A pair of local veterans were honored July 28 for their service in the Korean War.
Seward County brothers Merle and Loren Luebbe received special recognition coins issued by the state of Nebraska at the Garland Legion Post 369’s monthly meeting.
Presented to the brothers by Dan Kovar, a longtime member of Garland Post 369, the presentations came after Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen and the Nebraska Department of Veterans’ Affairs honored 82 other living Koren War veterans on July 24 at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln.
The Luebbes, however, were unable to attend that event, so the Garland post decided to present them their medals at the monthly meeting.
Loren Luebbe, 94 years old and a 1950 graduate of Seward High, was a member of the school’s Navy Reserve when he got called up and served as a welder on his ship, which he said bombed targets in Korea and also launched star shells at night so soldiers in the Army, such as his older brother, Merle, 98, could see to move positions.
Although they were both in Korea at the same time, the brothers never had a chance to visit while serving, and Merle said he didn’t even know his younger brother was also serving.
“I didn’t even know he was in the war,” Merle said. “I found out when I got home.
“It was really lucky that we both made it home safe and sound.”
“It took 70 years to get them this special day of recognition, and that’s a long time,” said Kovar, who didn’t served in the Korean War, but was in the Vietnam war.
He took Merle home after the ceremony and said Merle kept looking at his medal and seemed very proud of it.
