Korean War veterans from all branches of service gathered Thursday morning in the Pentagon Courtyard to remember the sacrifices made 60 years ago during the Korean War.
The Korean War 60th Anniversary Opening Ceremony commemorated the honor of all veterans, both past and present, who served in the three-year conflict in the Korean Peninsula between 1950 and 1953, as well as their families.
Guest speakers included His Excellency Han Duk-soo, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea and the Honorable Joseph W. Westphal, Under Secretary of the Army, who hosted the event. Other guests in attendance included senior Defense Department dignitaries, members of Congress and representatives of the Allied Nations.
"The Korea and U.S. alliance - an alliance forged in blood - is still strong and valued by both sides today. This is why we call the Korean War a true victory," Duk-soo told the crowd of service members and veterans. "You won freedom, democracy and prosperity for our nation. That is what you fought for, and that is what the republic of Korea stands for now - not just for itself, but around the world."
"Today we honor you and the 36,000 of your brothers in arms who gave their lives so that Korea could be free," he added. "For that, the Korean people are eternally grateful to you and all of them."
Two distinguished Army veterans of the Korean War were also recognized during the ceremony - Ronald E. Rosser and David W. Mills.
A Medal of Honor recipient, Rosser distinguished himself through actions above and beyond the call of duty on January 12, 1952 near the town of Ponggilli, Korea, while his company assaulted a Chinese position. After fighting and going back for more ammunition multiple times, Cpl. Rosser was wounded, but he still made several trips across open terrain under enemy fire to help his injured comrades.
Mills received the Korean War Prisoner-of-War Medal and a Purple Heart. He was awarded these decorations for his courageous actions fighting the enemy April 24, 1953 in Surang-ni Village. At only 17 years old, Pvt. Mills was shot nine times in the incident and was held for the following four months as a Chinese POW with no medical treatment.
All in all, veterans enjoyed the opportunity to attend the ceremony. "It was excellent," said retired Army Lt. Col. Donald Byers, who was an infantry machine gunner from 1950-1951. "It was well organized, and they said the right words."
Retired Marines Lt. Gen. Bill Maloney agrees. "I thought it was very well done," he said.
Maloney was in Korea in 1952 when it was called the 'outpost war' he said.
"When I came back from Korea, the veterans of the second World War said they were in a real war and I was in a police action," he recalled. "I said, no, you don't understand - wars are all the same size when somebody's shooting at you."
"And that's what happening in Iraq and Afghanistan," he added. "Our guys and gals are doing a great job. I'm proud of them."
Social Sharing