Known to many as “The Forgotten War,” the Korean War officially ended 54 years ago, with the formal signing of an armistice on July 27, 1953. While short of duration, the Korean War saw 36,516 U.S. service men and women die in a conflict that has been largely relegated to the back pages of history books. For many younger generations the war remains a mere reference, but many can still remember the sight and sounds of battle and the friends they served with.

“We volunteered,” said John Wilson of Wilson Bros. Realty in Batavia. “On Aug. 28, 1950, we joined the Air Force. The Korean War had started earlier, three or four months, and we were all running around in high school and college. We decided we wanted to try something new. Seven or eight of us joined the Air Force.”

John, who joined with his brother Jim, whom he currently partners with in real estate sales, joined the Air Force just weeks after the air wing of the Army became its own branch of the military. Wilson, who was already in college when he decided to join up with his brother and friends, found himself in position to take advantage of a unique opportunity once he was in the Air Force.

“I found out that I could sign up for aviation cadets, I didn’t know what was going on,” said Wilson. “I got my credits from Wilmington College, and was accepted as an aviation cadet. Almost a year after I joined, I was called to duty in Bainbridge, Ga., a civilian flying school for the Air Force. In February of 1953, I was in Korea, a fighter bomber pilot.”