuong Province in Vietnam.
Walker, 64, a 1962 graduate of Kenmore High School, works for FedEx and was a first lieutenant when he received his Distinguished Service Cross.
Upon landing for a raid, the team leader and radio-telephone operator were killed, and Walker assumed command, according to his citation.
''While his men fired upon the enemy, Lieutenant Walker crawled forward and destroyed the emplacements with two hand grenades,'' the citation reads.
As the battle continued, Walker saw that the Viet Cong were going to take the remains of the two soldiers in his unit who had been killed. Walker ''directed his men to drive the enemy away while he crawled outside the permitter to save both bodies, as well as their equipment,'' the citation reads.
Chester P. Larson, Jr., 63, of Brewster, served in Vietnam from 1967 to 1968 and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with ''V'' Device.
Retired as a train engineer and dispatcher, Larson was a first lieutenant when he was discharged from the Army.
His Bronze Star was awarded for actions south of Phu Long in July 1967.
''Seeing that the first platoon was pinned down by heavy automatic fire, Lieutenant Larson without regard for his own personal safety, exposed himself by running across an open rice paddy,'' the narrative for his citation reads. ''Upon reaching his platoon, he directed fire upon the enemy's position causing them to retreat.''
The Stark County resident said he is proud of the award but thinks of the soldiers he served with who never came home.
''Most of the guys will tell you that most of the heroes didn't walk back, and some of them are still over there,'' Larson said.
Army Cpl. Joseph Gaborsky Jr., an inductee who died two years ago, also was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with ''V'' Device.
He grew up in Rittman and lived much of his life in the Wadsworth area, said his widow, Ann Gaborsky.
After he was wounded in Korea, he spent two years recovering from his wounds, Mrs. Gaborsky said.
Gaborsky died in June 2007 at age 78. He was a packaging designer who also worked in real estate, his wife said.
''Corporal Gaborsky's courage amid disregard for his personal safety served as an inspiration to his fellow soldiers,'' said the citation given to him with the hall of fame induction.
Friday's event, at 11:30 a.m. at Veterans Plaza at the Ohio Statehouse, is the 10th annual induction ceremony.
This year's class brings the number of veterans in the hall of fame to 161. Five of the inductees have received the Congressional Medal of Honor.
For more information, go to http://www.ohioheroes.org.
Jim Carney can be reached at 330-996-3576 or jcarney@thebeaconjournal.com.
Comments
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Akron, Oh
Posted 12:30 PM, 04/30/2009
Thank you to all the vets out there
Cuyahoga Falls, OH
Posted 02:03 PM, 04/30/2009
Being a Vet myself and my husband currently in Iraq and my youngest leaving for the Air Force I am proud to read this article. Again Thank You to all of the Vets
burlington, nc
Posted 03:11 PM, 04/30/2009
Salute to my Brothers in arms.
Akron, OH
Posted 04:35 PM, 04/30/2009
Ohio has a military hall of fame? Well I didn't know!
