Postal facility named for Korean War hero

Army medic Richard Wilson died 54 years ago trying to save the life of a wounded comrade in a barrage of gun and mortar fire in the Korean War.

On Wednesday, federal officials and family members remembered Wilson as a hero at a ceremony renaming the U.S. Postal Service processing center in Cape Girardeau after the city's only Medal of Honor recipient.

U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson called Wilson "a true hero."

Said Emerson, "He was a proud American."

The congresswoman told the crowd of about 100 people that Wilson's selfless actions are a reminder of American patriotism. Those in the crowd included the Cape Girardeau Central High School choir, which performed patriotic music.

Several military buildings around the country have been named for Wilson, who grew up in Cape Girardeau. But the postal facility is the first building in Cape Girardeau to be named for him.

"It's a great honor," brother Ron Wilson of Cape Girardeau said after the ceremony. A television cameraman for KFVS12, Wilson videotaped the ceremony for the nightly news. He said he was more at home behind the camera than in front of it.

Jo Anne Duncan of Santa Cruz, Calif., said her brother would have been honored by the recognition, which featured the unveiling of a plaque bearing his name.

"In today's vernacular, he might have said he would be 'blown away,'" Duncan told the crowd.

Loved serving in the Army

She was only 13 when her brother, who was 19, died in a valley near Opari, Korea. But she said she remembers her brother loved serving in the Army.

"I remember him coming home on leave. He was so proud to be in that uniform," Duncan said.

She said she hoped that naming the postal service building after her brother would also serve to honor "all of our soldiers and all of our military."

Ormer Rogers Jr., U.S. Postal Service district manager from Kansas City, said gloomy weather couldn't take away from the ceremony inside the processing center. "Even with a cloud outside, there is sunshine here," he said to the seated crowd.

Robert Bunn, commander of American Legion Post 63 in Cape Girardeau, said the Medal of Honor is the highest honor that any American can receive from his government.

Richard Wilson was unarmed when he went to assist an injured soldier on Oct. 21, 1950, despite the protests of fellow soldiers who urged him to stay back.

Two days later, a patrol found Wilson beside the man he had returned to aid. Wilson had been shot several times while trying to shield and administer aid to the wounded man.

"He did not carry a gun. He died saving lives," Ron Wilson said.

Wednesday's ceremony culminated a petition campaign by former Cape Girardeau postal worker and retired Navy man Tony Carroll to get the facility named after Richard Wilson.

Carroll said he and other postal workers wanted the building named after a veteran. Carroll collected more than 800 signatures on a petition to Congress, including 121 Missouri legislators.

Congress officially approved the name change on June 25.

mbliss@semissourian.com

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