News : Corcoran receives Quilt of Valor

Wilbur Corcoran a Korean Veteran was honored with a Quilt of Valor at Wednesday's Veteran Assembly

As part of the annual Veteran's Day Assembly, held by the Vinton Shellsburg Community School, a Quilt of Valor was presented. Sewn by area quilter Rita Moore, the quilt was made for Wilbur Corcoran of Dysart. Elayne Gasset a member of the Quilts of Valor organization made the presentation sharing the history of the program. To date, the program has awarded quilts to over 260,805 veterans touched by war.

Corcoran a Korean Navy veteran served in the war from 1953-56 aboard a ship that patrolled the Pacific. He arrived in January following the signing of the truce. He remembers the testing of atomic bombs which were tested some 300 miles away but the heat and blast could still be felt aboard his ship in the northern Pacific. There was a series of tests run in mid-air of hydrogen bombs and other testing of bombs were done at the time on the ground and underwater. At the time the soldiers were given a charcoal gadget to wear around their necks which would change color showing that the soldier had been exposed to any chemicals during warfare. He said it never changed color and he hasn't had any side effects in his almost 85 years.

As part of his time aboard the ship he started on the deck, where he said everyone started, then he ran the ship's store and ended in the laundry.

One of 11 children born and raised in Dysart, he is the only member remaining of his family. His wife and 2 daughters have also passed, but he has grandchildren residing in the state. Upon Corcoran's return to the states following his service he worked on the assembly line at Collins in Cedar Rapids.

To see pictures of the quilt presentation click here.

For more information about the Quilts of Valor program click here.