HONORING KOREAN WAR VETERANS
72 years ago this week at the Chosin Reservoir in North Korea. This post is dedicated in honor of all who fought with great courage and made tremendous sacrifices in fighting against North Korean and Chinese communists, with utmost respect and never-ending gratitude.
PHOTO CAPTION:
Photo taken on November 15, 1950 - Chosin (Jangjin) Reservoir, North Korea: "Corporal Jack Felts, of Houston, TX, and PFC. Jerry Conover, of Seattle, WA, both of the U.S. Marines, man a machine gun at a post set up on the way to the Chosin (Changjin) Reservoir. At latest reports, the Marines were only a mile from the rim of the reservoir." (Bettmann- Getty Images)
"THEY WERE SO YOUNG..." - Korean War, November 15, 1950
As you can see in this Korean War photo from 72 years ago this week, these 2 Marines look very young. They look to be less than 18 years old. One of the Korean War veterans I know said he received his draft notice for Korea, right after his high school graduation. I also know many more veterans who tell me they lied about their age and got into the military service even as young as 16 years of age.
The majority of the soldiers and Marines who fought on the ground in Korea, were 18 to 20 years old. In this photo, Corporal Jack Felts of Houston and Private First Class Jerry Conover are manning a machine gun at the Chosin Reservoir in North Korea. This looks to be the calm before the storm. Soon these Marines would find themselves totally surrounded and outnumbered by an overwhelming force of the Chinese Communist soldiers. Many lost their lives in the Battle of Chosin Reservoir while fighting an overwhelming force of the Chinese and also due to the freezing temperatures of 30 below zero.
I looked up the names of these 2 young Marines in the Korean War casualty database and thankfully, their names do not appear on the casualty list. Incredibly, both Corporal Felt and PFC Conover survived the Battle of Chosin Reservoir and the Korean War. I am so grateful that they both survived and made it home.
Though they were young, their courage was well beyond their years. It is humbling to know that these young men, despite their youth, fought courageously as men, and ultimately saved a country and its people from the grips of the evil North Korean communist regime.
So many of these young men who were killed, never had the opportunity to live out their lives. They never got to marry, have children, and have a family. They gave their preicous lives and their tomorrows.
As a Korean American, I am grateful beyond words can ever describe, for these brave young men, who fought and gave their lives to save my family and the people of South Korea and gave us our cherished freedoms.
During the Korean War, over 36,000 Americans sacrificed their lives and over 8,100 became missing in action. Today, there are still 7,554 Americans missing in Korea. Every day that I live in freedom, I remember these heroes and pray for the return of those who are still missing. Their incredible courage and sacrifices will never be forgotten. I will always remember that Freedom is NOT free.
They will always have my undying gratitude and respect. With everlasting love, gratitude, and respect to these greatest of heroes, Susan Kee - Honoring Korean War Veterans
HONORING KOREAN WAR VETERANS
72 years ago this week at the Chosin Reservoir in North Korea. This post is dedicated in honor of all who fought with great courage and made tremendous sacrifices in fighting against North Korean and Chinese communists, with utmost respect and never-ending gratitude.
PHOTO CAPTION:
Photo taken on November 15, 1950 - Chosin (Jangjin) Reservoir, North Korea: "Corporal Jack Felts, of Houston, TX, and PFC. Jerry Conover, of Seattle, WA, both of the U.S. Marines, man a machine gun at a post set up on the way to the Chosin (Changjin) Reservoir. At latest reports, the Marines were only a mile from the rim of the reservoir." (Bettmann- Getty Images)
"THEY WERE SO YOUNG..." - Korean War, November 15, 1950
As you can see in this Korean War photo from 72 years ago this week, these 2 Marines look very young. They look to be less than 18 years old. One of the Korean War veterans I know said he received his draft notice for Korea, right after his high school graduation. I also know many more veterans who tell me they lied about their age and got into the military service even as young as 16 years of age.
The majority of the soldiers and Marines who fought on the ground in Korea, were 18 to 20 years old. In this photo, Corporal Jack Felts of Houston and Private First Class Jerry Conover are manning a machine gun at the Chosin Reservoir in North Korea. This looks to be the calm before the storm. Soon these Marines would find themselves totally surrounded and outnumbered by an overwhelming force of the Chinese Communist soldiers. Many lost their lives in the Battle of Chosin Reservoir while fighting an overwhelming force of the Chinese and also due to the freezing temperatures of 30 below zero.
I looked up the names of these 2 young Marines in the Korean War casualty database and thankfully, their names do not appear on the casualty list. Incredibly, both Corporal Felt and PFC Conover survived the Battle of Chosin Reservoir and the Korean War. I am so grateful that they both survived and made it home.
Though they were young, their courage was well beyond their years. It is humbling to know that these young men, despite their youth, fought courageously as men, and ultimately saved a country and its people from the grips of the evil North Korean communist regime.
So many of these young men who were killed, never had the opportunity to live out their lives. They never got to marry, have children, and have a family. They gave their preicous lives and their tomorrows.
As a Korean American, I am grateful beyond words can ever describe, for these brave young men, who fought and gave their lives to save my family and the people of South Korea and gave us our cherished freedoms.
During the Korean War, over 36,000 Americans sacrificed their lives and over 8,100 became missing in action. Today, there are still 7,554 Americans missing in Korea. Every day that I live in freedom, I remember these heroes and pray for the return of those who are still missing. Their incredible courage and sacrifices will never be forgotten. I will always remember that Freedom is NOT free.
They will always have my undying gratitude and respect. With everlasting love, gratitude, and respect to these greatest of heroes, Susan Kee - Honoring Korean War Veterans
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