Daegu, Republic of Korea - The 19th Expeditionary Sustainment Command held a ribbon-cutting ceremony, hosted by Brig. Gen. Jin H. Pak, on July 11 at the 19th ESC headquarters building in Daegu. Officially designating its command conference room named after the late retired Brigadier General Richard Seabury Whitcomb.
It was November of the same year when the Korean War ended under Korean Armistice Agreement that a great fire broke out in Busan in 1953. He provided military supplies to save thousands of victims. Due to his actions, he was summoned to the US Congressional hearing, but received a standing ovation for saying “War is done by weapons and it remains undone, unless it is done for the sake of the people in the country.”
“War is done by weapons and it remains undone, unless it is done for the sake of the people in the country.”
“We gather not only to commemorate a physical space but to honor the enduring legacy of General Richard Whitcomb,” said Brig. Gen. Pak during his remarks. “General Whitcomb's commitment to Korea following the Korean War exemplifies true leadership and compassion,” Pak added.
Richard Seabury Whitcomb (1894-1982) was born in Kansas, US in 1894. Being commissioned after finishing the ROTC program. Gen. Whitcomb fought in World War I and World War II, and in 1953, he came to Korea for the first time as the commander of the US 2nd Logistics Support Base in Busan. After the Korean War, General Whitcomb chose to stay in Korea and devoted his life to helping the country and its people.
After the Korean War, Whitcomb chose to stay in Korea and devoted his life to helping the country and its people, focusing on reconstruction efforts, and caring for war orphans.
“Before he passed away, I didn't realize that General Whitcomb dedicated his life to rebuilding post-war Korea, building universities and hospitals, caring for war orphans, and repatriating the remains of American soldiers,” said Whitcomb's daughter, Dr. Min, Tae Jeong, President of the Whitcomb House of Hope Foundation. “I remember him being humble, respectful of Korea, and loving Korea so much that he wanted to be buried in Korea when he passed away.”
His enduring legacy as a visionary leader and dedicated humanitarian continues to inspire and exemplify the U.S. Army's commitment to serving communities in need.
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