Veterans Coalition of Coral Springs Reception to Honor Korean War Veterans Planned By Cheri Tishman The Veterans Coalition of Coral Springs is having a reception to Honor Korean War Veterans, on October 29, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Wings Plus on Sample Road in Coral Springs. There will be live music from the Lu White Band, an appearance from the Nam Knights Motorcycle Club, 50/50 raffle, special guest speakers and a recognition of our Korean War Veterans by the Coalition President Bill Vasquez. Korean War veteran, Sergeant Louis Marin Garcia recalls an incident in Korea he will never forget: “In a desolate area of Korea the 11th Marine Artillery Group had established a base on the flat ground beside a hill. On the other side of the hill, at the frontlines were the 7th and 5th Marines, our grunt boys. At the camp, two boys, 9 and 10 years old, came begging for food. Soon they would become our "washy-washy" boys who cleaned our clothes as well as the foxholes and sleeping quarters. Their names were Kim and Joey and they stayed close to me because I looked Oriental. In my youth I had Oriental features and some of my friends thought I was Oriental and called me "Chink." We were all lonely and the boys helped fill the days by participating in games with the guys. One day Kim asked me to meet a family living on the far side of the hill. A “Papasan” and “Mamasan” and two children were living in a cave. The cave was clean and level and comfortable and gave the family shelter. I was pleased with how refined and hospitable they were after all they had been through. We spoke (mostly sign-language) of their having owned a home, farm and animals and all was taken away. It was apparent that they had no food and lived off the fields. Back at the base, I approached some of the guys in my group to contribute some food items and fortunately most of them were happy to help. Kim was our UPS man and he delivered the food every few days. It made us proud to be Marines. A few days before we broke camp, I had gone to see "Papasan” and “Mamasan" and they were quite thrilled with the help we had given them. I had dinner with them and the fish they had caught by the river was on the table. It tasted fishy but good. “Papasan” then brought out a small flask containing something like Saki and we had a toast. I have never forgotten the words he said, "You-Me- no changgie-same same." I have often wondered what happened to this beautiful family.” The Korean War is sometimes referred to as “The Forgotten War” and we want the community to know we haven’t forgotten about those Korean War vets who fought to keep communism out of South Korea. Come on out and salute your Korean War veterans! The Korean War was a conflict between North Korea, supported by the Soviet Union (Joseph Stalin) and the People’s Republic of China, and South Korea, supported by the United Nations. The land was divided at the 38th parallel. The war broke out on June 25, 1950 when North Korea crossed over the 38th parallel. A few days later, finding themselves outnumbered and outgunned, South Korea forces were in full retreat. Upon hearing of the invasion of the North into the South, President Harry S. Truman ordered General Douglas MacArthur, who was stationed in Japan, to use U.S. naval and air forces to repel the North Korean advance. Seoul, the capital of South Korean was captured on the afternoon of June 28. By September, United Nations forces landed at Inchon and returned it to the South Koreans. The war moved from a local conflict to the international stage. Inchon was largely undefended as troops were gathered around Pusan (today South Korea’s 2nd largest city). Under the command of MacArthur, United Nations and South Korean forces invaded on September 15, 1950. The small number of inferior North Korean troops were defeated in days. MacArthur then led a march to reclaim Seoul. In November 1951, China intervened by sending troops to help North Korea. This bold move from the Soviet ally turned the tide against U.S.-backed South Korea, and by January 1951, United Nations forces were defending a line south of Seoul. United Nations forces pushed the North Koreans back over the 38th parallel, but neither side could defeat the other and a stalemate arose. MacArthur tried to break the stalemate and called for a nuclear bomb to be used against North Korea. He also wanted to destroy the bridges over the Yalu River to block Chinese supplies, and he pushed for an invasion of China. President Truman had decided that Cold War efforts should focus on Europe instead of Asia, and MacArthur was sacked for his demands. The U.S. was anxious for peace talks, but mutual distrust made peace negotiations drag on for two years. With the election of President Dwight Eisenhower and the death of Soviet leader Stalin, an armistice agreement was finally signed on July 27, 1953. Remember to mark your calendars for October 29, 2013 from 5 to 9 p.m. at Wings Plus on Sample Road in Coral Springs.
Posted on: Fri, 20 Sep 2013 16:14:39 +0000
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