On October 28, 1986, Congress authorized the American Battle xMonuments Commission to establish a memorial in Washington, D.C., to honor members of the U.S. armed forces who served in the Korean War.
The Korean War Veterans Memorial Advisory Board was appointed by President Ronald Reagan to recommend a site and design, and to raise construction funds. Ground was broken in November 1993.
Frank Gaylord was chosen as the principal sculptor of the statues and Louis Nelson was selected to create the mural of etched faces on the wall.
On July 27, 1995, the 42nd anniversary of the armistice that ended the Korean War, the memorial was dedicated by President William J. Clinton and Kim Young Sam, President of the Republic of Korea.
The United States Armed Forces suffered 33,665 Americans killed in action in Korea; 3,275 died there from non-hostile causes. A total of 36,940 Americans lost their lives in the Korean War.
Korean War Memorial At Night
There were 92,134 Americans wounded in action in 103,284 incidents. A total of 1,789,000 Americans served in the Korean theater during the Korean War from June 25, 1950 to July 27, 1953. There are still 8,176 MIAs.
The Korean war wasn't officially called a "war", but rather a "police action", because the U. S. never actually declared war on North Korea. But just as a rose by any other name is still a rose and still smells as sweet , a war by any other name is still a "WAR", and is still HELL!! it has also often been referred to as the "forgotten war", which is true to a large extent. The reason for this is that it came only five years after World War II ended and historically has been over shadowed by the much longer lasting Vietnam war. The Korean war didn't end in a victory for either side, there was never a peace treaty signed, there was only a cease fire. it was the beginning of America's no-win warfare policy.
Many believe that if President Harry Truman had of left the war in the capable of hands of General Douglas MacArthur we would have won it and that the Vietnam war would probably never have happened. We can never know that for sure of course, but fifty-three years later (2006), North Korea is again threatening war. They are a far more serious threat to world peace now since they are soon to become, if they aren't already, a country with nuclear weapons. If they start another war it will be far more deadly this time around, and could very easily escalate into W.W Three.
I know there are many people who wonder what the Korean War was really all about, what did it accomplish? was it worth the lives of so many Americans? After all, the fighting began and ended at the 38th parallel. But because we drew a line in the sand, so to speak, because our brave soldiers, as one of the inscriptions on the Korean War Memorial in Washington, D.C. reads, "answered the call to defend a country they never knew and a people they never met..." South Korea, today, is a free and prosperous nation.(At least for now ) Another inscription on the Korean War Veterans Memorial simply reads, "Freedom is Not Free". Our Korean War veterans know that better than anyone.
Our troops fought under the harshest weather conditions in Korea than in any war America has been involved in. In the summer the temperatures rose to as high as 115 degrees. Summer was also the monsoon season and our fighting men fought in mud up to their boot tops and water sometimes up to their waist. They fought, slept,and died in wet muddy foxholes and often went as long as two weeks at a time in rain soaked fighting gear. On all the statues at the Korean War Memorial the soldiers are wearing rain ponchos , these were worn to help protect themselves from the torrential monsoon rains.
During the winter months the temperature often dropped to 20-40 degrees below zero. thousands of soldiers lost their feet, hands, fingers, and toes due to frostbite, and thousands more suffered the painful after effects of frostbite for the rest of their lives.
The Congressional Medal Of Honor is the highest military award for bravery in combat given by the United States. There were 131 of these medals awarded to the brave fighting men of the Korean War, all but 37 of them were awarded posthumously. I wish I could tell the stories of all the men who won this award but lack of space won't allow me to do that here. But I would like to share with you the story of three of the men who lived to receive this coveted award personally from President Harry S.Truman.
SERGEANT JOHN PITTMAN
U.S. Army, Company C
23d Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division
Place and date: Near Kujangdong, Korea, 26 November 1950.
Sgt. Pittman, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. He volunteered to lead his squad in a counterattack to regain commanding terrain lost in an earlier engagement. Moving aggressively forward in the face of intense artillery, mortar, and small-arms fire he was wounded by mortar fragments. Disregarding his wounds he continued to lead and direct his men in a bold advance against the hostile standpoint. During this daring action, an enemy grenade was thrown in the midst of his squad endangering the lives of his comrades. Without hesitation, Sgt. Pittman threw himself on the grenade and absorbed its burst with his body. When a medical aid man reached him, his first request was to be informed as to how many of his men were hurt. This intrepid and selfless act saved several of his men from death or serious injury and was an inspiration to the entire command.
Master Sergeant Ernest R. Kouma
U.S. Army, Company A, 72nd. Tank Battalion
Place and date:
Vicinity of Agok, Korea, 31 August and 1 September 1950
Master Sgt. Kouma, a tank commander in Company A, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. His unit was engaged in supporting infantry elements on the Naktong River front. Near midnight on 31 August, a hostile force estimated at 500 crossed the river and launched a fierce attack against the infantry positions, inflicting heavy casualties. A withdrawal was ordered and his armored unit was given the mission of covering the movement until a secondary position could be established. The enemy assault overran 2 tanks, destroyed 1 and forced another to withdraw. Suddenly Sgt. Kouma discovered that his tank was the only obstacle in the path of the hostile onslaught. Holding his ground, he gave fire orders to his crew and remained in position throughout the night, fighting off repeated enemy attacks. During 1 fierce assault, the enemy surrounded his tank and he leaped from the armored turret, exposing himself to a hail of hostile fire, manned the .50 caliber machinegun mounted on the rear deck, and delivered pointblank fire into the fanatical foe. His machinegun emptied, he fired his pistol and threw grenades to keep the enemy from his tank. After more than 9 hours of constant combat and close-in fighting, he withdrew his vehicle to friendly lines. During the withdrawal through 8 miles of hostile territory, M/Sgt. Kouma continued to inflict casualties upon the enemy and exhausted his ammunition by destroying 3 hostile machinegun positions. During this action, M/Sgt. Kouma killed an estimated 250 enemy soldiers. His courageous stand allowed the infantry sufficient time to reestablish defensive positions. Rejoining his company, although suffering intensely from his wounds, he attempted to resupply his tank and return to the battle area. While being evacuated for medical treatment, his courage was again displayed when he requested to return to the front.
CARL H. DODD
First Lieutenant (then 2d Lt.)
U.S. Army, Company E, 5th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Subuk, Korea, 30 and 31 January 1951
First Lt. Dodd, given the responsibility of spearheading an attack to capture Hill 256, a key terrain feature defended by a well-armed, crafty foe who had withstood several previous assaults, led his platoon forward over hazardous terrain under hostile small-arms, mortar, and artillery fire from well-camouflaged enemy emplacements which reached such intensity that his men faltered. With utter disregard for his safety, 1st Lt. Dodd moved among his men, reorganized and encouraged them, and then single-handedly charged the first hostile machinegun nest, killing or wounding all its occupants. Inspired by his incredible courage, his platoon responded magnificently and, fixing bayonets and throwing grenades, closed on the enemy and wiped out every hostile position as it moved relentlessly onward to its initial objective. Securing the first series of enemy positions, 1st Lt. Dodd again reorganized his platoon and led them across a narrow ridge and onto Hill 256. Firing his rifle and throwing grenades, he advanced at the head of his platoon despite the intense concentrated hostile fire which was brought to bear on their narrow avenue of approach. When his platoon was still 200 yards from the objective he moved ahead and with his last grenade destroyed an enemy mortar killing the crew. Darkness then halted the advance but at daybreak 1st Lt. Dodd, again boldly advancing ahead of his unit, led the platoon through a dense fog against the remaining hostile positions. With bayonet and grenades he continued to set pace without regard for the danger to his life, until he and his troops had eliminated the last of the defenders and had secured the final objective.
Medal Of Honor awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. President Harry S. Truman presenting the award to John Pittman, Carl Dodd, & Ernest Kouma
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I can think of no better way to close my web page than to share a poem with you about the Korean war and the brave men who fought and died there to keep America free.
Why have they forgotten?
Will some one let me know
A war fought through the summers
And through the winters snow
We were but young Americans
Sent off to fight that war
After it had ended
You heard of us no more
I have been trying to think of a way I could make a web page in honor of those who fought in the Korean war for over a year. I started quite a few web pages but none of them seemed adequate. I finally settled on this page, I sincerely hope you will be pleased with it. America owes all who fought in this terrible war a debt of gratitude it can never hope to repay. ----Mary Jones
Commander In Chief of all UN troops during the Korean War. This great general is also a Medal Of Honor recipient.
August, 2006
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