Korean War Markers and Memorials

A number of markers and memorials to members of the armed forces who served in the Korean War are located across Arkansas. While some of the monuments are standalone structures, others include Korean War veterans alongside service members from other conflicts, including World War II and the Vietnam War.

The Arkansas Korean War Veterans Memorial is located on the grounds of the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History in Little Rock (Pulaski County). Dedicated on June 25, 2007, the memorial includes three statues. One represents the military members who served in the conflict, one honors the Korean people, and one remembers the medical personnel who served during the war. Black granite stones include the names of 461 Arkansans who died in the conflict, and additional information on the war and participants is also included.

Located in the Fayetteville National Cemetery, an in-ground marker honors the men who served at the Chosin Reservoir during the conflict. A monument to the service members from Mississippi County who died in the conflict is located on the grounds of the county courthouse in Blytheville (Mississippi County). Listing the names of twenty service members, the granite monument includes an engraved eagle and stars. Another monument located in Osceola (Mississippi County) on the grounds of the other county courthouse lists the names of service members from the southern part of the county killed in the Korean War, as well as the world wars and Vietnam.

Several monuments include the names of Korean War–era veterans with those who served in other wars. Located on the grounds of the former Springdale High School in Springdale (Washington and Benton counties) is a marker listing the names of former students who lost their lives in both world wars, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.

Located on the grounds of the Baxter County Courthouse in Mountain Home, a memorial lists the names of members of the armed forces from that county who died in the Korean War, as well as the world wars and Vietnam. The three-panel granite monument includes an inscription from the people of Baxter County. A large three-panel monument is also located on the grounds of the Columbia County Courthouse in Magnolia. It lists the names of local service members killed in twentieth-century conflicts.

A brick memorial located in a square in Star City (Lincoln County), lists the names of service members from various conflicts, including the Korean War, who died in battle.

The Lonoke County War Memorial includes the names of six local service members who died in the Korean War. Dedicated on November 12, 1988, the monument also includes the names of citizens of the county who died in other wars. The Cross County Memorial is located on the grounds of the courthouse in Wynne. The dark granite monument lists the names of service members from the county who died in the world wars and Korea War, including non-battle-related deaths.

Other Korean War memorials take different forms. The post office in Stuttgart (Arkansas County) is named for Medal of Honor recipient Lloyd Burke. The USNS Gilliland is named in memory of Corporal Charles Leon Gilliland of Mountain Home who received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the conflict. The USNS Watkins is named for Master Sergeant Travis Watkins, who also received the Medal of Honor for his actions.

For additional information:
American Memorials Directory. http://www.americanmemorialsdirectory.com/arkansas.html (accessed October 15, 2019).

Arkansas Korean War Veterans Memorial. https://www.macarthurparklr.com/korean-war-veterans-memorial (accessed October 15, 2019).

David Sesser
Henderson State University