Local man fighting for comrade in arms
Thirty-four years after he left Vietnam, Frank Korona of Georges Township is helping a comrade be recognized for valiant action during the war. Korona, 59, now the cooperative education coordinator at Fayette County Area Vocational-Technical School, has given a statement on behalf of the late Dr. William Illingworth of Bedford County, regarding combat action against intense enemy fire they were both involved in on Oct. 12, 1970.
The statement is being used to nominate Illingworth for a Silver Star.
Illingworth received several honors during the war, including the Purple Heart, after he lost a foot when he stepped on a land mine on a later mission. But Illingworth, who died last year, never received a Silver Star for action on Oct. 12, 1970. Illingworth was nominated for the Silver Star once before but did not receive the honor because more eyewitnesses were needed.
Korona is now offering assistance. “Bill was one of the most outstanding officers I knew. The guy cared,’ said Korona, who himself was awarded a Silver Star from that day, his first in the field. “When he got his foot blown off, my platoon was supposed to go in first. I was just in the country a month. He said, ‘I know the country. I’ll take the lead.’ He hit a trap, a dirty trap with nails and feces. I put him on a chopper. That was the last time I saw him, November 1970.’
During a recent interview at his home with his wife, Kathy, Korona explained that he served with the Americal Division, also known as 23rd Infantry, with the 11th Light Infantry Brigade, 1/20 of Battalion, B (Bravo) Company. Korona served in Vietnam from September 1970 to July 1971 as an infantry platoon leader, infantry company commander and a battalion reconnaissance (Recon) platoon leader.
Korona and Illingworth were both platoon leaders when they met the night of Oct. 11. Illingworth later wrote a poem about that meeting and the next day’s action called “A Silver Star and Fifty Cents,’ which reads in part: “My steel blue eyes met his warm brown gaze. He was frightened by the coldness in me. ‘What’s it like to shoot a guy? How’s it feel to almost die?’ I could not reply. There was no feel left in this ice cold guy.’
Korona declined to talk about the action on Oct. 12, 1970. The memories are still painful. But the Koronas did offer a copy of Korona’s statement on behalf of Illingworth, which explained the company was searching for Viet Cong and elements of the North Vietnamese Army, using helicopters and being dropped in the field when they came under intense enemy fire. The company commander was killed and Illingworth took charge.
“Under his leadership,’ Korona wrote, “he kept our units together to get out of the ‘kill zone;’ he inspired us all with his demonstration of courage under fire and professionalism in the use of tactics. I could see him from time to time moving from man to man to exhort the men and direct the covering fire. My platoon was able to withdraw systematically with our dead and wounded and with the assistance of 3rd Platoon to a more covered location on the battlefield. Lt. Illingworth and the remainder of his platoon provided the covering fire until we were in a covered location near a cemetery about 75 meters from the ‘kill zone.’ He then proceeded to check to insure all the wounded were out before withdrawing himself and then bringing in the gunships and later the artillery and air support with F-4 Phantoms. The wounded were evacuated further to the rear where the ‘dust off’ pilots could land safely.
“In the ‘fog of war’ one cannot remember much or don’t care to remember, but on that day I will always remember Lt. Illingworth’s gallantry, courage and leadership. He was the true hero. Because of his action, he saved my life and that of my platoon.’
News of the Illingworth nomination is being posted on the Web site www.bravo120.com, including Korona’s contribution. Korona learned of the Web site and the Illingworth nomination after being contacted in August by Kitty Millard of Houston, a retired teacher who volunteers to search for veterans.
“Finding Frank was a blessing for the Illingworth family,’ said Millard.
Mrs. Korona (who noted, “I’m very proud of Frank’) also shared information regarding Korona’s awarding of the Silver Star, which told how he unhesitantly volunteered to assist in withdrawing American causalities from their exposed position with complete disregard for his personal safety.
The award letter reads in part: “His timely and courageous actions contributed greatly in saving the lives of his fellow soldiers and served as an inspiration to his entire unit. First Lieutenant Korona’s personal heroism, professional competence, and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the Americal Division and the United States Army.’
Korona, a native of Georges Township and the son of Frank and Helen (Kovach) Korona, attended Wynn Grade School and Fairchance-Georges Junior High before entering Pontifical College Josephinum in Worthington, Ohio, a pontifical seminary governed by the Vatican through the Apostolic Delegate.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from West Virginia University in 1969 and a master’s degree in education from the University of Pittsburgh in 1981.
Upon graduating from WVU, Korona entered the Army as a second lieutenant and completed the infantry officers basic course (IOBC), the Airborne School and the Ranger School at Fort Benning, Ga., as well as Jungle Operations School in Panama. Prior to going to Vietnam, he served as a basic training officer in Fort Lewis, Wash.
In Vietnam, Korona received the Silver Star, two Bronze Stars for valor, the Army commendation Medal with a “V’ device, the Army Air Medal for completing more than 25 combat assaults; and the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB).
He served with the Army Reserves until his discharge in 1983 with the rank of captain.
After Vietnam, Korona worked as the industrial development specialist for the Fayette County Development Council in Uniontown, as a sales engineer in Chicago, Columbus, Ohio, and Pittsburgh for Haughton Elevator, was general manager of U.S. Building Packages in Columbus, Ohio, architectural representative for Trus Joist in Pittsburgh, a sales representative for Prudential Insurance Co. in Pittsburgh, and part-time faculty at Community College of Allegheny County and Carlow College in Pittsburgh. He also owned Korona Construction.
Fayette County Area Vocational-Technical School hired Korona in 1988 as the carpentry instructor and he accepted his current position in 1999. The Fayette Chamber of Commerce named him 2004 Educator of the Year.
Korona married the former Kathy Stossel on Oct. 7, 1972. Mrs. Korona operates a business called “Families Through Time’ that publishes personal family histories. The couple has a son, Adam, who is employed by the Boeing Corp. in Houston, Texas, at the Johnson Space Center.
Speaking about Vietnam, Korona said, “There were a lot of people there who did very heroic things. Many of those kids were draftees. They still went and did their job. Some of the things they did were amazing.’
Korona admired not only the soldiers but also the doctors and nurses who served in the field: “I don’t think people realize what the doctors and nurses went through. They were heroes.’
Patriotism also runs in the family with the Koronas recalling a long list of relatives who served in the military. They include Korona’s older brothers Bernard, who was a helicopter pilot in Germany during the Berlin Crisis, and Robert, who served in the Navy and was in charge of a port in Thailand and was also in and out of Saigon.
Today, the Koronas are proud of their cousins Marine Lance Cpl. Michael F. Lechnar Jr., son of Mrs. Korona’s first cousin, who is serving in Iraq, and Spc. Michael P. Labutta, son of Korona’s first cousin Tom Labutta, who is serving with the Army, Special Forces at Fort Bragg, N.C.
Korona urged people to support the men and women in the armed services and their families. Korona talked about receiving a card from home when he was in the service and how he used to carry it around with him. It meant so much. He encouraged people to remember those in service to their country.
Korona said, “Send them a letter, saying we miss you. How is your day? Call a parent this Veterans Day.’
And although doing his part to help Illingworth, Korona noted, “Honor and courage are not defined by medals. It’s defined by commitment and action.’