American Legion, KIA Honor Flag group pay tribute Sgt. Vernon Judd

Charita M. Goshay, The Repository
·4 min read
Chris Collins, with the KIA Honor Flag Organization, presents a signed KIA flag to the nephews of Army Sgt. Vernon Judd, a Korean War POW who died in North Korea in 1951. Ken Judd Jr., left, and Bill Moder accepted the flag during a ceremony Saturday at the American Legion Post 221 in Massillon.
Chris Collins, with the KIA Honor Flag Organization, presents a signed KIA flag to the nephews of Army Sgt. Vernon Judd, a Korean War POW who died in North Korea in 1951. Ken Judd Jr., left, and Bill Moder accepted the flag during a ceremony Saturday at the American Legion Post 221 in Massillon.

MASSILLON – Army Sgt. Vernon Judd, a young Korean War soldier from Sugar Creek Township whose remains were returned home in 2019, received another honor on Saturday when his family was presented with a Killed in Action Honor Flag.

Nearly 100 people, many of them veterans, attended the brief presentation at American Legion Post 221 led by Christopher Collins, a retired Army veteran with the KIA Honor Flag Organization.

Saturday's event marked the first such presentation in Ohio for a Korean War veteran.

Judd, who grew up in the tiny town of Elton in Sugar Creek Township, was captured about 70 years ago by the communist Chinese while serving in Korea. He was a member of Army Company D, 89th Medium Tank Battalion, 35th Infantry Division.

More: U.S. Army Sgt. Vernon Judd to be honored Saturday

More: Korean War POW's remains finally returning home to Ohio after nearly 70 years

Just 22, he died in a North Korean prison camp on Feb. 15, 1951.

In 2018, Judd was one of 55 soldiers whose remains were returned to the U.S. after former President Donald Trump met with North Korea President Kim Jong Un.

Judd was buried in the Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery in 2019 with full military honors.

Collins told the audience that the flag's colors — red and black — represent the bloodshed and mourning for the dead. The soldier with gold star represents the organization.

Sacred ground

Brittany Snee and her son Micha Snee, 3, stand for the color guard at American Legion Post No. 221 in Massillon at an event honoring the late Army Sgt. Vernon Judd of Sugar Creek Township, a Korean War POW who died in North Korea in 1951. His remains were returned in 2019.
Brittany Snee and her son Micha Snee, 3, stand for the color guard at American Legion Post No. 221 in Massillon at an event honoring the late Army Sgt. Vernon Judd of Sugar Creek Township, a Korean War POW who died in North Korea in 1951. His remains were returned in 2019.

Prior to the presentation, guests were invited to sign the flag. However, no signatures are permitted inside the flag's oval, which remains empty for the solider lost.

"It's sacred ground," said Collins, who pledged the organization's ongoing support to the Judd family.

"We will never forget him," he said. "You are now part of our family."

The flag and replica pins were presented to two of Judd's nephews, Ken Judd Jr. and Bill Moder, the oldest surviving relative who was 10 when his uncle, nicknamed "Bobo," was captured.

"He was mischievous," a smiling Moder said of his uncle. "He bought a motorcycle and and would give all of us kids rides."

Ken Judd said the stories he heard growing up described his uncle as a "daredevil."

"He was just a farm boy from Elton," he said. "A country boy. He couldn't wait to get back home so he could ride his motor scooter."

The family still has Judd's 1946 Cushman motor scooter, which they restored.

Moder said he was moved by the presentation.

"It brings a tear to your eye," he said. "I didn't serve in the military, but I believe in patriotism."

Jennifer Judd, a niece, agreed.

"I'm just moved by how privileged we all are," she said. "And by the generosity of people and their love for our family."

Guests enter Massillon's American Legion Post 221 on Saturday for a ceremony honoring the late Army Sgt. Vernon Judd of Sugar Creek Township, a Korean War POW who died in North Korea in 1951. His remains were returned in 2019.
Guests enter Massillon's American Legion Post 221 on Saturday for a ceremony honoring the late Army Sgt. Vernon Judd of Sugar Creek Township, a Korean War POW who died in North Korea in 1951. His remains were returned in 2019.

The Forgotten War

Among those who came to express thanks was retired Army Sgt. Johnnie Downs, who drove from Akron for the event. Downs said he served 32 years, including deployments in Vietnam, Operation Desert Storm and Afghanistan.

"They say the Korean War was 'the Forgotten War,'" Downs said. "I wanted to let Sgt. Judd know he is a not forgotten."

According the U.S. Department of Defense, about 40,000 Americans died in Korea between 1950 and 1953, including 4,127 who have been declared missing in action and presumed dead. An estimated 100,000 were wounded.

Mayor Kathy Catazaro-Perry said she was honored that the city was chosen to host the event, adding that she'd like to see similar presentations held at schools.

"It's outstanding, especially for the family," she said. "His last brother was still alive when they found him. You see it on TV, but it's important for people to understand that a great sacrifice has been made. It's such a blessing for this family, for closure."

Collins, a retired Army infantryman who lost 31 friends in Iraq and Afghanistan, said one of the group's goals, he said, is national recognition for the KIA flag. There are already plans, he said, to do at least one presentation in Ohio every month for the rest of the year.

"I do it because I have lost too many brothers-in-arms," he said. "I hate to see people forgetting our fallen heroes. I want Gold Star families to know someone cares."

To learn more, visit https://www.kiahonorflag.org.

Reach Charita at 330-580-8313 or charita.goshay@cantonrep.com

On Twitter: @cgoshayREP

This article originally appeared on The Repository: American Legion honors POW Vernon Judd who died in North Korea in 1951