A section of Route 611 near the Horsham Meetinghouse was dedicated to Lt Joseph Park of Horsham. Lt Park was killed by enemy fire in Vietnam on March 28, 1968, he was 21 years old. This was introduced by Rep Todd Stephens in 2014 and signed into law by Gov. Tom Corbett.The dedication ceremony took place on Thursday, April 30, 2015 at 10 a.m. at Horsham Friends Meetinghouse, 500 Easton Road in Horsham.
This was introduced by Rep Stephens in 2014 and signed into law by Gov. Tom Corbett.
This is a major step toward recognizing the sacrifice of men like Joseph C. Park. People who use this section of Route 611 will be reminded of a young, local man who bravely served in Vietnam, and gave his life in the defense of freedom.
In April 1966, Joseph was drafted into the United States Army. He completed nearly two years of training including infantry school, armored school and ranger school before being deployed to Vietnam. Joseph completed almost every phase of combat training the Army offered. During this time, Joseph was promoted to second lieutenant.
Park was ultimately assigned to Company C, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry, 199th Light Infantry Brigade, where he was also promoted to first lieutenant.
Park was serving as a platoon leader on a search-and-destroy operation in the vicinity of An Phu when they encountered the Viet Cong force. Park immediately moved to an open area where he could place effective fire upon the enemy. Only 16 days after leaving the United States for Vietnam, Park was killed in action on March 28, 1968.
His heroic actions allowed the remainder of the platoon to take cover, preventing the platoon from sustaining further casualties.
From the Philadelphia Inquirer April 3, 1968: “On March 12 a Horsham township man drove his son to International Airport to catch a plane to San Francisco – and, eventually, Vietnam. The son, 2d Lt. Joseph C. Park Jr., had completed nearly two years of preparation – infantry school, armored school, ranger school – just about every phase of combat training the Army could offer. Last Thursday, 16 days later, he was killed by a Vietcong bullet. Lt. Park was one of two Montgomery county soldiers reported killed in action by the Defense Department Tuesday. A graduate of Hatboro-Horsham High School and Valley Forge Military Academy, Lt. Park, 21, attended Penn State University before enlisting in the Army in April, 1966.”
“My hope is this designation will stand as a reminder to future generations of the sacrifices made by men and women like Lieutenant Joseph Park,” Stephens said. “It will also stand as a sign of our appreciation for his love of county and sense of duty.”References
- “Stephens Legislation to Honor Fallen Vietnam War Hero Heads to Governor” <10/20/2014> Pennsylvania House Republican Caucus Web Site, Available at: http://www.pahousegop.com/NewsItem.aspx?NewsID=21808. Retrieved: 4/29/2015
- Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund Wall of Faces. Available at: https://www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces/39430/JOSEPH-C-PARK-JR/ Retrieved April 30, 2015 and April 26, 2026