The
purpose of this posting on the Memoirs section of the KWE is twofold. (1) We wish the public to see comments
from a disbelieving daughter of a Korean War veteran, as well as our response to that young adult (age 40)
who was so disrespectful to her Korean War veteran parent. (2) We wish to continue to encourage Korean War
veterans to submit their memoirs to the Korean War Educator, in spite of the naysayers.
We are fully aware that there are certain members of the general public who refuse to believe that the
Korean War was anything more than a "little police action" in a small country that didn’t matter in the
first place. It is our opinion that these are people with the same kind of mentality as those who believe
there was never a Nazi holocaust during World War II. However, no matter how these people try to twist the
facts to meet their own agenda, the truth about Korea will always remain the truth: It was one of the
deadliest wars in American history, and 33,651 veterans lay dead in their graves to prove it. Countless
others were wounded and maimed to prove it also.
The Korean War Educator believes that the one and only way to inform the next generation about the
realities of the Korean War is by first-hand accounts described by the veterans who were actually there.
There will be some who will think that the things you say are just too unbelievable to be true. Even your
own children might not believe you, as witnessed by the following "Daughter’s Message". Nevertheless,
the truth about the Korean War must be told. Its veterans are the only ones who can actually tell it with
accuracy.
You are sadly mistaken if you think that your father's experiences in Korea were "embellished." His
experiences were very much like that of all the other 400-plus Korean War veterans whom I have interviewed
in full-length interviews that lasted from three to nine hours. The Korean War was one of the most
gruesome wars in American history. The temperatures on the Korean peninsula dropped as low as 40 degrees
below zero in the winter, and it was hot and miserable in the summer. It was a deadly place to be
stationed during the war, and 33,651 American men and women did not make it out of there alive. There were
enemy massacres of American soldiers, beheadings, torture of captured American POWs, sneak attacks and
slitting of American throats, and mass enemy assaults on our allied troops. Furthermore, other Korean War
veterans with a similar MOS described and experienced the same conditions that your father endured while
he was in Korea. Allow me to send you to this link so that you can further understand how the veterans of
the Korean War suffered:
www.koreanwar-educator.org/topics/nogun_ri/stories/NOGUN-RI EDITORIAL - LYNNITA.htm
Your comments are disrespectful to your father and show that you have absolutely no understanding
whatsoever of the true nature of the Korean War. Young people haven't a clue what happened in Korea
because neither high school nor college textbooks discuss it in anything more than brief mention. The
purpose of the Korean War Educator is to inform the public of just what happened in Korea that nobody is
telling anyone. I do not publish lies and embellishments on the Korean War Educator. My website is
entirely factual.
Your father's experiences in basic training are identical to that of others who experienced it.
His trip to Korea was identical to that of other veterans who experienced it. The cold and misery
of Korea that he talked about in his memoirs are identical to that experienced by other Korean War
veterans. His experiences with and opinions about the enemy that allied troops were fighting in Korea are
identical to that of all the multitude of Korean War veterans I have interviewed. Many of
his R&R experiences are identical to that of other veterans who were in Japan, too.
I interviewed your father in a long, professional in-person interview several years ago. I am not some
sort of ignoramus who falls for anything and everything someone tells me. I am a scholar and an educator,
and one of the most learned persons in the USA on the subject of the Korean War. I know what is or isn't a
lie about the Korean War. Your father never so much as hinted to me in that interview that he might be
some sort of Korean War hero. Instead, he said exactly what he was: a volunteer. It was his choice,
not a mandate, to enter the military, knowing full well that his ultimate destination would be the Korean
peninsula and war. What your father did in his interview with me was to "tell it like it is"--just like so
many other hundreds of Korean War veterans have done in what is now the world's largest oral history
project on the Korean War. If you choose not to believe the truth about his wartime experiences, that is
your problem, not mine.
Whether you like it or not, young lady, all Americans--including you and me, owe our freedom to
veterans like your father. That freedom guarantees you the right to express your opinions without fear of
retribution, no matter how wrong or how rude those opinions may be. In this instance, you are flat wrong.
I encourage you to read the memoirs of other Korean War veterans posted on the Korean War Educator to
learn the truth about what other veterans also experienced in Korea and to see just how wrong you are. (I
hope you won't think that every American Korean War veteran is a liar.) There are also some excellent
books on the subject of the Korean War, as well as some truly wonderful documentaries about it.
Your comments reinforce the fact that, when it comes to understanding the true nature of war, too many
Americans are just downright ignorant to the harsh reality of the death and destruction that it causes.
Children of veterans cannot begin to comprehend what their fathers went through when they were in combat.
It is extremely difficult for a child to reconcile him or herself to the fact that the man they know only
as "Dad" was actually once a professionally-trained, ruthless killer in war. I do understand that feeling.
I'm still trying to fathom the fact that a soft-spoken and quiet little bookbinder here in my community
was a saboteur in a Special Operations squad during the Korean War.
Your anger with your dad is quite clear in your message. Because of that anger, perhaps you only see
what you perceive to be your father's "weaknesses." As such, I think that you refuse to see and admit
those things that are his strengths. His honorable service in the military and his determination to
survive Korea are two strengths that you should not overlook, no matter how angry you are at him for other
personal reasons.
Korean War veterans believed in the sanctity of freedom so much that they were willing to fight, and
even die, for it. As such, I hold all Korean War veterans in the highest regard. They endured the
unendurable in Korea -- and so did your father.
Sincerely,
Lynnita Brown, Founder
Korean War Educator Foundation
111 E. Houghton St., Tuscola, IL 61953
Ph. 217-253-4620; e-mail lynnita@koreanwar-educator.org
James Walters, Georgia - February 2005
Thank you very much for the powerful words in your reply to the "disrespectful daughter." Perhaps
people such as you can help change the attitude of so many who are totally ignorant of the sacrifice
veterans have made for our great Republic - this nation we call America.
I am not a Korean veteran, but my oldest brother, George Norton Walters, was one of the many who were
killed in action on that peninsula. Norton died on 7 AUG 52 near the village of Kumsong, North Korea. I
was just a four year old boy at the time, but I will always remember standing with my mother and father on
the depot platform in Lawrenceville, Georgia, as the flag-draped coffin was removed from the train. I will
forever remember the anguish, pain and sorrow on their faces. I will never forget the rounds fired by the
Honor Guard or the haunting notes of Taps echoing against the rolling hills of Marietta National Cemetery
near Atlanta. Even after 50 years, I still visit his grave in honor of him and the sacrifice of my
parents.
My descendants served in the American Revolution, the War of 1812 and the War Between the States. My
father was twice wounded in France during World War I and my uncle was killed during the Battle of the
Bulge in WWII. My brother was killed in Korea and I lost friends on battlefields in Indochina. I was in
the U. S. Navy Reserve for 10 years, almost two years of which was on active duty during the war in
Vietnam. As do you, I understand the cost of freedom.
Keep up the good work with the Korean War Educator and may God bless you.
---
John Sonley, Korea 1951 - March 2005
I only wish that all I have written about and that has been published in the Purple Heart magazine,
Military and the VFW magazine to name a few, was embellished. That would make it so much more easier
to not remember as well as the dreaming of the war, would not occur.
Death did not take a holiday, not one day that I can recall, not even on Easter Sunday in March of
1951. The blood was always flowing, more than I care to remember. Dead enemy soldiers or any civilians for
that matter, never touched me, but to see a dead American on stretcher covered by a blanket or poncho
would take me apart. I looked at it as, that kid no longer could go to a drive in movie, go to the hot dog
stand or the corner drug store for a malt. Never to be with the girl friend again and most of all, never
have a Christmas dinner with the family.
I do not call what I have written as "embellishment". I call that the hard facts of a war. That
daughter should be made to read a lot of books as to what war is really all about.
---
John Kirby - August 2005
Unbelieving--I call it a little bit stupid. If she really wanted to know what happened to a lot of 15
and above years old soldiers at the outbreak of the Korean War, look into her history books! I know I was
one of these 17 year olds who went to defend that country. We died by the hundreds, just so she could call
us liars and not believe her own dad. She should tell her dad just what she finds out about his so-called
lies. My unit came to Korea from Okinawa 1800 men strong. 900 lasted 4 1/2 hours look it up, I challenge
her. The other 900 less 260+ were killed at a place called Anui. The balance were killed at the
Bloody Gap just outside Chin-in-Ju Korea a few days later. Send that young woman to me. I can sure
straighten her out in a hurry. I was there from July 27/50 to the middle of 1951, so I had the opportunity
to have a hand in it as an infantry man. Mad or not at her father, she should get on her knees and say she
sorry! He is not a liar.
---
George Miles - February 2006
I read your reply to the lady that said her father probably embellished his story. From everything I
have read (I am particularly interested in Task Force Smith) the stories may have actually been under told
by men that wanted to spare the families of knowing how horrible it really was.
The brave young men that died at Task Force Smith had no idea what laid ahead, I feel no one could.
Their gallant fight against all odds have left many unanswered question. The family I am searching the web
for did not have real proof of what happened to their loved one, he was listed as missing and then KIA.
Although now there is just one brother he would love to just know someone knew his brother Army PFC Ralph
C. Merrill.
It is impossible for many to accurately put into words the hell these men and women in Korea and most
wars endured. No memorial no words can properly thank them for putting their lives on the line for what
they believed to be worth fighting for.
Peace to all and God Bless America.
---
Kathy Powe - February 2006
I read your posting to the disrespecting daughter. I am so happy you put her in her place.
I am so proud of my Dad. He has four battle stars from Korea and although he did not share a lot
of it with us, what he did share was enough. Our uncle Frank was also a paratrooper during the Korean War,
so my grandmother had two boys fighting at the same time.
My Dad has passed now, but I have pictures of him in Korea that I am sharing with websites and museums,
My pride in him continues. My brother and my husband were in Desert Storm and I am just as proud of them.
So shame on that girl. It's because of her father that she has the right to write and say she is
ashamed of him. That’s terrible.
---
Erin Walter - March 2006
Just wanted to let you know that not all of us that fall into the 40 year old generation are as
ignorant of the facts as some. I just finished reading the memoirs of James Putnam, who happens to be my
uncle. I was not aware of the site until after his death on March 13th. I did know he was in the Korean
war, but never had an in depth conversation about it. I wish I would have had the chance to personally
thank him. My father was also a marine in between Korea and Vietnam (or I may not have known him.) I
personally remember as a child in elementary school (in Michigan in the early 1970's) having a large group
of Vietnamese refugees come and integrate into our school. While they were learning English, we learned
some of their language, including how to count and their national anthem that no longer exists. I can
still count and sing it to this day. I also remember some of the parents giving out the Vietnamese
currency for Halloween. Among those children was a girl from Korea who was also going through the same
thing. She became a good friend during that time. These children all came from a real place that was war
torn and devastated. Our veterans from those wars (all wars) are never to be forgotten and always upheld
as honorable. My guess is there are many untold stories out there that need to be told. I believe so much
of the truth is being rewritten while most are apathetic about it. Thanks for your site and hard work
keeping the truth out there!
---
Charles "Chris" Christian, Co. A, 35th Inf Regt, 25th Inf Div, Korea 1950-51 - May 2006
I just read the disrespectful daughters comments and your response to her. I salute you for for those
remarks and what you are doing with this web site. It is a marvelous tribute to those of us that gave our
all for the cause of freedom.
I will be sending you a CD regarding my experiences during this ugly period of time. It is titled
"Korea 1950-1951 (My Time In Hell)". It is rather lengthy, but, I think you will find it quite interesting
and informative.
Keep up the wonderful work that you are doing and God bless you for your faith in us who fought, got
wounded, and died.
---
Michael Sanchez - June 2006
Hope this finds you well as can be. I was surfing the 'Net to discover new information about my uncle
James R. Sanchez who was KIA somewhere in Korea when I ran across the Korean War Educator. What a
fascinating website! Thank you, Ma'am, for putting that disrespectful daughter in her place, by the way. I
work at the VA Medical Center here in San Francisco. Several times a week I meet Korean War Vets who still
feel the sting of public opinion and ignorance about the Forgotten War.
I heard from my father that Uncle Jimmy enlisted at age 15 and was sent to combat at 16, the price one
pays for lying about one's age to get into the military. I also heard from another relative that Uncle
Jimmy was killed in a mortar attack, but where and the other details remain to be discovered.
I will be spending much gleeful time reading the myriad of material on your website. Thank you again
for meeting the need of public awareness and education, Ms. Jean. From the KW Vets here in the City by the
Bay, thank you as well.
That's all. Just grateful that you took and still take the time, Ma'am.
God's best to you.
---
R.G. Jerore, Michigan, Honorable Discharge USAF (1952-1956) - August 2006
I’ve read your letter in response to the "Disrespectful Daughter’s" comment about her father’s
"embellished account" of his tour of duty in Korea. I would like to make this comment:
To you, Lynnita Brown, speaking for the Korean War Educator Foundation:
To all Fathers and Grandfathers, who went to war:
And Finally, To "The Disrespectful Daughter" of a Korean War Veteran:
When the Korean War draft looked like it was going to "gobble me up," I decide I wasn’t going to wait
around long enough to let that happen. I enlisted in the USAF. I was certain I had a better chance of
surviving a war if I was in any other branch of service, other than the Army. I admit... at 18 years of
age, I was afraid to go to war.
Well, the Good Lord makes all decisions in our life. We think we do, but actually we only put his
thoughts into motion. I served in Korea with the 605th Tac Con Sqd. 502 Radio Relay Sqd. from January
1953-December 1953. I had enough of war, and saw enough of needless destruction, to realize it’s a
senseless happening in all lives. Oh, don’t misunderstand me. I believe in fighting for the right to be a
free person and to raise my children and grandchildren to know a safe life. I would always want that to be
in their future. But... let's face it. War is senseless passage of time in any man's life. For those who
provoke war and lose, they have nothing to be proud of for their attempt and loss. For those who have to
go to war to protect their country and families, they are destined to pay dearly afterwards, to rebuild
the devastation, in order to prove democracy is a better way.
With that said, this is some of the response I’ve read, while surfing the Internet over the last few
years, looking for information about the Korean War. I’ve read many inflammatory remarks made by South
Korean youth concerning, "Why are the US Forces still in South Korea as peace keepers?" These children (if
I may refer to them as such) are now at least three generations removed from the Korean conflict. They
boast about how progressive they have become in education, business, the arts, and building technology,
for a few examples. Many have assumed westernized appearance not only in dress, but cosmetically as well.
Many are looking for direct connections to get them into the US either to live or further their education.
Still, they admonish this nation. "Look at us," they say... "Do we look like we need US military
walking around in our country, carrying weapons, claiming it’s for our protection? Just who do they think
we need protection from?" These youth do not know war. It's something they can read about in history
books.
I have done a bit of research in order to write "facts into fictional writing." The object is to make
fiction very plausible. However, when researching facts... the more distant a researcher is from the
"flames of truth," the more difficult it is to find real truths in cold embers. Soon words are nothing
more than just words. Not only do the youth of South Korea believe they’re safe from wars, but American
youth (i.e., the Disrespectful Daughter) is faced with the same dilemma. Words of fact today are not
educationally a part of their birthright.
The fathers and grandfathers who fought this war--"who have been there... done that," didn’t come home
to brag about horrors that happened in far off places. That would include Korea’s war veterans, as well as
American veterans. As a matter-of-fact, many American actions in war were just as horrendous. During the
Korean War, our brave men believed, they did the right thing for their country and for freedom-loving
Koreans. We returned home to a safer place. It was time to put ugly behind and get on with our
lives.
The Korean War was an instance that became politically and educationally squelched. We lost
lives, but we did a good thing because of the "Old Guard" of involved nations who believed in freedom.
Governmental agreements were written to prevent war from returning. Our military remains in Korea to
assure that freedom and to protect Korean youth of today from another occurrence like that of 50-plus
years ago. Stories of that war didn’t go much beyond the Korean or American generations who lived it.
"The Disrespectful Daughter" had been protected... I thank God for that, but she evidently doesn’t
understand "protected from what or why." Somewhere we failed to carry the message to our new generations.
Is the statement about her being disrespectful a "slap in the face" that she is not deserving of? Where
lies the real fault for her reasoning, and who should we place blame on? In doing research, have we gotten
too far from the flames now, to find truths or to educate our newer generations, and/or to place blame
where it really belongs for their lack of knowledge? Think about it.
And...to Disrespectful Daughter, for you this forum might be the place that will help bring some facts
into light. To you as well as other condescending persons who would be tempted to speak without clear
knowledge of facts, there are incidents in many people's lives that go without recognition or merit for
doing the right thing. Had there been more acknowledgement about this war early on in your life, you might
have made a totally different comment about your father. I guarantee you...he didn't ask for that war. Nor
did thousands of others who gave their lives to fight it or those who were wounded during that conflict,
then sent home as shells of better men they might have become.
Somewhere along your educational path, and paths of other dissidents' lives, there was a stone, or
maybe several stones, left unturned. Beneath many of these stones were explanations for wars such as the
Korean War, for the anguish which war brings to many, for tears of those at home who will never see loved
ones who went off to war. More than likely, there was an answer that could have prevented your
remarks about your father.
Education is a powerful tool. Man and woman alike are one of the few animals on this planet who have
the ability to utilize education to their advantage. We do not always use it well, and when we don't use
it to its fullest, we tend to make bad decisions and judgment.
Last of all, dear Daughter of a Veteran, we may owe you an apology--not for unfounded remarks about
your father, but for the fact we, as a nation, didn't see to it that you received a thorough education.
You would feel much safer today had you known all of the facts. War is a Hell we can all be exposed to on
this earth. May God Bless you that you shall never know it.
To other vets out there who read this forum, now is the time for you to contribute some of your stones
of education about the Korean War. Where better should this education come from than from those who lived
it?
I’m proud to be an American. I still get tears in my eyes and choke up when the Stars and Stripes pass
me by in a parade. I have reason to feel that way.
---
Al Gigliotti
I am a veteran of the Korean War (not Conflict). Have that girl who wrote a letter about her
father to read "Raw Guts", then let's hear from her. Raw Guts was about a POW of the 24th
Infantry Division, which I missed by two months. I landed in Pusan 9/5/50 at 18 years old and couldn't eat
for two weeks because of the smell of Death. I was with the 51st signal Battalion, attached to the 82nd
Airborne I Corps. We got to Anju by November 1950, then retreated to the present location today. I
grew up fast. Tears and all. This book is all about the life of a POW by both the North Korean and Chinese
solders. Please go to Barnes & Noble and have them order it for you. It's worth the read. I called Carl
Cossin who wrote the book, and now we communicate once a week. He was a World War II vet also, in special
forces skiing the Italian Alps. My company built the first Truce Conference line thru the rice paddies
from the 38th to North Korea. I have pictures of that also. This girl obviously needs medical help. I was
with the 51st from 6/48 until 12/5/51 and was honorably discharged 1/5/52 with five bronze stars.
---
Lisa (Farnum) Leivdal - April 22, 2008
As the daughter of a retired Army man who served in World War II and Korea, then went on to serve in
the National Guard until he retired in 1984, then died in 1985, I'd like to assure you that, although he
really never talked about what happened in either war, we never doubted what he did say. He taught us all
to have pride in our country and to respect those who have served and sacrificed for what we have today.
The lessons were so well taught two of my brothers were National Guard, one was Navy, and the baby of
11--well, she joined the Marines. Keep up the good work and Thank you for what you are doing.
