An unforgettable War - The Korean War
Particularly South Koreans in their seventies have vivid
memories of the Korean War. I have the same too. I was just four years old at
that time when the Korean War broke out at dawn, June 25, 1950. Even though I
was an innocent young kid, I still remember a lot of the tragedy including much of routinized misery experienced in the line of evacuees fleeing from the
sudden chaos in deadly cold days.
Atrocious acts of brutality committed by the
communist invaders in collusion with resident espionage agents were beyond
expression.
The war began on 25 June 1950 when North Korea invaded
South Korea following clashes along the border. The communist regime of North
Korea was supported by China and the Soviet Union while South Korea was supported
by the United Nations, principally the United States. The three-year long war at
last ended with an armistice on 27 July 1953.
The war claimed the lives of millions of people. The US
troops alone, more than 50,000 young soldiers were killed in action on the Korean
peninsula that they had neither known nor heard of it. For this reason we South
Koreans should not forget their heroic sacrifice forever.
Needless to mention, it would have not been possible for
South Korea to stand tall like what we are today, had it not been for the United
States forces during the war.
Two days ago I received a couple of photos from the
Association of Korean American Vietnam War veterans in Fort Lee, New Jersey. I
was informed that the 72nd Korean War commemoration ceremony was
jointly held by VFW"(Veterans Foreign War) and Korean Society, Fort Lee at the Korean War
Memorial Park. From the solemn expression on each face shown in the photos I
could recognize a strong and unwavering patriotism for their fatherland, the
Republic of Korea. I also salute you all with my respect.
