Remembering Lester
This site is dedicated to honoring the life, service, and sacrifice of Private First Class Lester E. Toulmin Jr., who served with the United States Army during the Korean War. He entered the Army from New York and served with K Company, 3rd Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division.
Pfc. Toulmin was reported missing in action during the fighting at Pork Chop Hill. His remains were not recovered, and he is still listed as unaccounted for. His name remains part of our nation’s continuing promise to remember and account for those who did not return home.
“He is not forgotten. His service, name, and sacrifice remain part of our family’s history and our nation’s memory.”
Military Service
Pfc. Toulmin served in the Korean War with the 32nd Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. His unit was involved in the fighting around Pork Chop Hill, one of the final and costly battles before the Korean Armistice Agreement.
Pork Chop Hill
Pork Chop Hill was the site of fierce fighting near the end of the Korean War. According to the DPAA profile narrative, a large Chinese Communist Forces unit attacked U.S. Army outposts on July 6, 1953. The fighting continued for several days, and the U.S. withdrawal from the position was completed on July 11, 1953.
Because the United States did not regain control of Pork Chop Hill, thorough recovery efforts for those killed or missing during the fighting were prevented. Pfc. Toulmin remains among those still unaccounted for from the battle.
Memorials and Remembrance
Courts of the Missing
Pfc. Toulmin is memorialized at the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Korean War Veterans Memorial
His name is inscribed on the Korean War Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C., which was updated in 2022 to include names of the fallen.
Family Remembrance
This tribute page is a family memorial so future generations can learn his name, his service, and the sacrifice he made.
Sources and Notes
Information on this page is based primarily on the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency service member profile for Pfc. Lester E. Toulmin Jr. and DPAA Korean War accounting materials.
The DPAA service member profile text currently lists July 10, 1950 in one paragraph, while the Pork Chop Hill battle narrative and DPAA Korean War accounting list support July 10, 1953. This site uses July 10, 1953 because it aligns with the documented Pork Chop Hill battle timeline.
Suggested next additions: family photos, birth date and hometown details, newspaper clippings, service records, a personal family message, and a guestbook or contact form.