Photo Gallery
Frederick W. Melhorn’s grave in Woodlawn Cemetery.
Frederick W. Melhorn’s grave in Woodlawn Cemetery.
Doug Engel telling Frederick W. Melhorn’s story in Woodlawn Cemetery.
Private First Class – Frederick Mehlhorn
Frederick attended Pine Ridge country school which was located just south of the farm. He attended grades one though eight, 1936 to 1944. This was the extent of his formal education. For the next seven years, he worked as a farmhand and general laborer in the local area.
On May 27, 1951, at age 21, Frederick was drafted into the U.S. Army. His service number was US551169556.
In Korea, the war was one year old. For that first year, both sides gained and lost territory. Seoul, the South Korean capital, changed hands four times.
The next two years of the war would be known as the “Hill Battles” or “stalemate.” The fighting would be along the 38th parallel which was a series of hills and valleys. The peace talks would begin in July 1951. The fighting would mainly be mortar duals, artillery barrages, patrols, ambushes, and skirmishes as each side would attempt to strengthen their positions along the 38th parallel. These hills and valley would be given names that would become familiar with the American public. Names such as Punch Bowl, Fools Mountain, Bloody Ridge, Heartbreak Ridge, Iron Triangle, Sniper Ridge, Suicide Hill, Pork Chop Hill, T-Bone Hill, and Old Baldy where PFC Mehlhorn’s life would end on August 28, 1952.
Upon being drafted, Frederick completed 14 weeks of basic combat training and infantry training stateside. After a short leave at home, he arrived in Korea in October 1951. He was assigned to K Company, 3rd Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. For the first six months, he was located on the 38th parallel near “Old Baldy.” He was involved in daily contact with the enemy.
In mid-April 1952, his regiment was pulled off the line and sent to Koje-do Island POW camp located off the south coast of Korea near Pusan. Rioting had broken out among the 140,000 prisoners. Frederick’s 38th Regiment was there from mid-April 1952 until June 1952 with orders to quell the rioting.
In July 1952, the Regiment returned to the 38th parallel in the vicinity of “Old Baldy.” In the nine-month period from June 1952 to March 1953, there were five battles for “Old Baldy” and when it was over, the battle lines hadn’t changed. During these five battles, 307 Americans and 1100 Chinese died. Sadly, PFC Frederick W. Mehlhorn was killed on August 28, 1952.
Two months later on Tuesday October 28, 1952, Frederick’s remains, escorted by SGT Clyde P. Slaton, arrived at the train station in Shawano. The wake was held that evening at Karth Funeral Home. The next day, Wednesday, October 29, 1952, the funeral was held at St. Martin Lutheran Church in Belle Plaine with Reverand L.C. Bernthal officiating. Pallbearers were Gerald Riley, George Merrill, Charles Engel, Donald Gutt, Arthur Pahr, and David H. Winter. Burial was at Woodlawn Cemetery in Shawano.
On September 27, 1952, Shawano Veterans Service Officer, Gerald Riley, ordered the white marble grave stone. Within a few months it arrived at the train station from Green Mountain, Vermont.
PFC Frederick W. Mehlhorn was 22 years, 7 months, and 14 days old. He had been in the army for 15 months and had been in Korea for 10 months, two month short of coming home. Today, “Old Baldy” is located on the North Korean side of the 38th parallel. The west has no access to this area.