8th Army remembers veterans at Korean War Memorial

By Sgt. Maj. Shaun HerronOctober 19, 2015

8th Army remembers veterans at Korean War Memorial
Command Sgt. Maj. Rick Merritt of 8th Army, right, and Maj. Gen. David Puster, deputy commanding general for support of 8th Army, center, lay wreath at the Korean War Memorial in Washington, D.C., Oct. 14. The two are assisted by a member of the 3rd... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

WASHINGTON (Army News Service, Oct. 16, 2015) -- Representatives of 8th Army laid wreaths at the Korean War Memorial here, Oct. 14, to commemorate those who fought to defend freedom on the Korean peninsula.

Maj. Gen. David Puster, deputy commanding general for support of 8th Army, spoke to more than 80 veterans of the three-year-long conflict shortly before the ceremony to remind them their service has not been forgotten.

"As we look upon this stirring memorial, we mourn for those who gave their lives, but as we consider the result of their sacrifice, we must also celebrate their accomplishments," Puster said.

"The veterans of the Korean War live on in the nearly 30,000 American Soldiers in the Republic of Korea today who live in service to that same freedom. And they live on in the lives of tens of millions of free South Koreans whose country's resurgence is nothing short of miraculous."

Puster highlighted the recovery of a country ravaged by war 64 years ago, noting that from the rubble, the people of South Korea have created a democratic government and the 10th largest economy in the world.

He attributed these accomplishments primarily to a shared commitment between U.S. forces and the South Korean people to defending the freedom secured by those who fought in the Korean War, which began, June 25, 1950, and ended with an armistice on July 27, 1953.

The war took the lives of more 33,000 American Soldiers and wounded nearly 100,000. In all, on both sides of the conflict, more than 4.4 million military personnel and civilians were wounded, killed or went missing in action.

For 8th Army Command Sergeant Major Rick Merritt, it was a personal honor to be a part of the ceremony.

"I felt this was where I was meant to be today," he said. "I also was honoring my father who kept the alliance strong for 8th Army when he was stationed at Camp Casey 60 years ago."

Merritt's personal connection to those who fought on the Korean peninsula extended beyond his father, and those he serves with in his current position.

"My wife Elizabeth's father, a three-war veteran (World War II, Korea, and Vietnam) who earned four Silver Stars and four Purple Hearts, told me the Korean War was the hardest he had to fight. He said the Korean War was three years of non-stop battle. The action did not let up from the Busan Perimeter thru Inchon, and all the way up to the Yalu River to China. On top of the countless hills he also had to combat the elements," said Merritt, "especially an extremely cold winter during the war."

The ceremony at the memorial lasted less than 10 minutes. A wreath was laid by Rocky Park, president of the Korea Corporate Members of AUSA organization, and Command Sgt. Maj. John Wayne Troxell, senior enlisted advisor to United States Forces Korea. This was followed by the wreath being laid by the Eight Army representatives, Puster and Merritt and a lone bugler playing Taps.

Following the ceremony, which was open to the public, members of the official party spoke with many of the onlookers, both from the veterans from the South Carolina Honor Flight and others who happened to be visiting the site from around the world.

Related Links:

The Korean War