Remembering the Korean War 60 Years Later: 1950-53

On the 25th of June 1950, the North Korean army crossed the 38th parallel and invaded South Korea to begin what was a three-year war often called 'The Forgotten War. '

President Harry Truman responded within two days by sending US air and sea forces into action to aid south Korea; the same day the United Nations passed a resolution urging member states to send defense troops in what it called a 'Police Action'. (20 member states answered the call of duty)

President Truman viewed the invasion as an attempt by the Soviet Union to extend its influence in East Asia. He commented that our troops fought with 'grim gallantry' enduring the brutally cold winters and the excruciatingly hot summers.

54,000 Americans died in combat. 110,000 were either wounded or missing in action. Over 1.8 million troopers "answered the call to defend a country they never knew and a people they never met." (quote from the National Korean War Memorial in Washington)

Click on the link below (or copy and paste to your browser window) to see General David Petraeus as the keynote speaker at the Korean War Veterans Appreciation Ceremony at independence , Missouri this June recognizing the 60th anniversary of the start of this historic war.

http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/id/226633

At about 55 minutes into the video, the General pays homage to all Korean War Veterans and to two living soldiers who were present: Marine Private First Class Richard Nightingale who was awarded the Silver Star Medal the nation's third highest award for valor and Sergeant Francis Schwartze, the Distinguished Service Cross, the nation's second highest award for valor.

As a footnote this is a war that is indelibly etched into my memory. I recall vividly as a child the names Pork Chop Hill, Old Baldy (Hill 266), Inchon Amphibious Invasion, President Harry Truman (whom I later met in person) , General Douglas McCarthur, General Matthew Ridgeway, The F-86 Sabrejet (which made its wartime debut downing hundreds of Soviet built MIG 15 war planes) and MIG Alley.

This war is not to be forgotten.

Accolades and medals to all those who served!
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