helmmerryValley City  (CSi)  The Barnes County Historical Society Lecture Series Season 18 Presents: Merry Helm: “Revealing the Hidden Heroes of the Korean War” 7 P.M. Thursday, December 10, 2015 at the Barnes County Museum.

Did you know?

Sgt. Gordon Mohr, the first American to be wounded in the Korean War – and also the first to be awarded the Silver Star – was from Minot. Lt. Col. Fritz Mudgett, a decorated WWII veteran from Valley City, was Assistant Commander of the first American units to engage the North Koreans, calling the desperate situation “a hell of a way to go to war.” Lt. Col. Carl Jensen, Wells County, received the Distinguished Service Cross in his very first day of leading troops in combat. Williston native Lt. Col. Gilbert Check also received the Distinguished Service Cross in his first-ever combat action, with his battalion of “Wolfhounds” quickly becoming General “Bulldog” Walker’s “fire brigade.” Lt. Col. Harold Johnson, Grafton, was a survivor of the Bataan Death March in WWII. Stationed in Massachusetts when the war broke out, he was given the impossible mission of building a full cavalry battalion ready for deployment from California in two weeks. At the time he had only 75 men under his command. Also the recipient of a Distinguished Service Cross, Johnson’s green troops went straight into the front lines and held back the North Koreans for 11 straight days and nights, successfully saving the critical supply crossroads at Taegu. Then there was Pvt. John Belgarde, a quiet teenager from Dunseith who expected to die when he went to Korea. Instead, he quickly advanced up the ranks to lead a full platoon, saying, “We lost so many men we were like flies under a flyswatter.”

Korean War historian Merry Helm, Fargo, brings these and other regional men men to light when she comes to Valley City to discuss the first volume of her new series Prairie Boys at War. Maj. Gen. Michael Haugen (NDNG ADJ Ret) calls the book an eye opener, while other reviewers use words like dynamite, fantastic, riveting and amazing. Even if you’re not a history buff, you won’t want to miss this presentation and book signing.

About the Author

Merry Helm started her writing career in the 1990s, working from Fargo as a screenwriter for Hollywood productions. She was also the original writer of Dakota Datebook, aired daily on Prairie Public Radio. It was her work on Datebook that led to her discovery of a Wahpeton man, Master Sergeant Woodrow Keeble, who had twice been recommended for the Medal of Honor in Korea — but both recommendations were reported lost. Helm conducted an investigation into Keeble’s case, with her research contributing to a larger effort that successfully led to the posthumous award of the Medal of Honor to this courageous Sioux warrior in 2008. The experience triggered Helm’s interest in Korea, and her subsequent research defies the popular notion that this war was an inconsequential police action. To the contrary, roughly one thousand American lives were lost per month, with thousands still listed as missing in action. She intends to continue this series until she has covered the entire three-year war.

The public is cordially invited to attend this event, which will appeal to a broad audience. Helm will have this title and others available for sale after the event. The cost of this volume is 21.95. It can also be purchased at www.prairieboybooks.com or ordered through local bookstores.

All Lectures are at the Barnes County Historical Society Museum and held in conjunction with Valley City State University. They are free and open to the public.