By Bill Hutton
2010 should be a memorable year for all veterans that served in Korea, any time from 1945 to the present day. This will be the year that South Korea will commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Korean War-starting with the invasion by North Korea on June 25th, 1950.
Why does Korea use the day the war started as the day of remembrance? Well, for one thing, the war has never ended. Even though an armistice was signed in August of 1953, there is still fighting between North and South. There was an incident just last month where a North Korean sailor was killed in a brief skirmish with a South Korean patrol boat. There have been, by one reckoning, over 2400 killed in various actions in this “Armistice” period.
And, of course, we have North Korea and its crazy dictator, which could represent a greater menace to the world than any other threat. Another reason we still have 25,000 US troops stationed in South Korea.
For those who served in the 1950-1953 time period, the South Korean Government offers a Revisit Program. (I had the pleasure of returning in 2003). It is a wonderful tour of Seoul, the DMZ, including the peace treaty area, and many historic sites. The returnee pays round-trip transportation, but Korea pays the rest. By the way Seoul is the cleanest, safest and most modern city I have ever been in. Qualification for the trip requires membership in the Korean War Veterans Association. (Contact Bill Hutton regarding this opportunity).
When the military returned from duty in South Korea, in the pre-Vietnam era, soldiers were not scorned and disrespected, as were the “Nam” vets. But they weren’t celebrated, either. At the time, our “Action” in Korea was considered a “Tie” at best. But world historians now recognize that Freedom and Democracy did win, and win big. South Korea is a democracy. It has a modern infrastructure. It is the 7th largest economy in the world. And, maybe most of all is among our strongest military ally. We lost 35,000 combat killed. But these men and women did not die in vain!
