Ronald Gornick
Era: Korea
Military Branch: Army
Ronald F. Gornick served in the Korean War. He served in the U.S. Army from 1949 until 1952. He was assigned to C Company, 136 Infantry Regiment, 47th Infantry Division and K Company, 5th Cavalry Division, 1st Cavalry Division. His rank was 2nd Lieutenant. Mr. Gornick was decorated with the Purple Heart with Cluster, the Combat Infantry Badge, and the Korean Service Medal. Mr. Gornick was born in 1931, in Chisholm, Minnesota, the son of John and Mary Gornick. Source: Veterans’ Memorial Hall veteran history form; veteran reminiscences and newspaper article (see below). “Private Ron Gornick enlisted in the Minnesota Army National Guard at age 16 while still in the 10th Grade in Chisholm, Minnesota in 1949. He was assigned as a Browning Automatic Weapon Gunner in Company C, 136th Regiment. “Sergeant Gornick was mobilized for the Korean War with the 47th Infantry Division and shipped off to Camp Rucker, Alabama for additional training in January 1951. “Sergeant Gornick and and fellow single soldiers volunteered for Korea so married men would not have to go. In July, 1951 Sergeant Gornick was assigned as a Squad Leader to Company K 5th Cavalry Division and landed at Inchon, Korea. On October 7, 1951 Sergeant Gornick was awarded his first Purple Heart for wounds received while on a patrol. His battalion recognized his leadership skills from ten successful patrols and he was selected to receive a Battlefield Commission to Second Lieutenant on October 12. “On October 11, 1951 Sergeant Gornick was leading a patrol mission to silence a known enemy sniper position when his squad was hit by heavy mortar fire. Sergeant Gornick and another soldier were wounded badly. Sergeant Gornick carried the wounded soldier out on his shoulder to safety and they were the only survivors of that patrol. Sergeant Gornick spent nearly three months recovering in a hospital in Japan and nearly lost his leg. He never received his commission due to injuries he received that day. “After recovering from his wounds he demobilized at Camp McCoy, Wisconsin in February, 1952, and never received his Combat Infantry Badge. “Sergeant Gornick first wrote Congressman Oberstar from Duluth in 1984 for assistance in the awarding of his much earned Combat Infantry Badge. He has followed up with several requests to members of Congress for assistance over the years without any success. “The Minnesota Inspector General’s Office was finally able to assist in getting Sergeant Gornick’s record corrected after interviewing Major General Jim O’Brien, former 47th Infantry Division Commander who served as an Infantry Captain during the Camp Rucker mobilization and later in Korea. Major General Jim O’Brien was able to review Sergeant Gornick’s records and validate his service in the infantry. With an endorsement from the Minnesota Inspector General, Sergeant Gornick’s records were corrected by the U.S. Army. It was at a meeting of the Minnesota Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve held at the Golden Valley Country Club on Monday, May 12, that Minnesota Adjutant General Larry Shellito awarded the Korean veteran his Combat Infantry Badge and promoted him to staff sergeant. “I’ve been working on this for 57 years,” said Gornick. “It’s been a long, long time.” Gornick has been a volunteer with the ESGR (Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve) since 1996. During the ESGR Awards Banquet, which was also held on May 12, Gornick received another surprise as he and his wife, Carole, were called to the stage during the awards program. “Please, take your seats,” Shellito told the crowd as they arose to applaud after hearing Gornick’s story recounted. “No, on second thought, stand up. Attention to orders..” and he proceeded to read the order from Governor Tim Pawlenty promoting Gornick once more, this time to second lieutenant. Pawlenty then pinned the gold bar marking his new rank to Gornick’s jacket. “I could have gone right through the floor,” said Gornick as he recounted his emotions that went through his head as his promotion to second lieutenant was announced. “I wrote that off a long time ago.” Still trying to process the events of the past week, Gornick was still able to keep a sense of humor about him. “It’s quite an honor,” he said. “But now you got to salute me.” [from Chisholm(?) Tribune-Press]
