U.S. veterans who fought in the Korean War returned to Korea after more than 70 years to witness firsthand how the country they defended has changed.
On November 11, CNN reported on the stories of veterans who visited Korea in September at the invitation of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, coinciding with Veterans Day. The ministry invites American veterans four to five times a year, and this time, over 60 veterans and their companions made the trip.
According to CNN, 95-year-old Patrick Finn credited his comrade, Edmund Herbert Riley, with saving his life twice during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir in 1950. When Finn's gun froze in the frigid temperatures of minus 37 degrees Celsius, Riley pulled the trigger instead. Riley also helped dig deeper trenches in the frozen ground, which saved Finn from mortar fire. Riley was killed a few days later. Finn said, "He was my guardian angel." During his visit, Finn made a rubbing of Riley's name from the memorial and plans to take it back to his hometown in Minnesota.
At a banquet on the last day of the September visit, a woman named Son Yang-young, born on the Meredith Victory during the Hungnam evacuation, expressed her gratitude, saying, "I will never forget your grace," which brought Finn to tears. The night before, a Korean man shared that his grandparents had escaped on the Meredith Victory and told Finn, "You gave me life."
Elmore Brown, also 95, who served as a radio operator, recounted how he chose a communication line to repair during a fierce battle in 1952 by flipping a coin. The side not chosen was bombarded minutes later, and he credited that chance decision with saving his life.
After the official schedule ended, Brown visited Busan with his grandson, where he received warm welcomes everywhere. His grandson, Paul Malo, noted that at one restaurant, a nearby Korean family paid their bill as a gesture of thanks. A 74-year-old taxi driver who guided them in Busan might have been born around the time Brown first arrived there. Brown repeatedly remarked that seeing the developed Korea was "worth it," CNN reported.
John Foley, a 93-year-old Marine, traveled to Korea to honor his comrade, Duane Dewey, who saved a corpsman by throwing himself on a grenade. Dewey received the Medal of Honor for his bravery in 1953 and passed away in 2021. Foley said, "I wanted to tell his story," as he became emotional.
Raul Guerrero, who served as a military police officer in Daegu in 1968, shared how he enlisted on a whim while just inquiring about joining. He recalled bursting into tears upon seeing a welcoming banner at Incheon Airport, saying, "I feel like I was a very small part of this history."
Approximately 1.8 million U.S. troops served in the Korean War, with over 36,500 losing their lives. While often referred to as the 'forgotten war' in the U.S., veterans expressed to CNN that witnessing today's Korea affirmed that their sacrifices were not in vain.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.