Posted on 07/24/2018 12:32:31 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
LYNNWOOD — Wallace “Wally” Armstrong received a multicolored sash on his 87th birthday.
It was placed around his neck, as recognition for the sacrifices he made while fighting in the Korean War more than 65 years ago. A circular, gold pendant hangs from the ribbon.
The Monroe man and about 60 other veterans were given the Ambassador for Peace Medals on Monday in Lynnwood. They were presented by Consul General Hyung-jong Lee from the South Korean Consulate in Seattle.
The goal is to get the medal to as many people who fought in Korea as possible, said Lourdes “Alfie” Alvarado-Ramos, director of the Washington State Department of Veteran Affairs.
“They are fading away on us, and we want to make sure they don’t go to the everlasting post without receiving their credit,” she said.
The event in Lynnwood was one of many. Alvarado-Ramos hopes to get the word out so families can help claim the gift. The award is from the South Korean government to show appreciation for those who helped the country, she said.
“The Korean government has never forgotten,” she said. “It’s important for us to bring this element of recognition and closure to people who gave so much in such inhospitable environments: Cold and dangerous.”
More than 5.7 million Americans served during the Korean War, which started in 1950 after communist North Korea invaded South Korea. During the next three years, 33,741 American troops were killed or reported missing in battle. The death toll of American forces inside and outside the war zone was 54,246....
(Excerpt) Read more at heraldnet.com ...
If I was Commander-In-Chief during Korea I would have dropped a couple of small nukes just south of the Korea/China border and then told Mao (and Stalin) "there's plenty more where they came from!"
bump for later
“The Korean government has never forgotten,” she said. “It’s important for us to bring this element of recognition and closure to people who gave so much in such inhospitable environments: Cold and dangerous.”
How nice. What about those who gave it all and for whom there is no closure...the 7000 who served and died as POWs and those who are MIA? It's been over 65 years. We, the families of these heroes, want to bury their remains on American soil before there is no one left to honor them.
Have you been in contact with:
The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency Fulfilling Our Nation’s Promise
They have been using DNA ( Familial and mitochondrial ) to identify the remains of unknown soldiers from WW1 to the present. They also have a facebook page. They also host several meetings a year to keep in contact with the loved ones of the missing.
They have 2 DNA samples already. My father gave one 3 months before he passed away in 2012. The fact that North Korea has not returned any remains since 2007is at the heart of the problem.
North Korea uses the remains as pawn and a sign of disrespect for our fallen heroes. The United States has sent North Korea $22 million since 1990 as it recovered an estimated 629 sets of remains. The Pentagon says it reimburses North Korea for the costs of recovery but does not pay for the remains themselves. North Koreans run up the tab to help pay for their nuclear program.
The South Korean government doesn’t control the territory of North Korea, where those MIAs are buried. What would you have them do? Invade North Korea? You do realize there are two countries on the Korean peninsula don’t you?
Yes, I do. My father was with the American Graves Registration Service during WW II and Korea. He recovered the dead during WW II, during the occupation of Japan and in Korea he went from Pusan to the Yalu and back recovering the dead and searching for the missing.
He transitioned from the temporary cemetery method of recovery to the immediate repatriation model of today which began on his watch in December of 1950. His Company temporarily interned, disinterred and reburied over 40 thousand men and was haunted by the 8400+ men he was not able to recover.
North Korea may return some shortly, many are lost in the DMZ and quit a few
Your snide remark was uncalled for. I am quite aware that North Korea is separate from South Korea. It is North Korea I am making reference to as to withholding remains of Americans.
President Trump is doing yeoman’s work in that regard. More than most presidents since 1950. What else would you have him do? I apologize if I hurt your feelings.
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