Edwin Lavern Morgan was born 11 July 1928, in Marion, Ohio. Edwin was the son of Clifford Morgan & Bessie (Selanders) Morgan. Edwin’s mother also went by Betty, Patty and Cleo. She would later divorce and marry Vincent Leatherman. Edwin went by Eddie, he attended Harding High School. Edwin enlisted into the United States Army in Marion, Ohio, at the Marion Recruiting Station.
Edwin Morgan would attend basic training at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. In November of 1948, Morgan would set sail for service in Japan. This was a fifteen day journey. Here Morgan would be assigned to C Troop, 12th Cavalry Regiment at Camp McGill, Japan. In March of 1949, the 12th Cavalry Regiment was relieved and soldiers would bolster other units. Morgan would be reassigned to C Company, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division “Bayonet” and move to Camp Haugen, Japan.
While at Camp Haugen, Japan, Morgan would write his mother and sister about his decision to get out of the military or reenlist for another 3 years. He talked about making something of himself in the military vs the bleak job outlook back in Marion, Ohio. Also in his letters he shared about life camp and about training and going into the field often. By March of 1950, Morgan is finally attending the Food Service School for Cooks and Bakers. He is proud that he is making rank and making something of himself.
In August of 1950, Morgan writes to his mother and tells her that Truman has stopped all discharges due to the invasion into South Korea. He was to be coming home in the fall.
On 21 October 1950, Morgan writes from Pusan, South Korea, he shares that he was part of the Inchon Landing and that they had been on the front lines and lost some men. Now they are taking a rest after arriving in Seoul at the end of September. He tells of how much worse life is for the Koreans compared to that of the Japanese. He also tells her he was promoted to Corporal.
In December of 1950, Morgan’s sister, Naoma Wise, writes to him very concerned at how he was doing and if life was hard for him. Her letter was returned to her stamped “Verified Missing in Action.” After the telegram to his mother stating that he was Missing In Action (MIA), his sister wrote to him again, pleading with him to write if possible and if he was unable to write, to return the self addressed and stamped envelope to let her know he was alive. This letter was also returned and stamped “Verified Missing in Action.”
Sgt. Morgan was serving in the Chosin Reservoir area in North Korea on 2 December 1950, when he was reported missing. He was serving in C Company, 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, of the 7th Infantry Division. On 31 December 1953, Sgt. Edwin L. Morgan was listed as presumed dead.
Sergeant Morgan was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.
Without the return of Sgt. Edwin L. Morgan’s remains, he has been remembered at the National Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, D. C., and on the Courts of the Missing, Honolulu Memorial, Honolulu, Hawaii.
Sgt. Edwin L. Morgan is not currently listed on any war memorials in Marion, Ohio. At the February 2020 meeting of the Veterans Memorial Park Committee; the committee voted to have Edwin L. Morgan added to the Honor Roll for the Korean War.