Six Jewish Korean War veterans — Mel Cosner, Marvin Denton, Jack Hirsekorn, Bob Hoffman, Abe Levine and Stan Silverman — recently met at the Jewish Community Campus to recreate a photo taken in April 1952, 60 years ago, in Seoul, South Korea.
These Jewish men from Kansas City were all serving in the U.S. Army and were trucked to Seoul to be able to take part in a Passover service. Silverman and Cosner served in the same unit. The other four soldiers served in different units. In Seoul, Levine took one photo of the other five men, which was published in The Chronicle in 1952 as well as Stars and Stripes, the U.S. Army newspaper, and then again in The Chronicle’s 75th anniversary special edition in 1975. All of the six soldiers, except Levine, were 22 years old at the time the original photo was taken. Levine was 21.
The six vets believe a total of 800 Jewish soldiers were driven to Seoul for the service that day. Only a service was held, they were not served a Passover meal.
As far as memories of Korea itself, Denton said he still remembers that he’s never been as cold in his life as he was while serving in Korea.
“When I got home I got down on all fours, kissed the ground and said there is no other place like this country. People really don’t realize what we have.”