Noble County Courthouse Company I, 179th Infantry Regiment, 45th Division Korean War Memorial

The lighted memorial is defined by a concrete border surrounding its primary features. An inlaid brick walkway leads to a raised polished black granite monument, in front (north) of 3 flagpoles set on an extension of the walkway. A metal bench on a formed concrete pad sits alongside the entry walkway. The bricks along the walkway are engraved with the names of veterans, organizations, and individual sponsors of the memorial. Some contain the rank, unit, military specialty, war period or hometown. The distinctive polished black monument rests on a gray granite base and is the focal point of the memorial. On the front (north) face is an image of the Oklahoma National Guard 45th Infantry “Thunderbird” Division’s shoulder sleeve insignia (patch). Below the insignia, is inscribed: COMPANY I, 179TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 45TH DIVISION IN MEMORY OF THOSE WHO SERVED THEIR COUNTRY WITH COMPANY I, DURING THE KOREAN WAR 1950 – 1953 Also inscribed are: “KIA =” (followed by a star symbol) to indicate veterans of Company I, who were Killed In Action during the Korean War, and “WIA =” (followed by a heart symbol) to indicate those Wounded In Action. Appropriate veteran’s bricks along the walkway are engraved with those symbols to designate their special status. Along the base on the front exposure is inscribed: DEDICATED OCTOBER 1, 2005 On the reverse (south) face of the monument is inscribed “THE KOREAN WAR 1950 – 1953" above a map image of North and South Korea and adjacent waters. Along the left side is an extensive numbered chronology of Korean War events keyed to locations displayed on the map. At the bottom is a legend showing symbols used on the map for such locations as air bases, battle and amphibious landing sites, and friendly and enemy force dispositions. The center-forward, tallest flagpole flies the American Flag; the other 2 shorter flagpoles fly the State of Oklahoma Flag, and the Company I, 179th Infantry Regiment guidon. The metal bench is placed beside the walkway on the west side, and the words “NOBLE COUNTY” have been cut into the backrest. Containers with decorative plantings flank the bench. The memorial is a tribute to the service of Company I, 179th Infantry Regiment, which was assigned to the 45th Infantry “Thunderbird” Division, Oklahoma National Guard, was inducted into active Federal service on September 1, 1950, and fought in the Korean Conflict. The Regiment participated in 4 campaigns during the Korean Conflict: Second Korean Winter; Korea, Summer-Fall 1952; Third Korean Winter; and Korea, Summer 1953. The 179th Infantry Regiment was awarded the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation for their combat service in Korea. The Regiment was released from active Federal Service on April 30, 1954 and reverted to State control. The 45th Infantry Division was one of only two National Guard Divisions to see combat in the Korean War. The 45th Infantry Division shoulder sleeve insignia was designed by Woody Big Bow, a native of Carnegie, Oklahoma, approved in 1939, and features a gold “Thunderbird” on a red square, point down. The “Thunderbird” is a Native American symbol signifying the “sacred bearer of unlimited happiness.” The colors reflect Spanish lineage, and that country’s exploration and settlement of the four southwestern states of Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, and Colorado. Each of the corners of the square represents one of those four states, which also originally provided their National Guard manpower to form the 45th Division.