Today is that Day

[solo1]

On July 26th, 2017 President Trump signed a proclamation declaring that 27 July is Korean War Veterans Armistice Day.

This is that Day.

Although I was in a support group behind the MLR, I remember that day. At 10PM all sounds of war ceased.  We were relieved.   38,000 KIA's, 7700 MIA's in a 38 month war that included the Chosin Reservoir, Yalu river, 38th parallel, Pusan perimeter, and the Inchon landing by the Marines.

Quoting the Korean War Memorial, "Freedom is No Free".  How true. It applies to all wars. I thank all veterans on this day.   

Wayne, solo1

[DDT (12)]

Wayne,

Thanks for this 'news'... I hadn't heard. A largely unknown or at most little known period in history. I was a school kid and mostly insulated from all of that, but later I was sent to Korea in the mid 60s. I also served with many vets of that conflict, and later worked with many others. One vet I worked with introduced me to a few books that had been written on that conflict, and that in-turn sparked enough interest in me to explore it even further.

I learned so much about leadership from all of that... The role egos, intellects, and 'visions' of geo-political perspectives play in decision-making, and how unavoidable internal conflicts can be! That we are all 'different' due to our own unique life's experiences and myriad other aspects, it is naïve to think we can all be brought 'into line'... Consensus and compromise are the only way, as consistency and uniformity of thought is impossible! Thanks for the 'news', but thanks even more for the flood of memories you've triggered!

DDT

[solo1]

Bruce, many don't know how bad the beginning of the Korean War was. -40 degrees winter in 1950, summer weight clothes, M2 carbines and M1 Garands wouldn't work , Mac Arthur didn't believe that the Chinese would enter the war.

They did and the Marines get trapped by 120,000 Chinese at the Chosin reservoir. The Marines suffered 4,400 battle  casualties, 7300 weather related casualties, and the Army, (Task Force McClain)  protecting the Marine's flank with 2500 troops only had 385 left. Bulldozers and explosives were used to create graves to bury Marines and GI's. The explosives had to break the frozen ground so that the bulldozers could scrape.  It was one of the only times that the Marines couldn't bring back their dead,

The escape route to the port of Hungnam was blocked at Funchilin Pass and a bridge was dropped by parachute to close the gap.  The Marines, the Army, and the refugees were loaded on Navy ships at Hungnam. I have a fellow Korean War vet who was in the Navy on one of those ships. It was bad.

As I said, many do not know the history of the War.

[DDT (12)]

Wayne,

Two of the books I read were authored by vets of the Chosin Reservoir event... one by a Marine, the other a member of the Army Task Force... both tributes to the ability of ordinary people to endure extraordinary challenges! You and I had a mutual friend who told me he was one of the Chosin Frozen… a Marine known to us as RJ... Again, learning about history from someone who was actually there is very special, and it adds great depth to the experience... thanks!!!

DDT

[Avanti]

Thank you for sharing.
History is not all pleasant, but is important to know.

[old2soon]

        Also noted today that n k delivered the remains of some of our war dead from 65 years ago. Reading the article also found out they-n k-are not above mixing animal remains with AMERICAN War dead remains.  Wayne Bruce-thank you for sharing your Very Personal experiences with us. While I am a Nam Vet seeing that article on the U S Remains being returned choked me up a bit. I've been Blessed to attend two P G R Missions for returned Korean War Remains of two of our-U S of A Army-here to the States and Intered near their home towns. Very moving and took far too long. Again-Wayne Bruce-Thank You and Welcome Home. RIDE SAFE.