Special KWVA "W in Your Dream Vacation Fund-Raiser" Information ...

Memorial dedicated to Lt. Baldomero Lopez
The Lt. Baldomero Lopez, Medal of
Honor, dedication was held at the Tampa,
Florida Korean War Memorial on Veteran’s
Day, November 11, 2007. Lt. Lopez was
killed in action at the Incheon Landing on
September 15, 1950, during the initial landing.
He was the first Marine involved with
the United Nations Korean Offensive to
receive the Medal of Honor.
The monument in Lt. Lopez’s honor was
built through the cooperation of several
organizations. The Tampa Spanish-
American Centro Asturiano Club sponsored
a fund raiser at their beautiful facility in
Ybor City. Support was received from the
club members, the Korean Community of
Tampa, and KWVA Chapter 175, composed
of 45 members who have the dedication and
will of 100.
Chapter 175 felt Lt. Lopez did not
receive adequate recognition for his heroics,
and something needed to be done to correct
this injustice. The picture taken of the
Incheon Landing by a Navy photographer is
well known as the Korean War Official
Photograph. What is not as well known is
the fact that the Marine pictured was Lt.
Lopez leading his Marine squad over the sea
wall.
The rock mounted on the top of the monument
is an actual rock, weighing 150
pounds. It is from the area of the sea wall
where Lt. Lopez was leading his Marines.
The rock was presented to Chapter 175 by
the Mayor of Incheon, through the efforts of
Chapter 175 member Eddie Ko and his
brother-in- law, Harry Lee.
RIGHT: Grave of Lt.
Baldomero Lopez.
BELOW: Lt. Baldomero
Lopez, MOH
It was a major endeavor to acquire permission
to get and transport the rock from
the actual sea wall at Incheon Landing
which Lt. Lopez was mounting when he
was struck by enemy fire. The rock was
crated by Harry Lee, who lives in Seoul,
Korea; he shipped it to the U.S. in care of
Chapter 175. The cost for packaging and
shipping was over $1,000; Eddie Ko paid
this fee.
The Memorial Dedication speaker was
General David Garza, USMC, of Central
Command, MacDill Military Base. Also
present was Korean Brigadier General
Jeong, Yong Hong of Central Command.
Bagpipes were played.
The Hillsborough High School Band
performed the National Anthem, Stars and
Stripes Forever, and the school’s Alma
Mater. Lt. Lopez was a graduate of
Hillsborough High School, class of 1943.
Jim Springsteen, LtCol, USAF (Ret) also a
member of Chapter 175, served as Master
of Ceremonies.
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This is an actual picture of Lt. Lopez in an
attempt to throw the hand grenade—just seconds
before he was hit with enemy gun fire
May – June 2009
The Graybeards