On Monday, December 18th, New York State Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt had the honor to meet Senate Veteran Hall of Fame inductee, Herbert Loesch, of Barker, and present him with his official recognition of becoming a member of the New York State Senate Veteran’s Hall of Fame.
“Herbert Loesch was chosen for this prestigious honor because he exemplifies what it means to be a patriotic American and proud military veteran,” said Senator Ortt. “Mr. Loesch not only proudly served his country during the Korean War, but he has spent a lifetime preserving and showcasing our great military history – it is my sincere hope that Mr. Loesch’s efforts have and will continue to inspire many others to appreciate and respect our military and its many service members.”
A decorated Army veteran, Mr. Loesch’s military career began in 1952 when he enlisted in the US Army, following his education at Alfred State where he majored in biology and minored in chemistry, receiving a BA degree.
After basic training at Camp Pickett in Virginia, Mr. Loesch would receive advanced medical training at Fort Devens in Massachusetts. After his training, he was deployed to Korea where he served as a Medic with the 24th Division, obtaining the rank of Sergeant First Class. His accolades include the Korean Service Medal, Presidential Unit Citation (ROKDA), United Nations Service Medal, and the National DEF Service Medal.
In 1954, Mr. Loesch was honorably discharged from the Army and became actively involved in the Barker Chapter of the American Legion Post #425 as well as a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Mr. Loesch collects, maintains, and proudly displays Military Memorabilia at his home, including a collection of more than 1,000 toy jeeps. He keeps a prominent Military Display of World War II and Korean War at the Barker High School, utilizing these collections to discuss our nation’s military history and encourage young people to pursue careers in the armed forces.
During local parades, Mr. Loesch can be found in the lineup with his restored World War II Willys Jeep, wearing his full military uniform. Mr. Loesch remains an active member in his community as well, serving as treasurer in his church, treasurer to the Western New York John Deere club, a member of the Masonic Lodge #639 and volunteers to place flags at military gravesites.
Mr. Loesch currently lives in Barker with longtime partner, Grace. His two children also reside in New York.