Korean War vet pushed for isle memorials

Louis Baldovi / 1931-2006

Louis Baldovi was a driving force behind the construction of the Korean War Memorial on the state Capitol grounds and establishment of the National Korean War Museum in Wahiawa.

He also compiled first-person accounts of other war veterans in a book, "A Foxhole View: Personal Accounts of Hawaii's Korean War Veterans."

Baldovi died July 9 in Honolulu.

Before writing his book and working to establish the war memorial and museum, Baldovi's wife and children knew little about his wartime experience in the Army.

"He said several times, 'The kids aren't interested,'" his wife, Valerie, said.

During his career as a teacher and administrator for the state Department of Education, he kept his Korean War experience to himself. He retired as principal of Waimanalo Elementary and Intermediate School in 1985.

His quest to remind people of the "Forgotten War" started after a trip to Korea in 1989 for a war visitor program sponsored by the Korean government and talking to other veterans.

His book includes accounts from others like him who kept their wartime experiences to themselves.

Baldovi was born in Kahului and raised in Haiku. He is survived by wife Valerie; children Elise Karr, Renee Nani, Michele Andrea and Joshua and Keoni Baldovi; brothers and sisters Ramona Aguirre and James and Sylvestre Baldovi and Jane Nikaido, Mary Ayres and Rita Nordquist; and two grandchildren.

Services are scheduled for 9:15 a.m. Tuesday at St. Peters Episcopalian Church. Friends may call after 8 a.m. Burial is at 11 a.m. at Hawaiian Memorial Park. Aloha attire. Flowers welcome.