A TRIBUTE TO KOREAN WAR VETERANS

BY CHARLES E. JOHNSON

MEMORIAL DAY • MAY 29, 2005

VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK • ABINGDON, VA

Good Afternoon!

Today the “forgotten war” is being remembered. This conflict in a far-a-way place, a long time ago is being memorialized at this beautiful site by veterans and others who gave so much when our country asked them, to save a small country from tyranny.

At the Washington D. C. Korean War Memorial, a plaque reads: “Our nation honors her sons and daughters who answered the call to defend a country they never knew and a people they never met.”

Fifty-five years ago next month, on June 25^th, 1950, at 4:00 A.M. the forces of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea began firing on their peaceful neighbor to the south. This action was flashed around the world. The Security Council of the United Nations declared North Korea a “disturber of the peace” and called on member nations to assist the Republic of Korea in resisting the invasion then underway.

The United States and seventeen other nations sent armed units to resist. This was called “The United Nation’s peace action”. It wasn’t until long after that it was called a war – by then it was all but forgotten – “The Forgotten War”.

This action lasted three years and one month – until July 27, 1953. How could anyone alive at the time forget? Least of all those who were there.

More that two million lives were lost during this “conflict”. 54,000 were Americans. The stories of their bravery, heartbreak and losses are legend.

This Nation was just settling down after the conclusion of World War II. Families were reunited – children who saw their fathers come back from battles all around the globe were happy again. Now, all of a sudden things were changing.

When South Korea was invaded in June of 1950, there was very little thought among the Americans in the Army of Occupation in Japan that America was to become involved. A typical story, probably repeated many times, is the one of a Sergeant in Japan, at home with his family, reading a book, nursing a drink, when he was called to headquarters. “I’ll be back as soon as I can he called to his wife.” He got back, (thank god) eleven months later.

This quick exodus from Japan to Korea took everyone by surprise. Many hardly had the time to collect their gear before they were loaded on a plane or embarked on a ship – all bound for Korea.

In the States the surprise was just as complete. Many young men turned to each other and asked “Where’s Korea?” They may have said this as they made their way to the recruiting places – ready to do whatever was necessary if they were needed. And they were.

Training time was abbreviated. Weapons were given to the recruits with just three rounds of ammunition – to sight the rifle in. Then off they went to that strange land.

The action in Korea was rapid and changing: All of our forces were involved: the Army, Marines, Navy, ships and air arm, and the Air Force. The Army and Marines slugged it out on the ground. The Navy provided ships and landing craft for transportation of troops (remember Inchon?) Also the Navy’s Carrier – based aircraft attacked targets of opportunity in the north. The Air Force had their hands full with combats in MIG Alley. Especially when the Chinese and Russians were flying the MIG-15’s.

Seoul, the Capital of South Korea fell on June 28^th, 1950. It was retaken in September of 1950.

By October, 1950 P’yongyang, the Capital of North Korea was taken.

In November U.N. forces were advancing toward the Yalu in the north, but by December they had pulled back from North Korea and on January 4^th, 1951, Seoul was retaken – this time by Chinese Communist Forces.

By January 25^th the U.N forces pulled themselves together and went on the offensive again. This offense continued through February and on March 18^th, 1951, Seoul was retaken from the Communist Chinese Forces. By June the U.N. was back at the 38^th parallel.

Talk of a truce began in July 1951. Talks continued through the rest of ’51 and through 1952. Talks interrupted by bloody battles – then more talks.

And so it went – men fighting and dying while the negotiations dragged on until finally a cease-fire was signed a Panmunjom and the fighting ended on July 27, 1953.

This Memorial is dedicated to those fighting men who gave their energies and yes, many their lives – to preserve the peace and the prestige of America.

I’d like now to pause a moment and to think back – when American committed its Armed Forces into Korea, the American people joined together to make this commitment real. The Armed Forces moved quickly – the forward forces were soon joined by those coming from greater distances. But the will and support of families, of workers, manufacturers, transporters, and all the other tens of thousands of people who made this action possible was felt throughout the land.

I’d like to digress for a moment to illustrate how many unknown men and women contribute vital support for the armed forces fighting a war.

Late in WWII a radio station on the small Japanese island of Chi Chi Jima was targeted for bombing. A squadron of torpedo bombers was assigned this target. The planes took off from a carrier, the USS SAN JACINTO, on the morning of September 2, 1944. The anti-aircraft fire was deadly but the planes that could continued through the wall of explosions and plane after plane bombed their target. One plane was badly damaged but managed to pull out of his dive but got only about 15 miles away when he had to ditch. One of his fellow pilots dropped an inflatable life raft – another radioed the rescue submarine, the USS FINBACK, the downed pilot’s position. After three hours and thirteen minutes this young 20-year old pilot was pulled from the water just before the Japanese were going to take him a prisoner of war.

Many of you know the story of the rescue of this young pilot whose name was George Herbert Walker Bush who later became our 41^st President of the United States.

Years before, when WWII started, a young engineer with Colins Radio, a small company in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, immediately applied for a commission in the Navy. He was accepted, but Colins Radio had him deferred because of his importance to the Company. This engineer, John Sherwood, went back to work – and work he did! Long days, weeks and months, working to improve the communications systems being sent to the armed forces. John invented nine different systems and improvements patented by Colins Radio – systems that very likely helped to make the rescue of George Bush successful.

I didn’t know John Sherwood, but I’ve talked to his colleagues in Colins Radio and they all agree that he was a driving force to produce the best product possible. John dieD some years ago, but today his widow is with us and remembers the many devoted Americans who worked in the background to bring about peace – Mrs. Arlene Sherwood (request to stand up).

This Memorial, then, is dedicated to them, too. When we look at this Memorial, veterans, families, survivors, and all the others who made this hard fought action successful, our hearts fill with pride that WE DID IT! It wasn’t pretty – war never is – but WE DID IT!

So let us remember that we, as a Nation, can be proud and thankful, that we met the task thrust upon us, and showed the world that America performed when our prestige was on the line.

GOD BLESS AMERICA!

THANK YOU.