Clallam County Proclaims Korean War Remembrance Day

Published 1:30 am Thursday, July 2, 2026

The Clallam County Board of Commissioners has officially proclaimed Korean War Remembrance Day, honoring the sacrifices of the thousands of American service members who fought during the Korean War, including six young men from Clallam County who gave their lives in service to their country.

The proclamation, signed June 23, 2026, recognizes the 75th anniversary of the conflict, which began on June 25, 1950, when the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) invaded the Republic of Korea (South Korea). Three days later, President Harry S. Truman ordered U.S. forces to support a United Nations Security Council resolution calling on member nations to defend South Korea.

County commissioners noted the tremendous cost of the war, particularly during 1952, when 2,630 American service members were killed in action, and another 1,338 were wounded. The proclamation references some of the war’s most significant battles, including Heartbreak Ridge, Pork Chop Hill, Old Baldy, Bunker Hill, Sniper Ridge, the Hook, and T-Bone Hill, where U.S. and allied forces fought under extremely difficult conditions.

Although an armistice was signed on July 27, 1953, bringing active combat to an end, the proclamation notes that the conflict claimed the lives of 33,628 members of the U.S. Armed Forces, with additional casualties occurring even after the truce.

More than six million Americans served during the Korean War, including approximately 122,000 from Washington state. Of those, 528 Washington service members lost their lives.

The proclamation also pays special tribute to six Clallam County residents who were killed in action between 1950 and 1951. Their names are displayed at the Veterans Memorial Center:

Robert Guy Price, U.S. Marine Corps, killed in action Nov. 30, 1950

Jack D. Sanders, U.S. Army, killed in action Sept. 16, 1950

Melvin E. Constable, U.S. Army, killed in action Feb. 15, 1951

Virgil L. Fisher, U.S. Army, killed in action April 5, 1951

Herman H. Hodge, U.S. Army, killed in action Sept. 29, 1950

George A. Svicarovich, U.S. Marine Corps, killed in action Dec. 6, 1950

In adopting the proclamation, the Clallam County Board of Commissioners encouraged all citizens to pause and remember the thousands of American service members who made the ultimate sacrifice during and after the Korean War.