Jim Scanlon (deceased)
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Post by Jim Scanlon (deceased) on Jul 31, 2011 1:07:44 GMT 9
There are a number of us who served during the Korean War, some in Korea. It has been called "The Forgotten War", with a lot of justification. There are not a lot of books on the Korean War in bookstores. I have read "The Coldest Winter", by David Halberstam, and highly recommend it to you. Below is an article I read this morning about the Korean War. It may be of interest to you. www.newswithviews.com/Lloyd/rees120.htmJim Too :god_bless_usa |
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Post by Jim on Jul 31, 2011 1:33:13 GMT 9
It was too soon after WW2 and was not a "politically correct" War in that there was never any intentions of winning it........ The same for VietNam, Lyndon had no intentions of owinning- it gave him more time to play general "They can't bomb a shithouse without my OK"....... They were forgotten, we were hated................. And Thank God that the average American has some respect for the kids who go in today.. To all of you veterans, whether you served in combat or not............. Thanks :salute
The Old Sarge
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Post by adart on Jul 31, 2011 6:47:09 GMT 9
I'll second that,and by the way thank-you. :god_bless_usa
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MOW
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Post by MOW on Jul 31, 2011 8:12:10 GMT 9
The annual ceremony over here of the anniversary of the signing of the armistice is always a huge affair. Our VFW posts are of course always a leader in the support efforts and the US Forces Korea (USFK) leadership (4-star commander) is always in the spotlight along with the Korean Ministry of Defense and also General Paik Sun Yup, Korea's First 4-Star General and a Korean War Legend here. It is during those times when you see the outward support and appreciation of most of the Korean people, something you all may not see back there in the news, because unfortunately only the bad crap gets headlines. In reality the protesters and a-holes you see on the news are an 'anti everything' organization who travel all over Korea setting up shop just to be a-holes and who could care less about reunification or anything else other than there own political agenda... most are probably sleeper agents anyway. The group actually make up an extremely small % of the population and is considered a joke. While is was called the "The Forgotten War" in the states, it was and is surely far from that over here.  Painting of Capt Paik and Gen MacArthur in Feb 1951  Gen (Ret) Pail Sun Yup meeting with an American Korean War vet during the 2002 ceremony. BTW, my VFW Post 10216, Hill 180 Memorial is so name after a famous battle and the hero of that battle MOH Capt (COL Ret) Lewis Millett www.vfw10216.com/hill180.htm
Long story short (too late I know) regardless of what you hear in the news about protests, plans of US movement out of Korea, reductions in troop strength etc etc etc, we are here to stay for a long time, not only because it's in our best interest (it is), but also at the continued request and unwavering support of the Korean government, defense ministry and the public. |
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Post by Jim on Jul 31, 2011 10:35:46 GMT 9
It is approaching 40 years since I was in Korea as a member of the Military Assistance and Advisory Group-Korea (MAAG or JUSMAAG) attached to the 10th Ftr Wing- ROKAF........ Unlike the rest of the military in Korea, we practically lived with them(I spent several nights on alert with them- their actions on a Scramble would make the best of ADC proud of them) Most of my contacts were top 2 NCOs and Maj, LC and Col and on ocassion BG Yee, The wing CO......We were all basically the same age- and the majority of them had been refugees from the North that joined during the war..... The mechanics learned from the others that had received AF training right after WW2....... They knew Patriotism!!!!!! To commemorate the day that the Forgotten War started, a group of these airmen ( both enlisted and officers) that had fought in that war invited me to visit the site of the first shots fired by US troops -Task Force Smith..... This fight took place about 6 miles south of Suwon in an area between what is now Osan AB and the old base at Suwon. lifentimesofjc.blogspot.com/2011/02/war-memorial-of-korea.html www.army.mil/article/60300/Suwon_AB_holds_Korean_War_memorial_ceremony/ en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Osan I don't know if they still teach about that war in school or not- judging by the student demonstrations being held today, they might well be like America, rewriting or eliminating history.. Those that fought for their freedoms are dying at a rapid pace... I don't know about the financiall arrangements between the US and the ROK, but I would be surprised if it cost us very much, unlike Germany who charges us to defend them..... Don't know for sure, though... This I do know, they make one hell of an ally............ The Old Sarge |
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MOW
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Post by MOW on Jul 31, 2011 15:48:39 GMT 9
It is approaching 40 years since I was in Korea as a member of the Military Assistance and Advisory Group-Korea (MAAG or JUSMAAG) attached to the 10th Ftr Wing- ROKAF........ Unlike the rest of the military in Korea, we practically lived with them(I spent several nights on alert with them- their actions on a Scramble would make the best of ADC proud of them) Most of my contacts were top 2 NCOs and Maj, LC and Col and on ocassion BG Yee, The wing CO......We were all basically the same age- and the majority of them had been refugees from the North that joined during the war..... The mechanics learned from the others that had received AF training right after WW2....... They knew Patriotism!!!!!! To commemorate the day that the Forgotten War started, a group of these airmen ( both enlisted and officers) that had fought in that war invited me to visit the site of the first shots fired by US troops -Task Force Smith..... This fight took place about 6 miles south of Suwon in an area between what is now Osan AB and the old base at Suwon. lifentimesofjc.blogspot.com/2011/02/war-memorial-of-korea.html www.army.mil/article/60300/Suwon_AB_holds_Korean_War_memorial_ceremony/ en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Osan I don't know if they still teach about that war in school or not- judging by the student demonstrations being held today, they might well be like America, rewriting or eliminating history.. Those that fought for their freedoms are dying at a rapid pace... I don't know about the financiall arrangements between the US and the ROK, but I would be surprised if it cost us very much, unlike Germany who charges us to defend them..... Don't know for sure, though... This I do know, they make one hell of an ally............ The Old Sarge I've got a page dedicated to Task Force Smith on my VFW website ( www.vfw10216.com/history_task_force_smith.html ). We (VFW) participate in the annual Task Force Smith Memorial ceremony . With the old Family Support Center, now called Airman and Family Readiness Center, at Osan I used to host a tour to the memorial and walk folks up the hill on the actual paths of the battle field site. The financial arrangements between us is actually pretty good, in fact so good it is at times the main focus of the demonstrators. We do lease the land from the Korean government, but not nearly at any rate like in Europe. Actually the ROK government and Ministry of Defense pay for a lot of things for us such as the High School at Osan, the road/bridge that now connects Yongsan Main and South Posts, the Multi-training Center on Yongsan, which doubles as a triple movie theatre  and more. The schools still teach the history and the War Memorial(s) are still big attractions as learning centers to the Korean public, but the younger kids up until recently just didn't really 'get it'. Even the small skirmishes that still occur along the DMZ, which they do hear about, doesn't really sink in. What has changed a lot of minds over the past 2 years was the sinking of the ship Chonan and the shelling of Yeonpyeong Island, both big events that killed South Koreans at the hands of North Korea and opened up a lot of eyes. Support for the hardcore president Lee Myung-bak has grown tremendously since those events and there are a lot fewer Korean middle and younger class people now screaming for unification as they did before. The ROK is a great ally and friend. We live together, train together, party together and if the time ever comes will stand shoulder to shoulder and fight together. They have done a good job at keeping the past alive so it does not get forgotten or mistakes relived. If you ever get a chance to come to Korea make time to spend a day at the War Memorial of Korea and a day trip to the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) at the Joint Security Area (JSA). It is worth the time :2thumbsup |
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