Posted on 06/24/2007 6:09:09 PM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
Something to Remember on Korean War Memorial Day
JUNE 25, 2007 05:28
Today marks the 57th anniversary of the Korean War that ravaged the nation. Unfortunately, the war has long been forgotten among many Korean people, and misperceptions are prevalent among elementary school students in particular: Reportedly, one out of three elementary school students responded that the War took place in the Chosun Dynasty and one in five thinks the War was fought between Korea and Japan. There is little to blame on the children since even some adults insist that the War was first initiated by the South instead of the North.
In our history, there are things that should never be forgotten, and one of those things is the heroic sacrifice of our young men and women who fought to protect our freedom and peace. In addition, if it had not been for the honorable sacrifice of young Americans, British, Australians, New Zealanders, French, Canadians, South Africans, Turkish, Thais, Greeks, Dutch, Columbians, Ethiopians, Filipino, Belgians, and Luxemburgians, Korea would not be where it stands today.
Their names are engraved on a memorial in UN Memorial Park at Busan. The 40,895 names on the monument include the names of war dead and missing soldiers from 16 countries that sacrificed their men and women for our cause. On the worlds one and only UN memorial monument, we wrote, We engrave your names in our hearts with love. However, one cannot help but wonder are we really paying back their death and sacrifice with love?
Many among the 16 nations experience difficulties. Ethiopia, which dispatched 6,000 soldiers and suffered 123 deaths, is the poorest nation in the world. Only 800 among the soldiers who survived the Korean War live today and none of them have escaped extreme poverty. A day before, KBS news reported an interview with a former Ethiopian soldier in his 80s who said, I hope Korea can help at least one of my children so that he can earn money in Korea.
Korea has offered a helping hand, though belatedly, with the KOICA building schools for the children of surviving soldiers. However, we still have a long way to go if we are to really pay back the help we received 57 years ago. We are not doing with Columbia and the Philippines any better. Koreas level of official development assistance (ODA) to developing nations is the lowest among OECD member nations. What is more shameful is that we are not doing enough to help the nations and people we owe the most. We must remember that the times will no longer wait for us.
On Oct. 26, 1950, a soldier from 7th Regiment of ROK 6th Division arrived at Yalu River and scoops its water into his canteen. It was sent to then S. Korean President, Syng-man Rhee |
Ping!
Thank you, TigerLikesRooster. I watch for your posts and translations and appreciate them. You do a tremendous service.
My dad fought in the Korean War. I printed this out for him.
So did my brother and I’m sending this to him.
God Bless the Korean War heroes. Thank you.
Regards
Eternal thanks to those who fought for S. Korea’s freedom.
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ROK Army Paid Back In-Full+ In ‘68,,,White Horse In My Case,
They Are “Band Of Brothers” To Me...TANKS To Them Too...
Thx, TLR. All of my friends/neighbors who were in Korea, are now gone, and are with God. I helped bury the last of them, a week ago.
God Bless The Heroes who still walk amongst us.
Thank You... for leading the way and setting such a strong example.
“Remember, you are the 1st Marines! Not all the Communists in Hell can overrun you!”
Lieutenant General Lewis “Chesty” Burwell Puller
Mine too, I miss him.
Bless those troops from the forgotten war.
I wonder how many missiles Kimmy will launch towards Japan to celebrate the anniversary?
Here’s a link to the “Kim Jong Il-Missile Maniac” video game:
http://www.gsn.com/minigames/minigame.php?id=9
It’s not forgotten to all of us. Many of us have loved ones who did their best in that war.
Thank you for remembering—and posting this. My Dad is a Korean War Army Vet and is getting a copy of this.
TSOA
The photos tell the story.
The Korean War produced some notable acts of heroism. The actions of the US Marines (and a smaller band of British Royal Marines) at Chosin were inspirational. Another battle was that at the Imjin River in 1951. This produced the famous ‘Glorious Glosters’. This force of 700 British troops held off a Chinese Division of 10,000 men in a last stand which earned them a U.S. Presidential Citation. Running out of ammunition they attempted to get back to US lines, but very few managed to do so.
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