Honoring veterans: past & present: two groups of vets rate special recognition this month: those now arriving home from Iraq and those who left Korea 50 years ago

VFW Magazine, June-July, 2003 by Raymond C. Sisk

America's three-week war with the regime in Iraq was mercifully swift and relatively light in terms of casualties. But to the families of the 146 American dead, there was nothing "relative" about their losses. Our first thoughts go to them and those with whom they served.

As this newest generation of war veterans returns home, our organization will be first to address their readjustment needs. Their service and concerns will be the focus of many articles in the magazine in upcoming months.

So for now, let me turn to the 1.6 million Americans who served in Korea from 1950-53. Unfortunately, they have not been the focus of media attention over the past three 50th anniversary years. With the exception of our magazine, one other and a few early documentaries, Korean War veterans have been banished to the dustbin of history. This is just plain wrong.

VFW can be proud of its contribution to commemorating the service and sacrifices of Korean War veterans. Our special June/July issue concludes a three-year-long series that contained more than 50 articles. Hopefully, we have paid adequate tribute, especially to the 36, 576 Americans killed there.

Such a tribute is well-deserved. For as Reader's Digest once termed them, they are "veterans of a forgotten victory." Today, South Korea is free to elect its own government and create prosperity through free enterprise. Its survival is testament to the service rendered by a generation of soldiers a half-century ago.

This accomplishment has been too easily dismissed or buried in history altogether. When past wars are discussed in the media, how often does Korea ever get mentioned? Comparisons with Vietnam and WWII were common during the recent Iraq War, but Korea was virtually never brought up.

This is symptomatic of their public treatment for 50 years. Even when the Korean War Memorial was dedicated in 1995, it was still overshadowed by coverage of WWII events. What many vets of that combat went through is the stuff of Hollywood, yet no movie has been made about them in decades. Books should have been forthcoming in large numbers in the last few years, but only a relative handful have been published.

America has one last chance to show its gratitude in July. When the 50th anniversary commemoration of the war's end takes place on July 27, the public should turn out in force. The media--newspapers, magazines and TV documentaries--should extol the achievements of these forgotten vets.

But whatever happens, VFW can always look back with pride on its efforts to remember. Despite public apathy, our organization fulfilled its commitment to a select group of Americans who made history.

As the late Richard G. Stilwell, the original chairman of the Korean War Memorial, said, "We stayed the course and provided a shield behind which the citizens of South Korea have created what is virtually a miracle ... Stand tall in pride. You won big!"