He was born in Aberdeen, Mississippi on April 16, 1930, to Mr. Joseph W. Duke and the former Mrs. Gladys Odom Duke of Cullman, Alabama. Mr. Duke and his family moved back to Cullman, Alabama in 1933 then later moved to Steppville, now known as Hanceville, where he attended school prior to joining the Army in May of 1950. He completed his basic training at Ft. Knox, Kentucky in July of 1950. Afterwards, he was sent to Aberdeen, Maryland to train as a Welder and then was immediately deployed to Korea and arrived at the city of Pusan on November 22, 1950. Corporal Duke arrived at the 23rd Infantry Regimental Combat Team’s rear Headquarters around November 29, 1950. The 23rd was one of three Regiments assigned to the 2nd Infantry Division. From the 25th through the 30th of November, the 2nd Infantry Division had fought the Communist Chinese for the first time at Kunu-ri.
The massive Chinese human-wave attacks had nearly encircled the Division and forced it to withdraw under heavy pressure with a great loss of life and equipment. The Division lost almost 5,000 KIA and WIA during the month of November, with the majority of those occurring during the last week of the month. By January the 5th, three fresh North Korean divisions were threatening Wonju (Won Jew) on the Division's right flank. The 23rd Regiment was ordered to pull back to the key road junction town of Wonju, blowing the bridges as it moved. A combined Chinese and North Korean force of five divisions began assaults against the 2nd Infantry Division at Wonju on January the 7th. The 2nd Infantry Division withstood repeated assaults against its lines south of Wonju for seven days. The Communist forces broke off their attack on January the 14th.
On January 29, 1951, Col Paul Freeman, commander of the 23rd Regiment moved his entire regiment to the Twin Tunnels to rescue a pinned patrol. Freeman formed a perimeter and was attacked by several regiments of Communist Chinese. During repeated assaults on February 1st, the 23rd Regiment repulsed the Chinese and killed at least 1300 before they broke off the attacks. The battle of the Twin Tunnels dealt a decisive tactical defeat of the Chinese Forces. After the battle of Twin Tunnels, the 23rd Regiment moved three miles to the village of Chipyong-Ni. Freeman's 23rd Regiment consisted of the regiment's three organic infantry battalions, a French battalion, the 1st Ranger Company, an engineer company, a battalion of 105mm howitzers, a battery of 155mm howitzers, a company of 14 tanks, and 10 antiaircraft Quad 50s. The 23rd was encircled and attacked by five Chinese Infantry Divisions. During two long nights of brutal close combat, the 23rd inflicted tremendous casualties on the attacking Chinese divisions. The battle of Chipyong-Ni, fought from February 13-15, 1951, is considered a classic perimeter defense and is regarded as a pivotal engagement in the Korean War that dealt the Chinese Communist Forces, their first decisive operational defeat following their intervention in the war.
In early May of 1951 Chinese resistance began to stiffen and on May 15th the Chinese launched their Spring Counter Offensive. Attacks spread across the Division's front on the "No Name Line", a phase line that had received no official code name. By May 18th, more than 137,000 Chinese and 38,000 North Korean troops were being hurled against the front manned by the 2nd Infantry Division and the 5th Republic of Korea (ROK) Division on their right. The enemy numbers proved too great, and a large penetration of the lines occurred between the 2nd Infantry Division and the 5th ROK Division. Although all division and regimental reserves were committed, the human tide could not be stopped. The 2nd Division's line began to crumble as men began to abandon the No Name Line under overwhelming odds. Although the 2nd Infantry Division was able to extract itself from the No Name line and reestablish a defense position a few miles south, it did so at a cost. The 23rd suffered 72 killed, 158 wounded and 190 missing/captured before day's end on May 18th.
Corporal Newton Duke was one of those who made a determined last stand at No Name Line and was captured by advancing Chinese forces. Corporal Duke walked for over 80 days, from mid-May to late August, until he reached the North Korean town of Ch'ongsonjin, better known as POW Camp #3. There, Corporal Duke witnessed some of the most horrific actions imaginable for the next 27 months while held captive. Corporal Duke was transported to China on two different occasions and once to Russia as a showcase to these Regimes. Corporal Duke was released on August 13, 1953, where he crossed over what is called Freedom Bridge at Panmunjom into South Korea and awaiting US Forces.
Corporal Duke was wounded eight times in captivity. He was finally awarded the Purple Heart on December 1, 2000, for his wounds received in action, over 50 years later.
After his release from the Army, Corporal Duke flew into the Birmingham airport on September 7, 1953, to the waiting arms of his faithful pen pal during those difficult months as a POW, a young woman whom he had never met. Ten months later, on July 10, 1954, he married that pen pal, Ms. Francis Carolyn Helm. As a civilian he spent 30 years with U.S. Pipe before retiring.
Preceding him in death are his parents, Joseph W. Duke and Gladys A. Duke; his wife of 63 years, Francis Carolyn Duke; his son Randy Duke; his grandson, Blake Duke; and nine siblings.
Left to cherish his memory are his children, Pam Burgess; Tim Duke (Vanessa); and Kerry Richardson (Tim). He is also survived by 17 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and his siblings, Dora Jean Parker and Hugh Duke.
A visitation will be held at Ridout’s Southern Heritage Funeral Home on Friday, December 9, 2022, from 10:00 am to 11:30 am with a service beginning at 11:30 am. He will be laid to rest with military honors at 2:00 pm at Alabama National Cemetery.
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