News : Korean War veteran receives honor from all local veterans organizations

The official Korean War medal

A variety of pins and medals commemmorate Lee Laton's military service

WWII and Korea War veteran Lee Laton poses with the medals and other honors he received.

Legion member Paul Coyle reads the certificate honoring Lee Laton for his Korean War service.

AMVETS member Denny Miller presents Lee Laton an honorary lifetime membership in that group.

The Legion Hall was filled with veterans, family and friends to honor Lee Laton for his service.

Lee Laton was unable to attend the Iowa ceremony honoring Korean War veterans, so Vinton veterans brought the ceremony to him.

The local Legion, VFW and AMVETS post held a special ceremony to honor Laton, whom fellow Navy veteran Don Roepke described as a “BB stacker,” or someone who loaded weapons.

Laton served in World War II, where he spent a few days on Iwo Jima, after the historic flag raising. He then served on a navy airship, and spent time as a gunner during the Korean War.

A long-time member of the American Legion Post 57, Laton also received two honorary lifetime memberships in the other two local veterans groups

“I don’t know why we never invited Le to join AMVETS,” said Denny Miller. Miller, a long-time AMVETS member, presented Laton a certificate.

Roepke, a long-time local and state VFW leader, said the National VFW Commander-in-Chief will soon visit Vinton to present Laton his honorary lifetime membership.

Vinton-Shellsburg High School teacher Kelly Steffen told the audience that Laton is one of many area veterans who help bring history to life by telling them stories they otherwise only would read in history books.

The U.S. Department of Defense honored the living Korean War veterans of the state with a special ceremony July 14 at Drake University. More than 85,000 Iowans fought in Korea from 1950-1954. See a Radio Iowa story about that ceremony HERE.

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