Community fetes Korean War Vet Jack P. Tolbert

Photo courtesy of Song Kim

From left, emcees John Cleckner and Kim Chamberlain explain the symbolism of the newest generation of Korean-American children -- represented here by Gina Kim, 3, and Jacob Walker, 5, wearing traditional garb -- as they handed "thank you" bouquets of freshly-cut flowers to Korean War Veteran Jack Tolbert and his wife, Gladys. Tolbert lost both of his legs June 11, 1953, during the Siege of Outpost Harry near Changwa, Korea, when he jumped onto a Chinese grenade in an effort to save the lives of fellow U.S. Army soldiers standing nearby.

One of the most touching moments in a more than four-hour tribute to the valor and heroism of Korean War Veteran Jack P. Tolbert came midway through the ceremony held Saturday, Oct. 24, as two adorable Korean-American children, Gina Kim, 3, and Jacob Walker, 5, each dressed in traditional Korean fashion, carried bouquets of fresh flowers down the aisle towards Tolbert and his wife Gladys.

"These children represent the next generation to flourish as a result of your self-sacrifice to fight for freedom in a country you had never heard of and for people you had never met," said emcee Kim Chamberlain, who helped organize the event that featured a presentation by Maeng-ho Shin, deputy consul general for the Korean Consulate in San Francisco.

Other moments throughout the evening evoked powerful emotions as well, but none so filled with hope for the future and genuine thanks for the past.

Jack Tolbert was a young U.S. Army Sgt. First Class serving on the front lines June 10-11, 1953, when he threw himself upon a Chinese hand grenade in order to save the lives of other American G.I.s fighting nearby.

Tolbert has said in repeated interviews throughout his life that in the two or three seconds that he had to react to the thrown grenade, instinct took over.

Yes, he realized in that very act that he might very well give the ultimate sacrifice - his own life - to save a fellow American or two.

The fact that Tolbert survived the blast, losing both legs and very nearly losing his right arm in the process, does not diminish for one moment, however, the conspicuous courage, consummate valor and noble self-sacrifice.

For his incredible act of heroism, Tolbert was awarded the Order of the Purple Heart for his wounds and received the Army's Distinguished Service Cross.

Why Tolbert did not receive a Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions - replicated by at least 74 Vietnam War recipients of similar medals who did no more and no less than Tolbert had done - remains a mystery of military bureaucracy.

Some veterans advocates who have reviewed the seemingly endless trail of paperwork have concluded that a lack of English proficiency on the part of Tolbert's commanding officer played a hand in the delay of field reports that also lacked key information corroborating the events of that fateful day.

Whatever the case, Shasta County's patriots and veterans organizations joined forces to rally around one of their own.

Not one to drown in self-pity and take advantage of the system, Tolbert, now 86, acquired two prosthetic limbs, taught himself to walk with them and made a respectable career for himself repairing small engines.

More than 40 members of the Tolbert's extended family were on hand when the accolades, plaques and stories of tribute showered down.