Submitted by Ronald L. Cook Jr., Post Commander – Iroquois Post 1587 | Photos by Seneca Media
Each year, the Seneca Nation and the Iroquois Post #1587 pay tribute to all Seneca Veterans for the selfless act of serving in the United States Armed Forces. A special ceremony was held at the Cattaraugus Seneca Fire Hall. Iroquois Post #1587 Auxiliary President Sally Snow opened the event with the “Tolling of the Bells of Peace”, which represents the 11th month and the 11th hour of the end of World War I. Following the “Tolling of the Bells of Peace” was the traditional Flag Song, performed by US Army Veteran Al George. Iroquois Sachem Challenge Youth Program Graduate Adam Clark gave the Thanksgiving address followed by Iroquois Post #1587 Chaplain Philip Beck giving the opening prayer. Patrice (Beck) Neyman gave an excellent and heart-felt rendition of the National Anthem and the Anthem of Canada.
Iroquois Post 1587 Commander and US Army Veteran Ron Cook, Jr. served as the Master of Ceremonies and guided the event as he highlighted all Veterans in the audience before recognizing the Korean War Honorees Marvin Abrams and Leland Hemlock. Post Commander Cook introduced Iroquois Post Auxiliary President Sally Snow who then gave her Veterans Day message which was followed by the keynote speaker, Seneca Nation President Matthew B. Pagels. President Pagels’ remarks were fitting for the honorees and the many Seneca Veterans who served or are currently serving. He concluded his remarks by rendering homage and thanking all of our Warriors for their service to our Nation.
After thanking President Pagels for his presence and heartfelt remarks, the Honoree’s biographies were read by Post Commander Cook. Marvin Abrams and Leland Hemlock were both presented with an eagle feather which displayed exquisite beaded artistry (beadwork by Tanya Stevens) of the Korean War Service medal. The Honorees also received a plaque, Korean War baseball cap, a service branch throw blanket, 2021 Native American Veteran (exclusive) $1 gold coin, POW/MIA face coverings and other fun gift bag items.
Following the presentation to the Honorees, Chaplain Phil Beck gave the benediction to pay tribe to the recent loss of Veterans Albert Tallchief, Donald Bennett and Timothy Jones. The ceremony then ended with Al George singing a traditional “Veterans Song” as the Iroquois Post 1587 Color Guard retired the Colors.
The Iroquois Post 1587 Auxiliary along with Fred’s Catering service provided an excellent chicken marsala with pork loin lunch to-go meal with corn soup by Markey Jimerson, fry bread by Nini Wheeler and venison vegetable stew by Bella Cook.
Iroquois Post 1587 Commander Cook wants to thank everyone for attending the event and the Iroquois Post looks forward to planning another Veteran event scheduled for March 26, 2022 to pay special tribute to our Vietnam War Veterans as part of a Vietnam War Commemoration partnership with the United States White House
Nya:wëh!
CPL Marvin B. Abrams (USMC) Korean War Veteran
Marvin Boyd Abrams is a U.S. Marine Corps Koren War Veteran, enrolled member of the Seneca Nation of Indians and of the Wolf Clan. He grew up with aspirations of serving in the Armed Forces during the Korean War Era. He would join the New York State National Guard June 6th, 1949, and served honorably until his discharge until on September 19th, 1950 due to being underage and could not obtain parental consent.
Marvin would not let his underage setback deter him from his aspirations to serve in the Armed Forces and joined the U.S. Marine Corps and entered active-duty service on November 9th, 1953, in Buffalo, NY. After completing basic training, he received additional training in nuclear, biological and chemical warfare and follow-on training in Divisional Administrative Clerical Operations where the motto was “We Never Retreat, We Backspace.” He eventually received orders to deploy to the Pacific Theater in support of the Korean War efforts and found himself traveling in an unpleasant trip to Korea in a Merchant Marine Ship with 5,000 other Marines. Despite the motion discomforts of sea travel across the Pacific, he and his fellow 1st Marine Air Wing members had decent accommodations in the stern of the ship and ate crackers vowing never to sail again.
He vowed to fly home after his tour of duty in Korea.
Upon arrival in Inchon, Korea, Marvin would endure another distressing experience of extreme cold weather conditions while traveling through snow covered mountains to a Marine Corps base near Pusan by steam engine train. He recalls an instance where train security had to sadly ward off Korean civilians from disabling the train by removing the steam fittings while the train had to pause atop of mountains to recharge the steam so they could continue. This threat hazard was obscured through use of children trying to draw attention from security efforts through “Schlitz” beverage sales.
After arriving in Pusan, Marvin was assigned to Headquarters & Headquarters Squadron, 17th Marine Wing Service Group, 1st Marine Air Wing, Fleet Marine Force as a force protection instructor from November 30th, 1954-September 22nd, 1956. He had the responsibility to ensure all personnel departing the airfield by air received operational procedures and protocols for the use of a nuclear, biological and chemical warfare injection device. After his assignment in Pusan, he received orders to move to an old Japanese air base where WWII Kamikaze pilots trained, but re-designated as a U.S. Naval Air Station, in Iwakuni, Japan.
While in Japan, he continued force protection injection device safety instructions until he was given an administrative operations opportunity within the Squadron Headquarters. Marvin adjusted quickly to operational administrative activity and would find time to volunteer to go on flight missions with the Squadron Commander and on occasion would be given the opportunity to fly the aircraft. He enjoyed his flying opportunities experiences with the Squadron Commander and found himself working hard to free up time to volunteer to go on more flight missions.
Before his tour of duty ended, Marvin was given an opportunity to tour Hiroshima, where the atomic bomb was dropped during WWII, which was only a few miles from Iwakuni Air Station. He acquired use of a motorcycle to visit the devastation that the bomb had caused and witnessed the developing hardships of the aftermath of war, especially for the children in Japan. This led him to become more involved in several community projects with the Squadron. One project inspired Squadron Marines to volunteer to transform a mountain top with hand tools to build a school of hope. After completing his tour of duty, he would receive his vowed wish to fly home state-side through Hawaii and be honorably discharged on November 8th, 1956.
After returning home, he began higher education at the University of Buffalo and secured a position as a claims examiner for Veterans at the Veterans Administration Regional Office. Shortly thereafter, he started to raise a family while attending Wesley Seminary and soon became the Pastor of Four Corners United Methodist Church on the Cattaraugus Territory from 1958-1965.
In 1978, while attending a Trinity University Conference in Rochester (aka the California-Pacific Annual Conference) he would be approached by the bishop and encouraged to develop a Native American Ministry in southern California. He moved to California and joined a religious team to develop a series of outreach gatherings to unify a common spiritual understanding that served over 48 different tribes throughout southern California. He enjoyed preaching and teaching and eventually earned his doctorate degree in Native American Spirituality, which gave him the knowledge and perspective to bridge traditional teachings with Native American Christianity.
After many joyful years in California, he retired in 2005 and returned home to enjoy family and friends and would transfer his American Legion membership to Iroquois Post 1587. Marvin is a gifted orator and religious preacher who continues to serve his community and currently serves at the Jimersontown Presbyterian Church on the Allegany Territory.
Marvin’s awards and decorations are many and commendable to name a few:
•Korean Service Medal
•National Defense Service Medal
•United Nations Service Medal
•Achieved the highest rank of “Corporal”.
The Seneca Nation thanks Corporal Marvin B. Abrams for his dedicated service to our Nation and his bold and fearless aspirations to be a Marine during time of war, exemplifies him as an admired Warrior and Hero. He is also a dedicated member of the American Legion and Iroquois Post 1587 for 14 years. Nya:wëh!
CPL Leland E. Hemlock U.S. Army Paratrooper & Korean War Veteran
Leland Ernest Hemlock is a U.S. Army Airborne Korean War Veteran, enrolled member of the Seneca Nation of Indians and of the Wolf Clan. Leland grew up with aspirations of having the responsibility to serve in the Armed Forces. Leland was a very persistent person and needed his mother to authorize him to join the Armed Forces at the age of 17 and would enter active-duty service on February 16, 1951, in Buffalo, NY. After completing Basic Infantry Training, Leland would volunteer to accept airborne training along with three other recruits from his training unit. Leland remembers his mother along with other family members unexpectedly driving down to Fort Dix, New Jersey when the family came upon a military training checkpoint where Leland noticed them watching his Airborne Operation jump exercise. Leland recalls his mother stating that she closed her eyes after she seen three paratroopers jumping out of the planes above. Leland later realized that he was the fourth jumper on that day not realizing that his mother had missed witnessing him jumping from the plane but was memorable enough for Leland.
Shortly after airborne training, Leland eagerly waited for an airborne position to open and eventually received orders to deploy to Japan and would be assigned to the 187th Regimental Combat Team with the 11th Airborne Division in support of the Korean War efforts.
Leland’s airborne unit gained attention from the Japanese dignitaries and would receive the nickname “Rakkasans” (meaning “Umbrella Man”), but the Korean’s viewed them as fearless sky warriors as they conducted two combat parachute jumps during the Korean War bringing intense bloody fighting capabilities and decimated their foe.
Leland would be a part of these deployment jumps into Korea and would be selected as the unit’s Sniper to conduct combat defense occupation operations until the Korean War ended in July 1953. Although the 187th Regimental Combat Team coat of arms motto is “Ne Desit Virtus” (Let Valor Not Fail), the nickname Rakkasans from the Japanese is now also a prominent name that continues to this day through all major conflicts to include Vietnam, Lebanon, Persian Gulf, Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq. No other regiment in the U.S. Army can lay claim to this distinction and it is doubtful that any regiment of any Army in the world can claim a similar record. The Rakkasans, CPL Leland Hemlock unit was to be herald the only airborne force to meet and destroy the Korean enemy. It’s because of the heroic service of these brave airborne soldiers like CPL Hemlock that the colors of the regiment still fly proudly for others to emulate for generations to come.
Leland’s awards and decorations are many and commendable to name a few:
•Korean Service Medal with Bronze Star (Valor)
•Combat Infantry Badge
•Combat Parachute Badge (Airborne Wings)
•National Defense Service Medal
•United Nations Service Medal
Leland achieved the highest rank of “Corporal” and would receive a letter from the Congress of the United States House of Representative signed by Jack Quinn:
CORPORAL LELAND ERNEST HEMLOCK (CONGRESSIONAL LETTER)
Dear Mr. Hemlock,
I would like to take this opportunity to offer my enthusiastic commendation and thanks for your service in our Armed Forces during the Korean War.
For too many, Korean has become America’s “Forgotten War.” We must all work to ensure that those who defended freedom in America’s “Forgotten War” never become America’s forgotten Veterans.
As we pause to honor you and the brave men and women who fought and served with such dedication, valor, and patriotism in Korea, we must not forget those who made the supreme sacrifice and gave their lives in service to the Nation. Your fallen comrades are not forgotten.
On behalf of the Thirtieth Congressional District of New York, and indeed, a grateful Nation. I am honored to present this well-deserved medal which proudly commemorates your service and patriotism.
Very truly yours,
[Signed]
Jack Quinn, Member of Congress (dated November 25, 2002)
The Seneca Nation thanks Corporal Leland E. Hemlock for his dedicated service to our Nation and his bold and fearless aspirations to be a combat airborne paratrooper during time of war exemplifies him as an admired Warrior and Hero. Leland Hemlock is also a dedicated member of Iroquois Post 1587 for 57-years. Nya:wëh!
