Korean War
A Famous Landing and an Infamous Missile Launch
Yesterday, the 67th anniversary of the Inchon Landing, was a particularly memorable Friday. For South Koreans, the commemoration of one of the boldest, most successful amphibious operations in military history began with a typical early-morning commute and “Americano” – the coffee drink of choice for millions of Koreans. But, as has been the case all…
Read MoreHonoring Our POW/MIA’s – You Are Not Forgotten
As a school kid in the 1970’s, I remember seeing the six letters “POW” and “MIA” on bumper stickers, billboards, and flags and wondering, “What do they mean?” and “Does it stand for something, or is it just a person or new fad?” I wasn’t sure, and as a know-it-all middle schooler, I wasn’t about to…
Read MoreLong Live the Lane Victory!
She’s a survivor. SS Lane Victory, one of 534 “Victory” class cargo ships built during World War II, has a proud and storied history. From trans-Pacific operations during the final months of World War II, to rescuing over 7,000 North Korean refugees in December 1950, to delivering supplies throughout the Vietnam War, Lane Victory and…
Read MoreA Korean War Veteran, Bluegrass & Barbeque, and the Dillard House
It was a picture perfect day. The weather, music, food, and new friends we made all came together for one of those memorable events that, as we say in the South (the South of the United States, that is), “doesn’t get much better than that.” It was the weekend of the 21st Annual Dillard Bluegrass…
Read MoreArmistice Day – 64 Years Later
After three years and one month, the guns stopped firing, the bombs stopped dropping, and the people stopped dying. The fighting was over. But the war wasn’t. On July 27, 1953, now remembered as Armistice Day, an agreement was signed, bringing a ceasefire to the ravaged Korean peninsula. Wars end with a peace treaty, not…
Read MoreHow Could We Ever Forget You?
“How Could We Ever Forget You?” For those who fought in the “Forgotten War,” it’s a rhetorical question they rarely hear. But this past June in Houston, hundreds of Korean War veterans, their relatives, and guests attended a commemoration of the 67th anniversary of the start of the Korean War. Like similar events held around…
Read MorePodcast – Col. Edward Forney and the Hungnam Evacuation
Walking from Farragut West station towards the offices of Korea Economic Institute of America, I was excited. I was also tired. I had just arrived from Seoul, and the 17 hours of flying and restless lapses into semi-consciousness on the plane were catching up with me. No worries, I thought. It’s not every day you…
Read MoreThe Underestimation Game
As US soldiers and Marines moved closer to China in November of 1950, General Douglas MacArthur – and many top American military and government officials – refused to believe Mao. The Chinese leader had repeatedly warned that dire consequences would befall American forces threatening his border. Few listened. And those who did had no sway…
Read MoreThe Only Time and Place
It’s only happened once. And the chances of it happening again are slim to none. When North Korea attacked across the 38th parallel on June 25, 1950, and captured Seoul three days later, the UN took action. With the adoption of Security Council Resolution 84 on July 7, combat troops were sent to the Republic…
Read MoreMay the Circle Be Unbroken
They boarded a ship on December 19, 1950, and never returned. None of them could have imagined on that fateful day 67 years ago that they were saying goodbye to family and friends – forever. But they survived. With the help of Dr. Hyun Bong-Hak, a Korean doctor who was determined to save them, and…
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