June 25th, 1950.
North Korea invades the South. My father served in country 1951-53 and myself 1978-81.
North Korea invades the South. My father served in country 1951-53 and myself 1978-81.
The Korean War Begins - 75 Years Ago Today
- Thread starter Kevin J.
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Thank you for this reminder.
My father served in the USMC at the tail-end of the war; didn’t deploy there but his in-service dates cause him to be counted as a war veteran in the eyes of the VA, at least.
My father served in the USMC at the tail-end of the war; didn’t deploy there but his in-service dates cause him to be counted as a war veteran in the eyes of the VA, at least.
OP
It looks like it maybe still the "Forgotten War" as I have not seen any comment from the usual TV talking heads on this today.
...my mother was pregnant with me when my father was shipped out to Korea. My birthday is November 29th and I will be 75 this year. He lost the vision in his left eye in combat, but about the only thing he couldn't do was play ping-pong well due to no depth perception.
He would never really talk much about his experiences but was VERY much against me enlisting when the Vietnam conflict began to heat up.
He would never really talk much about his experiences but was VERY much against me enlisting when the Vietnam conflict began to heat up.
Deke Thornton
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My grandfather was a WWII vet (Navy). After he got home he got married, had kids, and got a job at the mill just like everybody else. One day there was a trailer at the mill entrance, recruiting for the Reserves. A little extra money every month sounded good, and the world was at peace, so why not? All the vets signed up.
A year or so later, they were all on their way to Korea.
A couple years after Korea ended, he was walking to work one morning and heard a noise that he described as sounding like the county fair, with lots of shouting and laughing. The Reserves trailer was back, this time with a big sign that read "GUARANTEED NO THREE TIME LOSERS!" He said no one signed up that time.
A year or so later, they were all on their way to Korea.
A couple years after Korea ended, he was walking to work one morning and heard a noise that he described as sounding like the county fair, with lots of shouting and laughing. The Reserves trailer was back, this time with a big sign that read "GUARANTEED NO THREE TIME LOSERS!" He said no one signed up that time.
My Dad was pulled out of law school, having just finished his 1st year. Was a company XO in a tank company, 7th ID. His second war. Enlisted infantryman in WWII.
Thanks to all of you and family members who served to protect the rest pf us.
Harrison
US Veteran
I spent two wonderful tours in Korea. First with the 7th Infantry Div, 65-66. Second with the 2d Infantry Div. 79-80. Both up near the the DMZ.
My Dad was there, too. He had some interesting times there.
During my time in the Navy Reserve Intelligence Program, I got the opportunity to visit Korea for an exercise called ULCHI FOCUS LENS. It is an annual exercise (with a new name these days) involving simulated command post operations, and it is focused on wartime planning in the event that the North Koreans do it again.
South Korea is quite ready........
South Korea is quite ready........
BLACKHAWKNJ
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The Army of 1950 had been subject to years of budget cuts. I read when the fighting started there were 3600 tanks Stateside. Only 900 ran.
HardToHandle
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My commentary on this worthy topic was to remember Task Force Smith, the delaying force inserted into South Korea immediately following the invasion. In my days of the U.S. Army (1990s), TF Smith would occasionally be invoked as what we didn’t want to be and the type of situation the Army had to avoid putting soldiers into.
That’s because U.S. soldiers will volunteer for a near-suicide mission… And fight against overwhelming odds. Going into battle with 120 rounds of ammo, two days rations and carrying dud ordinance should have never happened, nor should ever occur in the future.
If you have an opportunity, perhaps you can lift a drink in honor of Task Force Smith and the men who never left Korea.
Battle of Osan - Wikipedia
My wife's uncle was in Korea 51-52, artillery. Her Dad was there at the very end of the war, 53-54, Signal Corps.
I don't think these men get the credit they deserve at all. And as the years pass, so do the veterans, and the memories.
I don't think these men get the credit they deserve at all. And as the years pass, so do the veterans, and the memories.
DWalt
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History Channel occasionally broadcasts their older four-part series called The Korean War: Fire and Ice. A fairly accurate assessment of the war from beginning to end. Something I have always remembered is the comment made about those GIs on occupation duty in Japan who were the first to be sent into action when the war started - “They all knew far more about whorehouses than Howitzers.” Those were the GIs who made up Task Force Smith. I once long ago worked with a retired USMC Colonel who had fought in the WWII Pacific campaign and later in Korea. He said Korea was much worse. I have mentioned here before about his M1 Carbine comment - “No one I shot with my carbine ever got up.” From his stories, I believe that was many of the enemy who never got up.
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remshooter
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my Uncle was an Army Infantryman . He was killed on Heartbreak ridge .in 1951 ..Mom said granma was never the same after that
My father was 1st Marine Division, 1st Motor Transport Batallion. Inchon to Soeul to Wonson to Chosin Reservoir to hospital ship. I had to learn about the Korean war on my own. He refused to talk about it.
I like to think they did some good there, seeing what a prosperous place South Korea became. A real tribute to their efforts and sacrifice.
I like to think they did some good there, seeing what a prosperous place South Korea became. A real tribute to their efforts and sacrifice.
BLACKHAWKNJ
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The Army of 1950 had been subject to years of budget cuts, it was understrength, underequipped, undertrained. The ROK of 1950 was pretty much a constabulary, a far cry from the formidable force we know today
Read an account of the fighting for the Pusan Perimeter, one Marine company commander tried to form up his troops for a counterattack, half were down with heat exhaustion.
Read an account of the fighting for the Pusan Perimeter, one Marine company commander tried to form up his troops for a counterattack, half were down with heat exhaustion.
A favorite uncle was with the 25th ID. He was wounded in a mortar attack on Old Baldy. He didn’t speak much of his experiences but did tell the story of how those medics carried him on a stretcher thru that mortar barrage to be placed on the skids of the evacuation helio (I assume it was the old Bell 47 that you see on MASH). He said he was passing in and out of consciousness and just happened to look down as the helio took off. With the ground now dropping away he thought that he’d died and was going to Heaven. That was alright with him till he turned his head and saw the pilots boot thru the big plexiglass nose. Thinking the boot was St. Peter kicking him out of Heaven, he passed out again. It was over a year and half a dozen surgeries before he was released.
I can also remember my mom, his older sister, passing out when she received the initial telegram advising that he was MIA.
I can also remember my mom, his older sister, passing out when she received the initial telegram advising that he was MIA.
