Remembering the Korean War

June 25, 1950 (59 years ago) North Korea attacks South Korea who was allied with the United States and the free world nations by treaties.

By Sid Riley

Last week marked the passage of fifty nine years since 36,516 American soldiers died in the Korean War. This terrible war lasted only three years, but the scars and memories of that conflict remain today for the hundreds of thousands who participated in its battles.

It was the height of the Cold War, with Communism spreading like a virus through Southeast Asia, spurred by the interest of the Soviet Union and Communist China. At the end of WWII Russia and the United States and its allies agreed to divide the Korean peninsula at the 38th parallel in order to enable the establishment of a communistic government for what would be known as North Korea, and a democratic government could likewise be formed over South Korea.

This arrangement worked for only five years, and came to an end when armies of the Democratic People’s Republic of North Korea in violation of the United Nations treaty, crossed the 38th Parallel and invaded the Republic of Korea (South Korea) on June 25, 1950. The ensuing conflict placed the United States and twenty three of its allies against the government of North Korea which was supported logistically and with troops by Communist China and the Soviet Union. During the three years of violent conflict approximately 98,000 soldiers were killed on our side, while an estimated 330,000 North Koreans and Chinese were killed.

Peace negotiation began in 1951, but the battles continued to rage while the negotiators talked. This situation persisted for almost two years, until finally on July 27, 1953 a cease fire was declared, a new treaty signed, and the 38th parallel was again established as the dividing point for the two parts of Korea. These prolonged negotiations which occurred in the city of Panmunjom became famous for the many tactics used during negotiations, and the eventual trading of prisoners of war between the two sides which took place at a famous bridge which was given the name “Bridge of No Return”.

Awareness of the history of the relationship between North Korea and South Korea makes the growing level of conflict we are currently experiencing due to the antics of the existing leader of North Korea Kim Jong. This growing re-heating of the conflict is made even more dramatic since the North Korea of today has long range missiles and nuclear weapons available for use. This unpredictable leader rattled his sabers again on our Fourth of July holiday by firing seven test missiles in a threatening display of power.

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As part of the ceremonies relating to the 56th Anniversary of this violent war in 2006, two Jackson County natives who took part in that conflict were invited to come to South Korea as part of a contingent of U. S. veterans. They were Tommy Grainger and Robert Ringer, both of Marianna. During ceremonies they were given medals and plaques designating them as “Ambassadors of Peace”, for the services they performed during the Korean War.

Jackson county and our nation is proud of these and the thousands of other Korean War veterans who served our nation with courage and pride, and helped maintain a free world in a time of need. God Bless America!