ROTC Cadets of Ewha Womans University

ROK government established June 6 of each year as the Memorial Day for the first time on April 19, 1956 by Presidential Decree. Accordingly, every fellow countryman has observed on this day to remember and honor the military personnel and patriots who sacrificed their lives for the country. In the meantime, our alliance, the United States observes on the last Monday of May, honoring the men and women who died while serving in the US military.

As in other years, to avoid the crowds on the memorial Holiday of June 6th, I visited the Seoul National Cemetery on June 5, 2019 and paid my respects to those who sacrificed their lives. As usual, I visited the late General Chae Myung-shin's tomb and slowly raised my hand to salute the great general, the former commanding general of the ROK Forces in Vietnam, for whom I served as his last executive assistant for more than 20 years until the day he passed away on November 25, 2013.

As well known at home and abroad, the late general Chae Myung-shin was the first general officer who was buried at the enlisted man's graveyard in ROK's history waiving his right to be buried at the general's graveyard. At his will the general is now resting in peace at the very front of the graveyard #2 together with his men fallen during the Vietnam War (1965-1973).

Not only for his heroic achievements made during the Vietnam Conflict but also for his unprecedented will waiving vested rights to be buried at the general뭩 graveyard, the general has been respected by not only fellow countrymen throughout the country , but also many foreigners.

When I finishing my deep bow to the general, I found a group of ROTC cadets in uniform was marching towards the late general Chae뭩 tomb. The young woman cadets belonging to Ewha Womans University, the most prestigious women's university in South Korea were led by an active field grade officer and explained about who the late general Chae is and the reason why the general was buried alongside his soldiers who were killed in action.

The minute I came across the young cadets and saw them paying their respects to the general, as the last assistant, I felt so proud that I could not but introduce myself and had an opportunity to add a few more words on the late general's brilliant achievements.

It was indeed my honor to meet the young cadets in uniform from Ewha Womans University. At the same time I would like to hope that the young cadets will be able to learn many more lessons by paying their respects to the late heroes in the bountiful years to come. Thanks to you all.