A great general in our history- the late General Chae Myung-shin

South Koreans have observed Memorial Day on June 6th every year since the Armistice Agreement was signed in 1953. On this day national cemeteries throughout the country are crowded with tens of thousands visitors who come to pay their respects to those who sacrificed their lives for their country and the people.

About 200 meters from the main gate of the Seoul National Cemetery, a visitor can easily find a small grave encased by flowers conspicuously situated in front of the #2 graveyard where the brave warriors that were killed in action in the Vietnam War are buried. The National Flower, The Rose of Sharon, surrounds the grave.

This is the grave of General Chae Myung-shin, the Commanding General of the ROK forces in the Vietnam War.

The national cemeteries in Korea are divided into sections with separate graveyard areas for general officers, officers, soldiers and national honorees. General Chae Myung-shin's grave stands out, because it is not situated among the general officer's graves.

Before his death, General Chae strongly asserted his wish to be buried with his troops, the enlisted men who had fallen in the Vietnam conflict. When he died on 25 November 2013, the government was perplexed by the General's unprecedented burial wish.

The government decided to follow his will and finally allowed him to rest in peace with his warriors. It was the ever first time for a general to be buried at the enlisted men's graveyard in Korea.

He is loved and respected all the more for his willingness to give up the honors and privilege due to a general to humbly rest with his men that had given their lives in the bitter fighting of the Vietnam War.

There is an epigraph inscribed on his tombstone "BECAUSE YOU SOLDIERS REST HERE, OUR COUNTRY STANDS TALL WITH PRIDE."

I worked as General Chae's last assistant. On this year's Memorial Day, instead of giving the usual hand salute, I bowed deeply to the general. He will be honored and remembered forever by all of us for his outstanding leadership, his great patriotism, his devoted service, and his respect for his warriors.