AFTER FACING MAJOR OPPOSITION. A LOCAL SEAMAN WITH THE U.S. NAVY FINALLY GETS HONORED 75 YEARS AFTER HE MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE. AND DENNIS CHATELIER OF MADISONVILLE DIED IN COMBAT DURING THE KOREAN WAR. BUT SOMEHOW HIS SACRIFICE WAS LARGELY FORGOTTEN UNTIL NOW. I HAD AN UNCLE THAT GOT KILLED IN THE KOREAN WAR, AND HIS NAME WAS NOT ON THIS MONUMENT. LLOYD AUSTIN, DORFF’S UNCLE WAS MADISONVILLE NATIVE DENNIS CHATELIER OF THE U.S. NAVY. HE SERVED IN THE KOREAN WAR ABOARD THE HEAVY CRUISER USS SAINT PAUL WHEN IT DISAPPEARED MARCH 11TH, 1951. CHATELIER WAS 19 YEARS OLD WHEN HE WENT MISSING IN ACTION. YOU KNOW, THE FAMILY WAS DEVASTATED ABOUT THAT AT THE TIME, AND IT TOOK THEM A FEW WEEKS TO TO ANNOUNCE THAT HE WAS PASSED, AND IT TOOK THEM 30 DAYS TO GET HIS BODY BACK HOME. BUT HE NOTICED HIS UNCLE’S NAME WAS SOMEHOW LEFT OUT OF THE VETERANS MEMORIAL HERE IN METAIRIE. SO HE CONTACTED THE KOREAN WAR MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION OF LOUISIANA, WHO MADE SURE DENNIS CHATELIER’S NAME WAS ENGRAVED ON THIS 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE KOREAN WAR. AND THAT’S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TO REMEMBER ALL THE VETERANS, EVEN AFTER 75 YEARS, WE’LL STILL DO THAT, AND WE WILL ALWAYS KEEP THEM IN OUR PRAYERS. CHATELIER’S 96 YEAR OLD SISTER ILA WAS RECOGNIZED ON HIS BEHALF AT THE ANNUAL MEMORIAL SERVICE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. WE’RE ALL THE LOCAL KOREAN WAR VETERANS, AND THEIR FAMILIES ARE HONORED FOR THEIR SERVICE AND SACRIFICE. IT MEANS A LOT TO THE FAMILY. WORDS CANNOT REALLY EXPRESS WHAT IT MEANS TO GET SOMEONE HONORED LIKE THIS, THAT IT PAID THE ULTIMATE PRICE. WE NEED TO REALLY HONOR AND THIN
75 years later, a Korean War hero is no longer forgotten
A local seaman with the U.S. Navy finally gets honored 75 years after he paid the ultimate price.Lloyd Ostendorf’s uncle was Madisonville native Dennis Chatellier. Chatellier served in the Korean War, aboard the heavy cruiser USS Saint Paul, when it disappeared March 11, 1951.He was 19 years old. “When he went missing in action, the family was devastated about that at the time, and it took them a few weeks to announce that he passed, and it took them 30 days to get his body back home,” Ostendorf said.He noticed his uncle’s name was somehow left out of the veteran’s monument in Metairie, so he contacted the Korean War Memorial Association of Louisiana. The organization made sure Dennis Chatellier’s name was engraved on this 75th anniversary of the Korean War.”We wanted to make sure we remember him and think of him, so we engraved his name on this monument a few days ago. That’s one of the things we can do, is to remember all the veterans even after 75 years. We will always keep them in our prayers,” said Sun Kim of the Korean War Memorial Association.Chatelier’s 96-year-old sister, Ila Chatellier, was recognized on his behalf at the annual Korean War Memorial Service, where all the local Korean War veterans and their families are honored for their service and sacrifice. The service takes place each year at the VFW in Gretna, honoring the local Korean War veterans. This year, Governor Jeff Landry sent a special thank you video message to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the war.”It means a lot to the family, words can’t really express to get someone honored like that who paid the ultimate price,” Ostendorf said.The Korean War took place from June 25, 1950, to July 27, 1953. An armistice agreement was signed, ending active combat. However, no formal peace treaty was ever signed between North and South Korea.
A local seaman with the U.S. Navy finally gets honored 75 years after he paid the ultimate price.
Lloyd Ostendorf’s uncle was Madisonville native Dennis Chatellier. Chatellier served in the Korean War, aboard the heavy cruiser USS Saint Paul, when it disappeared March 11, 1951.
He was 19 years old.
“When he went missing in action, the family was devastated about that at the time, and it took them a few weeks to announce that he passed, and it took them 30 days to get his body back home,” Ostendorf said.
He noticed his uncle’s name was somehow left out of the veteran’s monument in Metairie, so he contacted the Korean War Memorial Association of Louisiana. The organization made sure Dennis Chatellier’s name was engraved on this 75th anniversary of the Korean War.
“We wanted to make sure we remember him and think of him, so we engraved his name on this monument a few days ago. That’s one of the things we can do, is to remember all the veterans even after 75 years. We will always keep them in our prayers,” said Sun Kim of the Korean War Memorial Association.
Chatelier’s 96-year-old sister, Ila Chatellier, was recognized on his behalf at the annual Korean War Memorial Service, where all the local Korean War veterans and their families are honored for their service and sacrifice. The service takes place each year at the VFW in Gretna, honoring the local Korean War veterans. This year, Governor Jeff Landry sent a special thank you video message to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the war.
“It means a lot to the family, words can’t really express to get someone honored like that who paid the ultimate price,” Ostendorf said.
The Korean War took place from June 25, 1950, to July 27, 1953. An armistice agreement was signed, ending active combat. However, no formal peace treaty was ever signed between North and South Korea.