Black Hills Honor Roll event on Veterans Day Nov. 11 in Memorial Park

Over 700 names are listed on 6 majestic BH walls of granite, surrounded by the six military service flags, as well as the official POW/MIA and SD state flags, that both fly together below the large US flag at the monument site in Memorial Park in Rapid City. (Photo courtesy of Ed Manzano)

With the imminent completion of the Black Hills War Monument in Memorial Park near downtown Rapid City, the Black Hills Veterans Association, a local organization focused on veterans issues, has kicked off the Black Hills Honor Roll, a program to ensure we pause to remember all who left family and home to fight in our nation’s wars and never returned home.

The BHVA meets regularly at the VFW Post 1273 to discuss veteran’s affairs and receives updates from local legislators on medical care, benefits and other issues important to military retirees and veterans.

A BHVA member describes the Honor Roll program. “We go through the list of 700 names engraved on the walls of the war monument and choose four names that are sent each month to local media in a news story”, said Ed Manzano, a local USAF retiree. “The Honor Roll names and stories of these local military heroes will help ensure our citizens NEVER FORGET the price that has been paid for our freedom”.

As the former President of the BH War Monument Association that built the monument in Memorial Park, Mr Manzano has researched Rapid City’s long history of honoring our local veterans. “After WWII, when the military members returned from overseas, a group of Rapid City citizens built the Pennington County Honor Roll, a hexagon shaped structure that listed over 3500 names of soldiers, sailors and airmen who served in WWII, with a star by each name of those who were killed in action.” (see photo). Mr Manzano’s research through the archives of the RCJ has produced photos of the original Honor Roll structure that stood in Halley Park from 1946-1963. “Unfortunately”, continues Mr Manzano, “the original structure was built of wood and only lasted 17 years.” But in 1963, local veterans groups tore down the wood structure and erected a wall of bricks with a bronze plaque that still stands today at the same location under the US flag that flies in Halley Park. “However, the names that once stood were not included”. (see photo)

“So when the BH War Monument Association made the plan to upgrade the Veterans Memorial in Memorial Park, which was done in 1991 during Desert Storm/first Iraq War, our 2022 upgrade included listing the names of not only our county’s war dead, but expanding the list to include surrounding Black Hills counties and towns such as Custer, Sturgis, Lead-Deadwood, Belle Fourche, Hot Springs, and many others.”

Today over 700 names are listed on 6 majestic BH walls of granite, surrounded by the six military service flags, as well as the official POW/MIA and SD state flags, that both fly together below the large US flag at the monument site.

“A nice feature of the granite walls will be the future addition of ceramic tiles with a QR code embedded in each wall. When a photo is taken of the wall, the code produces a website URL on the phone screen, and this takes the viewer to the bhwma.org website where they can click on each name and see the individual military member’s military history and legacy”. We wanted to not just have the names, but the stories behind each name, says Mr Manzano.

“We have names and histories of local military who died at Chateau Woods France, during WWI; at Pearl Harbor on Dec 7, 1941 and at DDay on June 6, 1944; at Okinawa and Iwo Jima in 1945; names from the Battle of Chosin Reservoir in the Korean War in 1950; 19 names from local EAFB Cold War missions, such as BGen Richard Ellsworth who died in service to his county in 1953; , 47 names from the Vietnam War; 16 names of local military from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; the names of the Kabul 13, the young Marines who died in August 2021 at the airport in Kabul, Afghanistan. The final sixth wall lists over 100 local Prisoners of War who died in captivity as well as many military listed Missing in Action.”

Mr Manzano concludes, “Our goal in publishing the four names each month is simply to bring public awareness of the monument site, and to help all of us who love our nation and relish our freedom NEVER FORGET that freedom is not free. We hope parents and grandparents will bring their children and grandchildren to the monument site and show them the names and histories of these brave men and women who served in time of war.” Special days such as Memorial Day, Veterans Day, Flag Day, Armed Forces Day, and national POW/MIA recognition Day, are excellent opportunities to visit the monument site and honor the memories of these Black Hills fallen heroes.

“Another way we will honor them will be the first annual Mary V Piper Freedom Essay Contest, for local hs students. The winning essay writer will receive a cash prize and/or gift certificate and the opportunity to read their essay in 2023 at the official monument dedication ceremony on Memorial Day.”

NOTE: A Veterans Day ceremony is planned for Nov 11, 2022 from 9-9:30am at the War Monument site, near the corners of Omaha St and 6th St, in Memorial Park. The public is invited to attend, a local veteran will speak on freedom, and the sacrificial service of all military veterans will be remembered. For more information, visit the website of the War Monument Association at www.bhwma.org. Individuals can make a tax deductible donation in the memory of any name listed on the BH Honor Roll, address to mail a check is listed on the website, or call 605-209-6283 for more info or email info@bhwma.org.

BLACK HILLS HONOR ROLL NOVEMBER 2022

SSgt Russell W White, Hot Springs SD KIA November 9, 1943

US Army 34th Inf Div, 109th Engineer Combat Battalion

Awarded Purple Heart and Silver Star

www.honorstates.org/index.php?id=81632

www.findagrave.com/memorial/56315753/russell-w-white

Maj Evart E Robeson, 35, Rapid City, SD KIA 11/25/67 Vietnam War.

He served in the US Army, 187th Assault Helicopter Co, 269th Aviation Battalion, 1st Aviation Brigade. Awarded the Bronze Star, Air Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, & Purple Heart. Buried at the BH National Cemetery.

www.honorstates.org/index.php?id=364587

www.findagrave.com/memorial/155062246/evart-eugene-robeson

S1C Frank E Christenson Whitewood, SD MIA November 24, 1944

US Navy Seaman First Class Purple Heart USS Liscombe

www.honorstates.org/index.php?id=81909

www.findagrave.com/memorial/56117757/frank-ewing-christenson

KOREAN WAR: CPL Eugene E Rowland Ogl Lakota Cy KIA 6 Nov 1950

USMC Company I, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division

Awarded ★ Silver Star ★ Purple Heart

www.honorstates.org/index.php?id=5757

Silver Star citation: www.findagrave.com/memorial/32406483/eugene-edward-rowland

CPL Eugene Rowland

Eugene Edward Rowland was born on September 20, 1928. According to our records South Dakota was his home or enlistment state and Shannon County included within the archival record. We have Pine Ridge listed as the city.

SERVICE

He had enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. Served during the Korean War. Rowland had the rank of Corporal. Service number assignment was 605440. Attached to Company I, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division.

CASUALTY

During his service in the Korean War, Marine Corps Corporal Rowland experienced a traumatic event which ultimately resulted in loss of life on November 6, 1950. Recorded circumstances attributed to: Killed in Action. Incident location: Korea.

DETAILS

On November 6, 1950, he singlehandedly delivered effective machine-gun fire on the enemy from an exposed position permitting an adjacent friendly platoon to evacuate its position. Upon completion of his mission he was mortally wounded.

REMEMBERED

Eugene is remembered at the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington. This is a National Parks Service and American Battle Monuments Commission location.

COMMENDATIONS

★ Silver Star

★ Purple Heart

★ Combat Action Ribbon

★ Korean Service Medal

★ National Defense Service Medal

★ Republic of Korea Presidential Citation

★ Republic of Korea War Service Medal

★ United Nations Service Medal

★ Marine Corps Presidential Unit Citation

★ Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal

★ Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal