Franklin County, Nebraska

For Another Day

One of my friends saw an article in the Nebraska Legionnaire magazine and thought I might be interested in reading it. The article, entitled “Nebraska Searches for Soldiers of Forgotten War,” was a message from Keith Fickenscher, director of veteran’s affairs. It included a roster of soldiers unaccounted for from the Korean War, who listed Nebraska as their home of record or place of birth.

One of the names was Robert M. Generoux from Franklin County.

I spent time on the phone with my best sources in the county for remembering names. One of these sent me to Campbell, where the name is correctly spelled Genereux.

I called Cleo Genereux, who told me Robert was his brother who left for the Korean War at the age of 17.

Robert graduated from Campbell High School when he was 16 years old. At that time, there was little employment around Franklin County, so Robert and three other young men went to Hastings, where they visited a recruiter. Since Robert was only 17, his mother had to sign the paper for him to enter the service. These four young men were soon off to see the world at Uncle Sam’s expense. Over 5.7 million men and women served their country during the war. Over 54,000 gave their lives in the name of freedom.

After induction into the Army and his basic training time over, Robert was sent to Korea as an infantryman. He wrote his mother and friends telling them he was near the Manchurian border. In those letters, he told them it was very cold there, and the troops were without proper winter clothing, especially boots to keep their feet warm. His letters talked of the Chinese coming across the border.

In November 1952 Robert M. Genereux disappeared at the age of 19, never to return. He was one of the 8,177 missing in action (MIA).

Cleo talked of another young man not on this list. His name was Jack Koch, who also disappeared during the war. He has no living relatives around Campbell. Cleo thought he has two living sister.

Two years ago, Cleo Genereux, and his sister Betty Thomas, attended seminars in Denver about the MIAs of the Korean War, and have offered their blood for DNA purposes to make it easier to identify Robert. Cleo said the Korean officials were not open to let our government explore gravesites of Americans buried in Korea, until about two years ago. The Genereux family hopes Robert’s body will be discovered and he will be returned to his home in Campbell, where rightful tribute can be made to a man who gave his life for us, in protection of those who wander freely on Memorial Day.

When we see our country’s flag flying over the cemeteries on that special day, please take a minute to remember Robert Genereux and all of the Korean veterans who suffered from the cold and who were lonely soldiers in a foreign land. Let us put our hands on our hearts in honor of those who didn’t come back, and also to those who did. Our lives are safer because of their sacrifices.

“Flag of the brave! Thy folds shall fly,
The sign of hope and triumph high!
Each solder’s eye shall brightly turn
Flag of the free heart’s hope and home.” Joseph Drake

Rena Donovan, For Another Day.

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