Veterans return to Korea for closure; through a lottery, some 400 American Korean War vets met in Seoul to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Korean War's end

VFW Magazine, Oct, 2003

In the company of 141 veterans, Commander-in-Chief Ed Banas flew to Korea for the 50th anniversary of the signing of the armistice. Of those veterans, he said one-third were VFW members.

When the plane landed in Seoul, Banas said there was a lot of emotion. "Some were actually shaking, and some had tears in their eyes," he said. "No one was loud, they were all humble. They were proud of their service, and, to a degree, at peace with themselves.

"They saw a new Korea living in prosperity and peace. They were proud of their service and sacrifices that were required for the transformation."

For many, like George Cox of Post 6772 in Spencerville, Ohio, the return brought a sense of closure. He escorted his brother's body home on July 23, 1953. "I often wondered if he died in vain," Cox said. "We feel much better knowing the South Korean people took their freedom and put it on a mantel for the world to see."

Bob Conrad of Naples, Fla., who belongs to Post 985 in Goshen, Ind., noted the appreciation of the South Koreans.

"Korean business leaders and others expressed their gratitude time and again for the sacrifices by U.S. and U.N. soldiers in saving their country from communism," the Korean War vet said. "Nearly 50 million people are enjoying freedom in a growing South Korea."

Conrad was one of the VFW members selected by lottery to attend the ceremony. He submitted his name through an ad in VFW magazine (some 5,000 members responded) and was selected for the all-expenses paid trip to Korea, courtesy of the Federation of Korean Industries.

After attending the commemoration, Cox and his fellow vets also visited U.S. troops serving on the 38th Parallel and other places in Korea. "They really make us very proud of them," he said.

Additionally, Conrad attended a barbecue hosted by Post 8180 and the Eighth Army in Seoul for returning vets and their guests. "It was a great evening, and the Post members and service personnel deserve our thanks," he said.

For Banas, the trip's highlight was being in the company of America's Korean War vets. "One of the veterans told me, 'This is the first time I've ever been in South Korea. I did all my fighting in the North,'" Banas remarked. "Visiting with fine men like that made this trip more significant to me."