POEMS STORIES LINKS LETTERS
PAGE UNDER CONSTRUCTION
KOREA
The Korean War is often referred to as ‘The Forgotten War’. The two sides polarized by North and South each began as political movements. One (The North) supported by communist powers (most notably China) and the other (the South) by the Western world and eventually the United Nations. On June 25th 1950 after failing to gain power in the South via democratic elections the communist North Korean faction attempted a large scale military take over of the officially partitioned south. The greater part of the war was confined between the years of 1950 and 1953 when an armistice was signed on July 27th.
In South Korea, the war is often called 6·25 or 6·25 War (Korean: 6·25
The North initiated a forceful attempt to annexe the South on realisation that the democratic political ideology of the South was beginning to strengthen among the people of the North.
Initially the outnumbered and overpowered South Koreans seemed to have been defeated. However when the UN gave support for outside military involvement, the North Koreans were soon pushed back by an American led UN force.
Toward the end of 1950 this force had pushed the communists beyond the previously
recognised North -
Rather than halting the USA drove further north.
It is at this point that China became involved, claiming that their borders were threatened by America.
China entered the Korean war in support of the North (having already been financially and materially supporting the North). Employing combat and manoeuvre tactics very well they became a formidable enemy.
The resulting situation yielded extremely high casualties on both sides
Casualty figures
USA
36,000+ KIA
92,000+ WIA
15,000+ MIA
UK
1,100 KIA
2,674 WIA
1,060 MIA
THIS PAGE IS FOR VETERANS OF THE KOREAN WAR.
IF YOU WISH TO SEND IN PHOTOGRAPHS OR LETTERS PLEASE DO SO.
WE CAN PUBLISH SHORT STORIES HERE AND LONGER ONES IN THE FEATURES SECTION.
WE WILL ALSO ADVERTISE YOUR BOOKS AND YOUR ASSOCIATIONS IN THIS SECTION.
LETTER TO KOREAN VETERANS FROM BUZZ ALDRIN
BUZZALDRUM, PHD
Astronaut Gemini XIIP Apollo VIII, Apollo XI (First Moon Landing]
Buzz Aldrin on the Moon
Dear Friend
When a veteran cries there's a reason I want to share
those reasons with, you,
I am Buzz Aldrin. In 1963, Neil Armstrong and I became the first two men to ever
walk: on the moon. What most people don't know is that before I became an astronaut.
I was a combat pilot in the Korean War where I flew 66 combat missions and shot down
two Mig-
But the facts are that Korea was. The bloodiest war in world history . Over 36000 Americans lost their lives, while another 103.000 were wounded
Yet (some high school history books devote nearly as many pages to Betty Friedan and the feminist movement as they do to the Korean War
It seems for some, the Korean War is little more than an asterisk in American history. Those of us who fought there know differently
In fact, I'd like to tell you the incredible story of Roy You will have a hard time believing it.
Roy joined the Army on a ten dollar bet and he wound up in Korea in July of 1550. His regiment was in 31 days of fighting and they found themselves deep in enemy territory.
Roy and other members of his unit were taken prisoner by the North Koreans and were force to marched, for three days and four nights with little food and almost no
One American slipped out of the bonds that tied him to the other prisoners When the North Koreans found cut they beheaded
Then, on the morning of August IS, 1950, Roy and the other 47 or so POWs were lined
up. And machine-
Roy was hit 5 times and was bleeding heavily. Somehow, he
maintained consciousness and knowing the enemy would be back, he managed to crawl underneath the body of one of the dead GIs.
Then the North Koreans returned they started sticking bayonets in the bodies, checking for survivors.
Roy grunted when they stabbed him in the leg, but the North Korean soldier thought the sound came from the dead body on top of Roy so he shot the corpse two more times.
Both bullets passed through. the body and struck Roy, giving him a total of 7 bullet wounds.
As the North Korean troops moved on, Roy struggled to get away and he was shot 5 more times in the back. .
Unbelievably, he was able to keep going until he came across an American patrol, which started firing at him, believing .him to be the enemy. One of the bullets actually grazed his head before he managed to yell at them and tell them he was an American.
While Roy spent the next 18 mouths in hospitals recovering from his wounds, news of the massacre of the POWs spread and he
became a national celebrity.
In spite of his celebrity however, there was no big party to honor him when he came
home -
And he was so discouraged, when he had to fight the veterans for military disability benefits .
Like many combat veterans, he found himself in need of psychiatric care. However, when his psychiatrist told him he should not let his hellish experience's to bother him any more,
he quit going to see her.
How can you tell me that this shouldn't bother me any more he asked with tears in his eyes. "It's never
happened to you."
When a Veteran cries there's a good reason.
One other story I'd like to share with you.
In August of 1953, 20 year old Jim Murphy was sent to the DMZ in Korea to represent his infantry regiment as POWs were exchanged between U.N forces and Morth Korea.
Jim was stunned at what lie saw . . . the POWs 'struggled, hobbled and staggered, gaunt and emaciated, toward friendly faces
Long lines of dull-
"...when he lurched forward, an MP major called for help. The soldier waved him off with his skeleton hands and arms. "
"Looking around at the grinning faces, he caught sight of the three color-
the American flag-
"Other than the clicks of the Cameras, the village was cemetery-
"After several moments froze. for eternity the stillness was broken by the sound of the heavy boots of the MP Major, who came crunching across the gravel, his cheeks moist and glistening. He Dent down and tenderly scooped the soldier up in is muscular arms and carried him off to a waiting ambulance much as a father would carry a baby."
When a Veteran, cries, there is a reason.
These are only two of the thousands of stories from the "Forgotten. War." But they will be lost for all time if they are not recorded soon so that they can be passed along to future
That's what the Korean War Veterans Museum
Page four
Library is all about, preserving and passing along the stories of these brave men.
's why I'm proud and honored to be a member, of the Advisory Board o£ the Korean War veterans national Museum and Library
When Roy Manning recently learned that his grandson wasn't
taught anything about the Korean War in high school, he couldn1' believe it. How could that happen?
That's why the National Museum & Library was established, to make sure the sacrifices
of those who served -
Manning and the POW who broke down and wept upon seeing the American flag should never forgotten.
The average age of Korean War Veterans is now average 65 and many are already gone so we can't wait any longer to get their stories and include them in the Korean War Museum.
If we don't record their stories now, we will never have another chance and the Korean, war will truly be the
"Forgotten War."
I think men like Roy Manning and the POW who clutched the American flag deserve more than that, don't you agree?
The Korean War Veterans National Museum and Library is the only museum or library in the United States devoted exclusively to the Korean War.
It's located in the heartland of America, near Champaign Urbana, Illinois and the University of Illinois, with which it has established a special relationship.
The Museum is the only one of its kind devoted entirely to preserving the stories and the legacy or the men like Roy Kanring who served their country with honor and valor.
The Museum will not only reach those who visit, but will also provide lesson plans
for school teachers and a traveling exhibit that will take the story of Korean War
Veterans to -
The Museum will also contain lesson plans for school teachers contain a registry of those who
Served in Korea. No other registry of Korean War veterans exists in one location.
But acquiring the artifacts and capturing the stories of the Korean
War Veterans and developing the education programs all cost a great deal
of money -
Well I am determined that the Korean War will not be forgotten.
And I'm determined the sacrifices of. Roy Marring and the POW Jim Murphy wrote about and all the others. Who will never be forgotten?
Will you help us? Will you. Help make sure that the sacrifices of Roy Manning and all the others will forever be honored by future generations of Americans?
.
THE FINAL INSPECTION (a poem by Arthur Lane)
The soldier stood and faced his God
Which must always come to pass
He hoped his shoes were shining bright
As brightly as his brass
Step forward now soldier, how shall I deal
with you
Have you turned the other cheek?
To my church have you been true?
The soldier squared his shoulders and said
"No Lord I guess I ain't
Because those of us who carry guns can't
always be a saint
But I never took a thing that wasn't mine
to keep
Though I worked a lot of overtime
When the bills got just too steep
And I never passed a cry for help
Though at times I shook with fear,
And sometimes God forgive me
I wept unmanly tears
I know I don't deserve a place
Among the people here
They never wanted me around
Except to calm their fears
If you've a place for me here Lord
It needn't be so grand
I never expected or had too much
But if you don't I'll understand
There was silence all around the throne
Where the saints often trod
As the soldier waited quietly
For the judgement of his God
"Step forward now soldier
You've borne your burdens well
Walk peacefully on heavens streets
You've done your time in hell"
The Forgotten One (By Cyril Crane)
Why does no one pause by my grave?
After all, I too was brave.
They pass me by and kneel and pray
At a nearby grave or across the way.
I also fought for what was right
And here I lay by day and night.
Is there a reason why they pass me by?
If there is, please tell me why.
I turned away with puzzled mind,
The answer to his words to find.
Then I looked upon the stone
Of a gallant soldier, name unknown.
So remember if you pass his way,
Pause a while to chat and pray.
CANADA
516 KIA
1,000+ WIA
AUSTRALIA
329 KIA
1,000+WIA
FRANCE
300 KIA
TURKEY
721 KIA
Author of ‘KOREA -
