It has been almost 60 years since Army Cpl. Newton Duke was taken prisoner during the Korean War, but June 7, he was officially presented the Purple Heart by Army Lt. Gen. Kevin Campbell.
That day, about 800 people relived the prisoner of war (POW) experience with Duke, a member of Gardendale’s First Baptist Church in North Jefferson Baptist Association, during a special service in his honor at the church.
It was May 18, 1951, when Duke’s 23rd Regiment of the 2nd Infantry Division was overwhelmingly outnumbered by the surrounding enemy. Refusing to surrender, the 21-year-old assumed command after the commanding officer was struck down and rallied his fellow soldiers on until all ammunition was depleted. Then the Chinese troops swept in to take the survivors captive and eliminate the injured.
But Duke intervened, miraculously convincing the Chinese to allow his men to transport 18 wounded U.S. soldiers to a nearby site where they could be reached and aided by incoming U.S. troops. Having secured relative safety for the injured, he and the other survivors began their own death march.
For more than 80 days, Duke and his fellow prisoners were forced northward on foot, finally arriving in the North Korean town of Ch’ongsonjin, better known as POW Camp No. 3. For two years and three months, Duke endured unspeakable horror, was wounded and lost about 80 pounds. He was released Aug. 13, 1953, and symbolically crossed Freedom Bridge into South Korea.
At the time of his capture, young Carolyn Helms was visiting her aunt and uncle in Steppville (now Hanceville) and had accompanied her aunt to a neighbor’s home. Inquiring about the photo of a handsome soldier on the mantel, Helms learned that the young man was the neighbor’s son, Duke.
“Why don’t you write him?” his mother suggested.
Helms did just that. Over the next two-plus years, she penned letter after letter to Duke, and he cherished her every word that reached him. When he was set to return home, she was one of several people at the Birmingham airport to welcome him.
They met for the first time that day, Sept. 27, 1953, and were married July 10 of the following year.
Still supporting Duke today, she was the one who first mentioned that he had received his Purple Heart without a formal presentation.
When Army Maj. Ross Cline, a fellow member of Gardendale’s First, learned this, he began working with her to remedy the situation.
Along with the official pinning ceremony, there were numerous other honors bestowed on Duke.
Sen. Scott Beason, R-Gardendale, presented him with resolutions commending his bravery and patriotism from the Alabama Senate, Gov. Bob Riley and U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions. Duke was also given the Alabama Distinguished Service Medal and honorary colonel ranking, a complete original uniform, a plaque, a framed Purple Heart recipient auto tag and several other gifts and greetings.
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