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The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Lutz since 1964 and Pasco since 1981.
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Veterans Memorial Park

Elections supervisor encourages early voting, vote by mail

September 29, 2020 By Kevin Weiss

For Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley, it’s quite the busy time of year.

His agency on Sept. 24 sent out its mass mailing of approximately120,000 vote-by-mail ballots to residents — roughly a third of the agency’s voter registry file — for the upcoming Nov. 3 general election.

Simultaneously, the elections office is readying early voting sites.

Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley was the featured speaker at an East Pasco Networking Group meeting earlier this month. (File)

The early voting cycle will run for 13 days from Oct. 19 through Oct. 31, with polls open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., each day.

The county added three new early sites bringing its total up to record-high 14 locations for the presidential election, said Corley, who was the guest speaker at an East Pasco Networking Group  meeting at IHOP in Dade City this month.

New sites include Veterans Memorial Park gymnasium in Hudson; J. Ben Harrill Recreation Complex in Hudson; and, the newly opened Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus in Wesley Chapel.

Another early voting site change — the larger Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex gymnasium will be used in place of the Land O’ Lakes Branch Library on Collier Parkway, typically the county’s most heavily trafficked site, Corley said.

The elections leader credited Pasco County administrator Dan Biles for approving the early voting location additions and changes — particularly the one in Land O’ Lakes — in the name of accommodating more voters and allowing for social distancing protocols.

“We like big rooms for early voting sites,” Corley told the audience. “Basically, we’re going to be using the (Land O’ Lakes) gymnasium for 13 days. That’s a big ask for the county.”

With that, Corley assured there’s myriad measures in place to ensure the safety of poll workers and voters alike, in regards to the coronavirus.

That includes installation of plexiglass shields around electronic poll books, one-use styluses, hand sanitizer, disinfectants and spacing booths further apart. Many of those procedures helped the August primaries go “very, very smoothly,” Corley noted.

The elections supervisor would go on to discuss the county’s vote-by-mail processes — assuring it’s a safe and secure method to utilize for eligible voters.

He pointed out his agency was the first in the state to implement “Ballot Scout,” a tool which uses scan data for voters to track the delivery of their vote-by-mail ballot through the United States Postal Service (USPS). Voters can view the status of their ballot as being mailed, in transit, or delivered, via text or email notifications.

“You can track your ballot like an Amazon package,” said Corley. “You can see when we sent it out. On our end, we can tell you exactly where it is. When it comes to our office, it’ll automatically text you, ‘We got your ballot back.’”

(File)

Vote-by-mail ballots can be requested up to 5 p.m., Oct. 24 at PascoVotes.com, calling (800) 851-8754, or in writing to P.O. Box 300 Dade City, Florida, 33526.

Also on the topic, Corley defended the postal service, which has been politicized in recent months over nationwide concerns about rejected or uncounted mailing ballots.

To avert those issues, the earlier a ballot is mailed, the better, Corley emphasized.

Because vote-by-mail ballots must be received no later than 7 p.m., on Election Day, Corley said, it’s an unwise proposition for someone to postmark a ballot the actual day of the election and expect it to be delivered in time of the deadline.

As an example, placing a ballot in the mailbox at, say, noon on election day may result in your vote not being counted, he said. He noted there were about 600 uncounted ballots returned to his office after 7 p.m., on the date of the Aug. 18 primary.

“That’s not the USPS’s fault,” Corley said. “Let the voter take some responsibility, and get it back early.”

Those who remain leery about vote by mail, or uncomfortable stepping indoors to cast their vote, there’s also an option to bring an absentee ballot to early voting site drop boxes staffed by poll deputies, Corley explained. Ballots in the drop boxes are securely returned to the elections office headquarters at the end of each day.

“It’s like you’re literally handing it to one of my staff — it doesn’t get any more secure than that,” Corley said.

The elections supervisor also talked about the importance of his agency cultivating important partnerships with other county government agencies, such as the school district, sheriff’s office, tax collector’s office and clerk’s office.

That came to a head in this year’s municipal and primary elections, when the agency had some 300 poll workers opt out amid fears related to the COVID-19 pandemic. (The county’s average poll worker age is 66 years old, Corley said.) “I couldn’t blame them,” he said.

To help make up for the shortage, Corley enlisted help from Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning, who sent a memo asking if any district employees wanted to fill in as poll workers.

The interest, response and results were overwhelming positive, the elections supervisor said.

“We had more than we needed,” Corley said. “We had teachers, school personnel that had never been a poll worker, never had any training, show up on election day and then hit it out of the park for us.”

Voting in Pasco and Hillsborough counties
The deadline is Oct. 5 to register for the Nov. 3 General Election.

Early voting in Pasco County is Oct. 19 through Oct. 31, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., each day. The county has a record-high 14 early voting sites. To find out more, visit PascoVotes.org.

Early voting in Hillsborough County is Oct. 19 through Nov. 1, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., each day. Hillsborough County has 26 early voting sites. To find out more, visit VoteHillsborough.org.

Published September 30, 2020

Filed Under: Local News Tagged With: Brian Corley, Collier Parkway, Dan Biles, East Pasco Networking Group, Election Day, J. Ben Harrill Recreation Complex, Land O' Lakes Branch Library, Land O' Lakes Recreation Complex, Pasco County Schools, USPS, Veterans Memorial Park, Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus

Voting locations to expand

September 8, 2020 By B.C. Manion

Election supervisors in Pasco and Hillsborough counties plan to expand opportunities to voters in the coming General Election, to make it easier for them to have their voices heard.

Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley has announced plans to add more early voting sites for this year’s Presidential Election.

The county also will extend the length of the early voting period, according to a news release from Corley’s office.

The changes are being made “in anticipation of increased voter turnout and the inevitable potential for long lines and wait times due to social distancing and CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)-recommended cleaning guidelines,” the release says.

The early voting period in Pasco County is Oct. 18 through Oct. 31, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., including weekends.

The county also has increased the number of early voting sites.

“A longer voting period and a total of 14 locations marks a new high for Pasco County,” the release from Corley’s office reports.

“In partnership with Pasco County Administration, we have secured additional sites to include Veterans Memorial Park Gymnasium, J. Ben Harrill Recreation Complex Gymnasium, Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex Gymnasium and Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus,” Corley says, in the release. “The response from Dan Biles, County Administrator, was without hesitation and completely in the spirit of being on the same team.”

The release also notes that the addition of county sports complexes and gymnasiums will give Pasco voters more options for casting their ballot in-person, and, in terms of size, will accommodate more voters while still social distancing. The Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex Gymnasium will replace the Land O’ Lakes Library. The library, which is next to the recreation complex, has been a well-attended early voting site, the release says.

Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Craig Latimer reports that his county has 24 early voting locations — offering convenient options for voters throughout the county.

Hillsborough County will begin mailing out vote-by-mail ballots on Sept. 24. Ballots must be return to the supervisor’s office by 7 p.m. on Nov. 3, which is Election Day.

Hillsborough also is adding curbside drop-off tents at Latimer’s four offices, which will operate seven days a week, beginning Oct. 1.

Early voting in Hillsborough is Oct. 19 through Nov. 1, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Nationally, President Donald Trump has raised questions about the integrity of the vote-by-mail process, although he has said that Florida’s vote-by-mail system is safe and secure.

Latimer assured voters that “in Florida, our systems will not allow us to accept more than one ballot from a voter.

“A voter’s record is updated to show that a mail ballot has been mailed to them, and updated again when the voted mail ballot has been received and verified.

“Poll workers have this information during early voting and Election Day. If a voter has received a vote-by-mail ballot and shows up to vote in person, one of two things happen: “If the ballot has not been received yet, the voter may vote in person and their mail ballot will be canceled. If the mail ballot arrives at the office after they voted in person, the mail ballot will not be accepted.

“If that voter’s vote-by-mail ballot has already been received, it is deemed “cast” and they will not be allowed to cast an in-person vote,” Latimer said, via email.

For a list of early voting locations and other election information, visit PascoVotes.gov.

For the same type of information in Hillsborough County, visit VoteHillsborough.org.

Published September 09, 2020

Filed Under: Local News Tagged With: Brian Corley, CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Craig Latimer, Dan Biles, Donald TrumpGeneral Election, J. Ben Harrill Recreation Complex, Land O' Lakes Library, Land O' Lakes Recreation Complex, Presidential Election, Veterans Memorial Park, Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus

Christmas tree recycling in Pasco

January 2, 2020 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Pasco County is encouraging residents to recycle their live Christmas trees.

The trees can be chipped into mulch, chopped into firewood or relocated as wildlife habitats, according to a county news release.

Be sure to remove all decorations, tinsel and metal hooks before recycling the trees, the release advises.

Trees can be dropped off daily, until Jan. 12, during normal business hours at any of these locations:

  • John S. Burks Memorial Park, 13220 Gene Nelson Blvd., Dade City
  • Sam W. Pasco Recreational Complex, 39835 Chancey Road, Zephyrhills
  • Veterans Memorial Park, 14333 Hicks Road, Hudson
  • Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park, 10500 Wilderness Park Road, New Port Richey
  • Anclote Gulf Park, 2305 Ballies Bluff Road, Holiday
  • West Pasco Class III Site, 14606 Hays Road, Spring Hill
  • Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., Land O’ Lakes
  • Wesley Chapel District Park, 7727 Boyette Road, Wesley Chapel

For more information about recycling in Pasco County, visit bit.ly/2lWhIVh.

Published January 01, 2020

Filed Under: Local News Tagged With: Anclote Gulf Park, Christmas tree recycling, Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park, John S. Burks Memorial Park, Land O' Lakes Heritage Park, Sam W. Pasco Recreational Complex, Veterans Memorial Park, Wes Pasco Class III Site, Wesley Chapel District Park

Pasco County hosts Disaster Expo to help residents

June 5, 2019 By Brian Fernandes

Pasco County marked the beginning of this year’s hurricane season with an expo aimed at helping residents better prepare for potential disasters.

The county’s 2019 Disaster Expo, held at the Veterans Memorial Park in Hudson, gave those attending a chance to learn about myriad ways to better protect themselves, if a disaster should strike.

Tim Exline of the Pasco County Health Department explains necessary storm precautions to New Port Richey resident Natalie Griffin. The health department was among a host of booths at the June 1 Disaster Expo, preparing residents for potential storms. (Brian Fernandes)

Participants at the June 1 event included the Pasco County Health Department, Pasco County Fire Rescue, the county’s Emergency Management team and other groups, such Home Depot and the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP).

Judith Tear, a wildlife mitigation specialist for the Florida Forest Service, focused on educating residents about steps they can take to protect their homes from the danger of wildfires.

She encourages residents to trim trees near their homes, especially trees that have branches that hang over roofs.

When a fire is spreading, tree limbs hanging over a home can allow the fire to endanger the residence, she said.

Her organization also works in conjunction with Pasco County’s Emergency Management team and Pasco County Fire Rescue to predict the effects of harsh weather conditions, especially with summer humidity.

“Florida Forest Service is a state agency, and we work closely with our community partners,” the specialist said. “If we find that we’re getting too dry, we look at our drought index and how many days since rain.”

Depending on how dire the circumstances look, the county can place a burn ban, which it did in 2017.

The Florida Forest Service also collaborates with the Emergency Management team to issue reverse 911 calls to those living in target areas of a fire.

Along with the Florida Highway Patrol, they help post consistent alerts on digital message boards on the highway.

And, with special occasions, such as July 4, on the way, Tear strongly advises residents to avoid fueling fires with gasoline because it makes them harder to put out.

To keep documents safe, in the event of a fire, Tear said you either need to place them in a fire safe, or keep them off site.

She also suggests scanning documents and saving them on a flash drive, as a backup.

Andy Fossa, director of Pasco County’s Emergency Management, encourages residents to have generators handy in case the power goes out.

Attendees crowded inside the Veterans Memorial Park to learn about safety tips in preparing for the hurricane season. The 2019 Disaster Expo on June 1 featured various Pasco County and independent organizations.

Fossa also emphasized the importance of using generators safely.

To avoid posing a risk to utility workers, it is important to have a generator with an automatic transfer switch, which will turn off the generator once the home’s power goes back on.

If a generator is still running when the power goes back on, a utility worker could get electrocuted, or explosions can occur within the home, he said.

Fossa said a common mistake people make is operating their generator within the home, which can lead to deadly carbon monoxide poisoning.

He recommends keeping generators outdoors and well anchored to the ground.

Residents also should be careful when they are using candles. They should not be left unattended, and they should be placed somewhere stable, so they won’t tip over.

Candles should not be left burning overnight, when everyone is asleep, he said.

Fossa also urged taking precautions to avoid become overheated.

He said unless you are not able to leave, staying home during a power outage should be a last resort.

He recommends staying with family or friends, or at a hotel, if possible.

There are also local shelters available, he said.

“Dependent on where the storm is coming from, we have the ability to open certain shelters,” the director noted. “As we see population growing, we’re very proactive. We’ll go ahead and get another shelter ready to go.”

Fossa said it’s also important to heed evacuation warnings.

In some cases, residents become stranded by flooding.

When that happens, Fossa said, it is best to stay put and wait for assistance.

In the aftermath of a storm, Pasco County Human Services and the Red Cross will go out into neighborhoods to assess the needs of residents.

For those displaced from their homes, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) can provide temporary housing – even hotels rooms for up to 90 days.

In sustaining a home for harsh weather, Fossa suggests protecting windows with shutters or plywood, or installing missile-proof windows.

“Some insurance companies actually give a break when you storm-harden your house,” he added.

Residents should have a go-kit they can take with them, if they leave their homes, Fossa said.

“If they decide they’re going to leave, they need to have a bag to pick up and walk out the door,” Fossa said.

This kit should include medications, hygiene products, flashlights, batteries, nonperishable food, water, plastic utensils, paper towels and other items.

Fossa suggests that residents should start stockpiling weeks in advance of hurricane season – buying nonperishable food in small increments.

Tim Exline of the Pasco County Health Department said residents should have a food supply stocked up to last 10 days to 14 days.

Getting a surplus of prescription medication is a good idea, too.

“Once an (emergency) declaration is made from the governor, you can go to your pharmacy and get up to a 30-day supply,” Exline mentioned.

Some pharmacies will send out prescriptions through the mail for those who cannot make the commute, he added.

Exline stressed that for those coming to a shelter, medication should be kept in its original prescription bottle, so that it can be properly identified by health officials on the premises.

Transportation services are available for all, but especially the disabled with limited mobility.

“If you have no way to get to that shelter, then you can call Pasco County [Emergency Management’s] office and they’ll make arrangements to have someone come pick you up,” Exline pointed out.

For constant alerts and notifications, residents can download the MyPasco app on their phones.

For additional information to prepare for emergencies, visit PascoCountyFL.net/2813/Prepare-For-An-Emergency.

Published June 05, 2019

Filed Under: Local News Tagged With: AARP, American Association of Retired Persons, Andy Fossa, Disaster Expo, Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, Florida Forest Service, Florida Highway Patrol, Home Depot, Hudson, Judith Tear, Pasco County Emergency Management, Pasco County Fire Rescue, Pasco County Health Department, Pasco County Human Services, Red Cross, Tim Exline, Veterans Memorial Park

Online registration now available for camps

March 27, 2019 By Mary Rathman

Online-only registration is replacing the long lines of years past, making signups for summer camps easier and just a click away.

Pasco County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources (PRNR) will open online summer day camp registration on April 6 at 10 a.m.

The seven-week camps for elementary and middle school children will run from June 10 to July 26.

Campers can experience activities such as games, sports, arts and crafts, field trips, movies, guest speakers, special events and more.

Camps will be offered weekdays at these locations:

  • Centennial Middle School
  • J. Ben Harrill Recreation Complex
  • James Irvin Civic Center
  • Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park
  • Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex
  • Odessa Park Community Center
  • Rushe Middle School
  • Shady Hills Community Center
  • Starkey Park (Nature Camp)
  • Veterans Memorial Park

The first day of registration is for Pasco County residents only, and space is limited.

It is recommended by PRNR that parents or guardians create or update their account information prior to registration opening.

For account creation and registration, visit bit.ly/PascoCreateAccount.

Children can be registered for the entire summer, or select weeks.

Day camp fees, ages and times vary at each location.

Payment is due in full at the time of registration.

A free lunch and snack will be available at qualifying summer day camp locations.

For more information, visit bit.ly/PascoSummerDayCamp, or call (813) 929-1229.

Published March 27, 2019

Filed Under: Local News Tagged With: Centennial Middle School, J. Ben Harrill Recreation Complex, James Irvin Civic Center, Land O' Lakes Heritage Park, Land O' Lakes Recreation Complex, Odessa Park Community Center, Pasco County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources, Rushe Middle School, Shady Hills Community Center, Starkey Park, Veterans Memorial Park

Baldomero Lopez was more than a local hero

June 6, 2018 By B.C. Manion

When motorists drive past the Baldomero Lopez State Veterans Nursing Home in Land O’ Lakes, chances are they won’t know much about the history of the man for whom the facility is named.

That’s where Bill Dotterer comes in.

This iconic image was taken of 1st Lt. Baldomero Lopez leading troops in an invasion at Inchon during the Korean War. Lopez died minutes after the photo was taken.
(Bill Dotterer)

He’s a volunteer with the Tampa Bay History Center and he shared the story of 1st Lt. Baldomero Lopez’s life and his heroic actions during a talk earlier this year at the Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library. The history center and library jointly presented the free program.

Lopez may not be widely known in many circles, but he is in the U.S. Marine Corps, Dotterer said.

“Lopez is a very important person in Tampa Bay’s history,” the speaker added, noting Lopez was the first person who grew up in Tampa to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Dotterer shared details of Lopez’s early years.

Lopez grew up during a time when Ybor City and West Tampa were vibrant places, with a thriving cigar industry, with people living there who had come from Spain, Cuba, Italy and Sicily, Dotterer said. There were social clubs, baseball teams and dominoes, he noted, and Lopez grew up in that milieu.

“In the neighborhood where he lived, he was well known as a baseball player. He had a paper route. He was just an All-American kid,” Dotterer said.

Lopez also was interested in the military.

He attended Hillsborough High School, where he was in charge of the ROTC program. He marched in the Gasparilla Parade one year, leading all of the junior ROTC units, Dotterer said.

Baldomero Lopez
Company A, 1st Battalion
5th Marines, 1st Marine Division
Born: Aug, 23, 1925
Died: Sept. 15, 1950

The speaker noted that much of his talk was based on information he gleaned from a conversation he had with E.J. Salcines, a former judge and noted Tampa historian.

Lopez was third in his class when he graduated from Hillsborough High in 1943. He decided to enlist in the Navy, Dotterer said.

Initially, Lopez was sent to Quantico, Virginia, but he was pulled from that program and sent to Annapolis for an officer training program, Dotterer added. Next, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps, as a second lieutenant.

By then, it was 1947 and the war had ended.

Lopez was sent to China, to lead a mortar platoon, and after that, he returned to Camp Pendleton, where he received orders to become an instructor at the Basic School in Quantico, Dotterer said.

Lopez was still at Pendleton when the Korean War broke out and his unit was assigned to go overseas, Dotterer said. Lopez wanted to go with them.

Dotterer then shared this account, which he said came from Salcines.

Lopez was a on a train, heading from California to Virginia, Dotterer said.

“Every place that the train stopped, he got off and called and said, ‘Please change my orders. I want to go with my unit.’

“When he finally gets to Quantico, they say, ‘OK, you can rejoin your unit.’,” Dotterer said.

Lopez heads back to California, but at that point, his unit is already gone. Somehow, he catches up with them, across the Pacific, Dotterer continued.

The Korean War began when the North Koreans attacked south of this 38th parallel, which is what divides North Korea and South Korea, Dotterer said.

Gen. Douglas MacArthur was the head commander of allied forces in Korea, and he decided to take back Seoul, Dotterer said.

The invasion is made at Inchon Harbor, near Seoul.

It wasn’t an ideal place to invade because it had the third-highest tides in the world, going from zero to 40 feet in a day. It also had 40-foot seawalls around it, which the Marines had to build ladders to scale, Dotterer said.

“The anchorage, itself, where all of the ships would end up for the invasion, was pretty small. It was pretty tight to get in there,” he added.

At the same time, however, the limiting factors at Inchon also may have made it a good place to invade because the enemy would never expect it, he said.

Lopez demonstrated courage
Lopez, who was 25, was on one of the landing ships.

Before the invasion, he wrote his parents a final letter, not knowing it would be his final letter, Dotterer said.

“Basically, he said, ‘Hey, I chose to do this, so if anything happens, I decided I wanted to be a Marine officer, so here I am. Secondly, please send me some good cigars.’

“On Sept. 15, the invasion begins. He is with Company A, First Battalion, Fifth Marines, and they’re going into Red Beach,” Dotterer said.

This historic marker in downtown Tampa commemorates the heroic actions that 1st Lt. Baldomero Lopez took during the Korean War.
(B.C. Manion)

There were two hills, which meant the enemy was at the top of the hill shooting down.

An iconic photograph, taken during the invasion, shows Lopez leading his troops up a wooden ladder over the seawall, Dotterer said.

“Sad to say, this is minutes before he is killed. He’s leading his troops over the seawall. There’s a machine-gun, automatic type position here, that they are trying to take out.

“He had actually pulled a pin on a grenade to throw it into the pill box,” Dotterer said.

Instead, “he gets hit with automatic weapon fire. One in the shoulder. One in the abdomen or chest. He’s shot down. That grenade has the pin out.”

Within seconds, Lopez decided to save his troops. He scooped the grenade under his body.

“He took the full brunt of the grenade in the explosion. His troops were essentially saved. They went on to take that pillbox,” Dotterer said.

Since then, Lopez has been honored in various ways.

There’s a historic marker commemorating Lopez’s heroics in downtown Tampa and there’s a memorial for him at Hillsborough High School. There’s a public elementary school named after him in Seffner and there’s a memorial to Lopez at Veterans Memorial Park.

In 2012, the Tampa Bay History Center received a Korean War Veterans Medal on behalf of Lopez, presented by Jong-Hoon Kim, a member of the 19th National Assembly and Chair of the International Relations Committee, Saenuri Party. Kim was accompanied by Choi Young-Jin, the Korean Ambassador to the United Nations and other Korean Dignitaries.

Additionally, there’s Lopez Hall at the Basic School aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico, a dining facility that was dedicated in 2013, and there’s a navy ship named in his honor.

And, the Marine Corps Association and Foundation, (MCA&F), bestows The Lieutenant Baldomero Lopez Honor Graduate Award to the Marine of each graduating company from the Basic School who demonstrates the highest potential for future leadership and responsibility in the Marine Corps.

In essence, Dotterer said, “he was an amazing hero.”

Published June 6, 2018

Filed Under: Land O' Lakes News, Local News Tagged With: 19th National Assembly, All-American, Annapolis, Baldomero Lopez State Veterans Nursing Home, Basic School, Bill Dotterer, California, Camp Pendleton, Chair of the International Relations Committee, China, Company A, Congressional Medal of Honor, Cuba, E.J. Salcines, Fifth Marines, First Battalion, Gasparilla Parade, Gen. Douglas MacArthur, Hillsborough High School, Inchon Harbor, Italy, Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library, Jong-Hoon Kim, Korean Ambassador, Korean Dignitaries, Korean War, Korean War Veterans Medal, Lopez Hall at the Basic School, Lt. Baldomero Lopez, Marine Corps Association Foundation, Marine Corps Base Quantico, Navy, Pacific, Quantico, Red Beach, ROTC, Saenuri Party, Seffner, Seoul, Sicily, Spain, Tampa, Tampa Bay, Tampa Bay History Center, The Lieutenant Baldomero Lopez Honor Graduate Award, U.S. Marine Corps, United Nations, Veterans Memorial Park, Virginia, West Tampa, Ybor City

Korean War spy shares wartime experiences

August 10, 2016 By Kevin Weiss

For nearly 50 years, Eddie Ko didn’t tell a soul about the integral role he played during the Korean War.

“Not even my wife or my children,” the now 80-year-old said.

But for the past 15 years, the Tampa resident has gladly shared the experiences he had as a 14-year-old spy, helping the United Nations throughout the “Forgotten War.”

Eddie Ko, 80, visited the Baldomero Lopez State Veterans’ Nursing Home on July 26. He worked as a teenage spy during the Korean War. (Kevin Weiss/Staff Photo)
Eddie Ko, 80, visited the Baldomero Lopez State Veterans’ Nursing Home on July 26. He worked as a teenage spy during the Korean War.
(Kevin Weiss/Staff Photo)

He began sharing his story in 2002, after he began organizing an annual golf outing for Korean War vets at his golf club — the Quail Hollow Golf Course in Wesley Chapel.

The outings — held until he sold the course in 2012 — encouraged vets to share their wartime experiences with family and friends.

“Most of the Korean veterans who were in combat — they don’t want to talk about it, even though they are heroes,” Ko said. “Just remember, they were only 18 (years old) or 19 years old, and they had to kill somebody in order to survive.

“But…it’s my opinion that I feel better when I talk about it and get everything off of my chest,” Ko said.

In June of 1950, about 75,000 soldiers from the North Korean People’s Army invaded Ko’s homeland of South Korea. They wiped out thousands of civilians, including his Christian missionary parents.

“That really hurt my heart,” Ko said. “That day forward, I decided I was not going to be accepting of the (North Korean) army.”

His anger possessed him to join the Student Volunteer Army, an anticommunist group of 12 teenage spies spearheaded by a South Korean officer with ties to the U.S. military.

“At 14 years old, you don’t really have patriotism — you have ‘revengism.’ The revenge of mine was so mad that I really wanted to help the Americans,” Ko said.

For three years, he penetrated enemy lines, and relayed valuable information to U.S. Navy Lt. Eugene Clark.

Working as a teenage spy, Ko was the first to discover that Chinese Communist Forces had crossed the border into North Korea to join the fight against the United Nations. That tip prevented U.S. Marines from walking into an ambush of nearly 120,000 Chinese soldiers.

“They didn’t even know that the Chinese were involved,” Ko said. “The lack of intelligence was the biggest fault during the Korean War.”

Nearly 34,000 Americans were killed during the Korean War.

“A lot of Americans died because they didn’t even know where they were, and who they were fighting,” he said.

To gather intel, a young Ko lurked alongside enemy commanders, asking seemingly innocent questions: How many soldiers are here? Are more reinforcements on the way? Where are the heavy tanks?

Ko would report his findings to American forces either via radio communication, or in person.

“Many times it was very risky,” Ko said.

He used faith to help him handle the stressful moments and constant anxiety.

“I became very, very religious at the time and very, very confident in myself,” Ko said. “That’s what helped me survive for three years.”

The Korean War came to an end after an armistice was signed on July 27, 1953. North and South Korea remain separate and occupy almost the same territory since the war began.

After the war, Ko left South Korea to become a naturalized U.S. citizen. He attended high school in East Orange, New Jersey, and subsequently volunteered for the draft in 1956.

He served three years in the U.S. Army, working in counterintelligence and civilian affairs in South Korea.

“I thought wearing a U.S. uniform, I could help the Korean people more. I’m so proud I did that,” Ko said.

He became a successful businessman, and owned three golf courses in Florida before selling them.

Ko now serves as the chairman for the Korean War monument at Veterans Memorial Park, 3602 U.S. 301 in Tampa.

He often visits the 20 Korean War veteran’s association chapters throughout Florida. He tells his story, and gives out copies of the book, “Korea Reborn: A Grateful Nation Honors War Veterans for 60 Years of Growth.”

Ko presents the book — which is a retrospective look at the Korean War and the prosperity that followed — to help uplift Korean War veterans.

“They should be proud of their service,” Ko said. “After 80 percent of Korea was destroyed, now 50 million Korean people live in peace, and it’s one of the strongest economic countries in the world.”

Published August 10, 2016

 

Filed Under: Local News Tagged With: Eddie Ko, Eugene Clark, Korean War, North Korea, Quail Hollow Golf Course, South Korea, U.S. 301, U.S. Marines, Veterans Memorial Park, Wesley Chapel

Van delivers services to veterans

August 10, 2016 By Kathy Steele

The Pasco Mobile Vet Center rolled into the parking lot at the neighborhood shopping center in Zephyrhills, ready for a day of outreach to military veterans.

By 10 a.m., five veterans had stopped by to check out the mobile van and learn about resources they could tap into as they transition to civilian life, seek help with employment or find a place to live.

Julie Hayes, veterans’ representative with CareerSource Pasco Hernando, and Frank Jones, van driver and veterans’ outreach program specialist at the Pasco County Vet Center, brought services to veterans aboard the Pasco Mobile Vet Center. (Staff Photo)
Julie Hayes, veterans’ representative with CareerSource Pasco Hernando, and Frank Jones, van driver and veterans’ outreach program specialist at the Pasco County Vet Center, brought services to veterans aboard the Pasco Mobile Vet Center.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)

It was a typical day of outreach for Frank Jones and Julie Hayes. Jones is a mobile van driver and veterans’ outreach program specialist with the Pasco County Vet Center in New Port Richey. Hayes is a veterans’ representative with CareerSource Pasco Hernando.

The van travels to various locations throughout the state. On average, it makes 10 to 12 stops a month.

“The idea is to take services to veterans in rural areas who don’t have access to services,” Jones said.

Services are offered to combat veterans and their families, but no veteran is turned away, Jones said.

The mobile vet center also provides help for first responders who are combat veterans.

Services include screening for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), referrals for sexual trauma counseling, marital/family counseling, bereavement counseling, information and referrals to community resources, and referrals for benefits assistance.

All information provided by veterans is confidential.

Whether they are still on active duty or are in transition, Jones said, “They don’t have to worry about their commander finding out.”

Often, there are no serious problems, Jones said. Sometimes, he noted, “They just want to talk about their issues.”

Jones has an easy rapport with veterans. He has been there.

He served as a U.S. Army medic in Cairo, and was diagnosed later with noncombat PTSD.

In 1999, he was a homeless veteran, and had a drinking problem.

Today, Jones is a 12-year recovering alcoholic who is married and buying his own home.

“I kind of know where they are coming from,” he said.

Hayes is based at the Dade City CareerSource site, and works with veterans in Pasco and Hernando counties.

“I help them get job-ready,” said the woman who served more than four years in the U.S. Navy in a noncombat role during the Gulf War.

She assesses what veterans need to re-enter the job market, helps with interviewing skills, job training and referrals to Pasco-Hernando State College.

“A lot of it is skills they are missing,” she said. “They do have a unique set of skills they bring to employers, but a lot of times employers don’t recognize that. They aren’t seeing the whole picture of the veterans.”

Many are degree-ready or they may have military-based skills in communications and technology, but Hayes said, “They don’t have up-to-date certification as a civilian. They don’t have that piece of paper.”

Though Jones is based in New Port Richey, the mobile van covers much of central and south Florida. Another mobile van, based in Jacksonville, travels through northern Florida and into southern Georgia.

Nationwide, the veterans’ affairs department operates about 300 community-based vet centers, according to the department’s website.

About 80 vans also provide services to demobilization active military bases, as well as National Guard armories and Reserve Centers, and do local outreach at shopping centers and other community locations.

Each van is equipped with state-of-the-art technology, including laptops, telephones, remote data view, satellite televisions and video conferencing.

Jones said the van can handle one-on-one interviews or groups of up to about 10 people.

The vet centers and mobile vans are part of the care provided through the veterans’ affairs office, and are separate from the veteran’s hospitals and health care system.

The vet centers were launched in 1979 as outreach to Vietnam veterans.

“It’s evolved now to all combat veterans, not just Vietnam veterans,” Jones said.

Veterans’ Affairs rolled out the mobile vans about four years ago.

They sometimes are mobilized for national tragedies, including the aftereffects of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.

Recently, three mobile centers traveled to Orlando after the mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando. Staff members helped with bereavement, notifications to families and counseling for anyone struggling with loss.

On the agenda is a “Stand Down” event on Sept. 29, Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 at the Veterans Memorial Park in Hudson. These multiday efforts provide a range of services including clothes, hot meals, showers, counseling, dental cleanings, Alcoholic Anonymous meetings, and court services to homeless veterans.

Jones expects to roll his van into the park.

“We travel where they need us,” he said.

For information, visit VetCenter.va.gov, call Pasco County Vet Center at (727) 372-1854 or the Combat Call Center at (877) 927-8387.

For information on CareerSource, visit CareerSourcePascoHernando.com.

Published August 10, 2016

Filed Under: Local News Tagged With: CareerSource Pasco Hernando, Frank Jones, Julie Hayes, National Guard, Pasco Mobile Vet Center, Pasco-Hernando State College, Veterans Affairs, Veterans Memorial Park, Zephyrhills

Troop 12 needs growing room

June 10, 2015 By Kathy Steele

The Boy Scouts of America Troop 12 is known in Lutz for its many good deeds.

Every year, troop members are highly visible at the Fourth of July parade in Lutz, an event that draws thousands of spectators.

But well before the parade begins, troop members are doing work behind the scenes.

Troop 12 often does community projects, including this cleanup at Lutz Elementary School. (Courtesy of Mike Ritchie)
Troop 12 often does community projects, including this cleanup at Lutz Elementary School.
(Courtesy of Mike Ritchie)

They stay overnight on the eve of the parade, near the Lutz Branch Library, so they can keep an eye on the vendor and exhibitor displays.

And, hours before the parade begins, the scouts help the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club prepare for the festivities.

They also post dozens of American flags to help celebrate the nation’s Independence Day.

Pitching in for the Fourth of July celebration is just one example of the helpful nature of this group.

The troop’s community roots go deep. Founded in 1933, the troop is one of the oldest in the country.

“From its inception (the troop) has been involved in the community in many ways,” said Scoutmaster Jeff Potvin.

In recent years, the troop has experienced a spurt in membership and has outgrown its scout “hut,” near Lutz Lake Fern Road, off U.S. 41.

“If you’re having a regular meeting, it fits everything. But when they have ceremonies where parents come, it doesn’t,” said Bill Anderson, whose 14-year-old son, Jackson, is a member of Troop 12.

The troop has 57 members, including about 25 who joined just this year.

Part of the troop’s growth is due to Cub Scouts moving up. But the membership ranks exceeded expectations, said Anderson, a former Cub Scout master.

To address the space shortage, the scouts hope to add a new room to the existing structure that was built in 1997.

The expansion would provide additional storage space and a meeting room for troop leaders. It also would free up space for activities in the main room.

The estimated cost of the addition is $12,000 to $14,000, Anderson said.

The boys are working to raise money.

They have collected more than $1,000 from a “buy a brick” program and sales of popcorn at community events. Those efforts will continue. This year the troop also will sell food at the July 4 celebration, Anderson said.

To help raise more money, Anderson has launched a “Give ‘Em Room to Grow” fundraising campaign.

He started things off with a $250 personal donation.

The hope is that local residents and businesses will join the effort, Anderson said. Those who want to contribute can do so at DonationTo.com/Troop12.

The fundraising campaign’s goal is to raise $10,000 by the end of the year, Anderson said.

The scouts aren’t the only ones who would benefit from a larger facility.

“They also have other (groups) that meet there,” Anderson said.

“We try to use it for a community type facility without going overboard,” said Potvin, the scoutmaster.

For instance, volunteers meet there to plan for the Fourth of July celebration. The woman’s club and an art teacher instructing home-schooled children use the space, too.

Anderson sees the fundraising effort as a way to give back to a group that has been involved in many worthwhile projects.

Those projects have included planting about 4,000 trees on behalf of the Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Lions Club, doing a service project at the Veterans Memorial Park, and helping with the setup and tear down at the annual Lutz Arts and Crafts Festival, to name just a few examples.

“They are just very active in the community. And, they are very generous in letting people use their building,” said Phyllis Hoedt, a volunteer who has played a pivotal role for decades in many community projects and events.

Published June 10, 2015

Filed Under: Local News, Lutz News Tagged With: Bill Anderson, Boy Scouts of America Troop 12, Cub Scouts, GFWC Lutz-Land O' Lakes Woman's Club, Jeff Potvin, Lutz, Lutz Arts and Crafts Festival, Lutz Branch Library, Lutz Laker Fern Road, Lutz-Land O' Lakes Lions Club, Phyllis Hoedt, U.S. 41, Veterans Memorial Park

Homeless veterans given chance at Stand Down event

October 22, 2014 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Pasco County Stand Down is set for Oct. 24-26 at Veterans Memorial Park in Hudson.

The grassroots, community-based intervention program helps the nation’s estimated 67,000 homeless veterans manage life on the streets. The national program began in San Diego in 1988, and has since spread to include more than 200 similar events nationwide.

The local Stand Down supports homeless and at-risk veterans in Pasco, Hillsborough, Pinellas and Hernando counties. It provides a broad range of highly needed services, including food, clothing, medical and dental care, benefits advice, personal care, haircuts, entertainment, and mental health services.

It is sponsored by several local public and private organizations, including Saint Leo University, which will provide a select group of current and former Saint Leo master of social work students, along with faculty, to help the veterans out. The social work program is part of an institution service learning project that provided needed counseling for veterans while at the same time train newer social work clinicians in advanced, research-based counseling methods.

More than 125 veterans who are expected to attend will be offered free, confidential and supportive counseling services — the first time that such services are being offered at the event.

For more information on the event, which takes place at 14333 Hicks Road in Hudson, visit PascoStandDown.org.

 

Filed Under: Updates Tagged With: Hernando County, Hicks Road, Hillsborough County, Hudson, Pasco County, Pasco County Stand Down, Pinellas County, Saint Leo University, San Diego, Veterans Memorial Park

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