Land of Morning Calm - 50 Years Later

Over 400 Korean War Veteran's names in the U.S. were fatigued from as abounding as 5700 applications to appear the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the signing of the Armistice, July 27, 1953 in Panmunjom, Korea. My bedmate Doyle was one of them. They could yield any bedfellow they capital but would be appropriate to pay the bedfellow airfare. All added costs would be covered in Korea. This accident was sponsored by the Federation of Korean Industries (businessmen) who planned tours for about 1,000 veterans and guests (worldwide) apery the 21 countries whose veterans served in Korea from 1950-'53. Doyle and I(wife)boarded American airlines in Kansas City-limits for a flight to Chicago's O'Hare Airport on July 23rd, 2003 breadth we transferred to an International 14-hr ceaseless flight aboard a Korean Air 747 to Seoul, Korea. The sun never went down as we flew Northwest over Canada and Alaska, the Arctic Ocean and the tip of Russia, afresh down over the Sea of Japan afore axis westward to Seoul. Our anxiety were at the Shilla Hotel, one of "the a lot of comfortable hotels in the world," they had advertised. In the year 676 the Korean peninsula was affiliated in one kingdom, alleged the Shilla. This Shilla absolutism is present with its attitude and composure in the ambiance of account rendered at the Shilla Hotel. Absolutely abundant for us country folks, but a lot of absolutely enjoyable! The aboriginal accident Friday morning was captivated at the National Cemetery in Seoul. This included a wreath-laying celebration anniversary all who died in the Korean War. Following this we were taken by bus to the War Memorial Museum. In the access anteroom are ample plaques with all the names of those who asleep during the war. The U.S. names were acquaint by states, authoritative it simple to acquisition the hometown soldiers(Owen Evans, Ralph Auten, Ivan Groom and Charles McDougal) whose lives concluded in that war. Friday black we were guests at a feast sponsored by the USO at the Auberge Grand Hyatt. There were continued banners draped about the Anteroom that displayed the application of every aggressive assemblage that fought in Korea. Doyle served with the 2nd Indianhead Division, which still maintains troops at Camp Red Cloud, Korea. Former Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger, who was the U.S. adumbrative to the Celebration ceremonies, was featured apostle this night. Entertainment was provided by Korean Tenor Lim Hyung Joo, who had just alternate home from an assurance at Carnegie Hall, USA. He sang a admirable adjustment of 'Ave Maria' and every one present was accustomed a CD of his music to yield home. All of the veterans were presented a apprenticed 'Certificate of Ambassodor for Peace' active by General Lee SangHoon, Retired from the Republic of Korea (ROK) Army. A adumbrative from anniversary of the 21 countries was presented the UN Peace Medal and anniversary adept in appearance was presented a Medal on a award by a affiliate of the ROK Retired Veterans Organization. In the centermost of the Anteroom was a abandoned table ambience with wine glasses astern and abandoned chairs blame that the 'fallen comrades' would not be abutting us at this commemorative event. A red rose in a bottle boutonniere was a admonition of their affectionate sacrifice. a soldier played 'Amazing Grace' on bagpipes as he absolved amid the tables for that austere remembrance. Saturday morning, our bout went to the Seoul Tower, which is amid on a acropolis in the centermost of this city-limits of 11 actor people. The Tower has a 360 bulk ascertainment accouter and a revolving restaurant. It boasts a acme of 777 ft and can be accomplished by vehicle, bus or cable car. This was a absolute angle point from which to appearance the Economic Development of Seoul in the accomplished 50 years. Doyle remembers traveling through Seoul in 1950 if it was awesome because the Capital and two added barrio were about all that remained continuing from the see-saw aback and alternating of Chinese/South Kerean claims aloft the city. Today there are two tunnels (one about a mile long) through the acropolis the Tower sits upon. They are still architecture high-rise barrio aggressively and acclaim the Korean War Veterans for their porsperity and freedom. The activity is 'If these veterans had not fought beside ROK soldiers we would be beneath the ascendancy of North Korea today.' Following cafeteria at a restaurant of Korean Cuisine, I heard a guitar arena "Peace is Flowing Like a River" alfresco the aperture as we left. We accustomed at the Korean Folk Village, which is a replica of activity in the countryside abounding years ago. A baby Korean boy approved how the A-frame was acclimated to booty endless on their backs....this was a animal decay jar that would be dumped in the rice paddies for fertilizer. Our veterans bethink this A-frame and the abounding uses it fulfilled. At the 'Village' we saw ample kilns beneath thatched roofs breadth the admirable 'Celedon' ceramics is still fabricated by duke today. Saturday evening, we were the guests of an Outdoor Barbeque at Lombardy Field, the American Army Post. This was hosted by the Pacific Breadth VFW of the U.S., The Optimist Clubs Int'l, Overseas Aggressive Sales Organization, American Chamber of Commerce in Korea, Korea Sports Officials Assoc., Korea Chapter of AUSA, Affiliated Air Curve and Sargeants Major Assoc. at Yongson Army Base on the bend of Seoul. A few called veterans were arrive to the U.S. Embassy and absent the Barbeque. Guests were greeted by admiral in the chow band and presented 50th Anniversary Medallions from the VFW and a Peace brand from the Affiliated Nations Command. By 'Special Invitation' veterans were accepted access to this event. Sunday morning July 27, all veterans and guests ancient for Panmunjom and the DMZ for the Armistice Signing Commemoration. There was a accession and bout breadth you could airing about a table and be in North Korea. Surprisingly, they did acquiesce picture-taking. The next stop on the Sunday Calendar was The Apple Peace Day Celebration at the War Museum. Aegis was added bound as the President of Korea was aswell attending. They fabricated me about-face on the camcorder to prove it in fact was a camera. Doyle had to abolish his boots, just like at the airport. The dress was academic for this event. Our black apostle was the President of the Republic of Korea, Roh Moo-hyun. Part of the activity was the actualization of a new Korean War Monument at the Museum. It rained on their accomplished 'parade,' but they had furnished all the guests with a artificial capote in our bag of mementos, so we didn't get too wet. (We had been encouraged to accompany umbrellas three weeks above-mentioned to the trip.) After the official ceremony, a feast was hosted by the Republic of Korea in the restaurant on the Museum grounds. The rain below and bags of blush and blooming ponchos could be apparent breadth they were alone aloft entering the restaurant. On our way aback to our hotel, one of our veterans led us in singing "God Bless America" on the bus. My eyes were not dry during this abrupt access of American pride. Monday was a array of 'free' day. Doyle and I spent time at the Yongson Army Base talking with humans at the Protocol architecture and visiting the PX by the appropriate advantage that all Korean War Veterans had been granted. Korean humans were so friendly,always accedence and thanking the veterans for their freedom, but even the admiral on the Post would stop to agitate a veteran's duke or sit with us in a fast-food abode and acknowledge my bedmate for confined in our military.. It was absolutely base to be advised with so abundant respect, if abounding hadn't gotten that from their home towns if the war ended. I just reflected on the scripture passage: "If you wish to reside afterwards getting abashed of authority, you accept to reside candidly and ascendancy may even account you." Rom 13:3 Later, we took a Shilla Auberge bus to the Itaewon Shopping District, breadth they would acquire American money. We ate at a 'Subway' restaurant, just like aback home. At added locations on that artery you could acquisition McDonald's, KFC, Burger King and OutBack Steak House. We advised ourselves to a Baskin Robbins Ice Cream amusement while sitting in foreground of a boutique and watching humans and traffic. While I was in the Ice Cream store, Doyle was approached by a Jehovah Witness. That absolutely afraid us. We accustomed aback at the Auberge in time to dress for the 'Blue House' tour. This was not on our agenda. The Aboriginal Adult of Korea, Kwon Yang-sook had arrive the Veterans to accommodated with her. Afore this could happen, three were Secret-Servicemen boarding the bus to analysis all passsports with the account of names they had been given. Afterwards adhering a appropriate sticker to anniversary of our nametags, we had a Police Escort to the Blue House (same as the White House here). Afterwards all of the security...as we approached the Presidential compound, our bout guide, Stephanie, got a alarm on her corpuscle buzz that the Aboriginal Adult could not accommodated with us because of an emergency. Our bus was accustomed to bout the admixture and the Aboriginal Adult coiled from the Portico aloft the steps. She fabricated arrange with the Bout Guides to present us a gift....a Korean fan with the Presidential allowance emblazoned aloft it. Next we were taken to the Statue of the 'Phoenix' on the breadth breadth a architecture houses the President's International gifts. the 'Phoenix Fountain' appropriately symbolizes the ascent of Korea economically out of the ashes of WAR. Nearby we could see protestors with signs. Stephanie said the protests had to do with a railroad activity some abode in the city. The Farewell Feast Monday black was hosted by the Federation of Korean Industries (who sponsored the trips and event). It was captivated at the Crystal Ballroom, Lotte Hotel, breadth some of the Korean War Veterans stayed. Entertainment was by a leash of adolescent women violin players accompanied by piano. They played 'Amazing Grace' and 'The Star-Spangled Banner.' All U.S. Veterans stood in accord and sang Our National Anthem adverse our banderole which was included in the array of 21 flags above the stage. There were absolutely a few eyes awash over afterwards this appearance of bellicism to our a lot of accommodating hosts. A clarinet accompanist aswell had tears on his audacity while arena a appropriate adjustment committed to the collapsed heroes. (Maybe his ancestor or grandfathering was one of them?) General Leon LaPorte, the Commander of all U.S. Armament in the Republic of Korea (ROK) gave an Address. He was interviewed July 27, the day before, and that News commodity may be apprehend at usinfo.state.gov/topical/pol/arms/03072811.htm. He batten to us about the attendance of the ROK-US accord in Korea which has enabled them to 'enjoy amazing abundance as the 13th better abridgement in the World.' Gen LaPorte declared that $2 was spent on this celebration event. Addresses were accustomed by the Chairman of the Federation of Korean Industries and aswell by the Minister of Foreign Affairs & Trade, both attesting to the growing abridgement and giving acclaim to the soldiers who fought alongside their ROK forces. A appropriate Address was accustomed by Koren War Adept Rodolpho Hernendez, Medal of Account almsman from the U.S. Army. He gave a admirable attestant to God amid in his activity three times in Korea---the endure time all of his assemblage were dead and he too, was put in a physique bag. But he confused a feel or duke and anyone saw the bag move. He was taken out and confused to a MASH unit,where his continued amazing accretion began. Afterwards getting attempt and bayonetted , yet he lives, cogent others his story, while counseling newer War Veterans of today. There are 20 active Medal of Account recipients from the Korean War, 52 from WWII and 65 from the Viet Nam war. Medal of Account recipients are the absolute heroes of this age--going above the alarm of assignment to 'make a difference' in the affairs in which they acquisition themselves. They accept all apparent abundant adventuresomeness and superiority, generally cerebration of others' crisis if they were acutely blood-soaked themselves. To apprehend their stories, you may acquisition them at homeofheroes.com/hallofheroes/index0.html. Charles Richard Continued of Independence, MO, the Forward Observer for Doyle's Mortar Platoon, may be begin on this Memorial Anteroom web page. The Continued ancestors donated their hero's Medal of Account (which was awarded posthumously for the 'Massacre Valley' action abreast Hoengsong/Wonju area) to the Truman Library in Independence, MO.Noise gate Pedals It had rained for two canicule and if we larboard the Lotte Auberge that night we got blood-soaked as our busses could not get abutting abundant for us all to board. We admired we could accompany that rain aback to Northwest Missouri breadth we were in a aridity breadth in the Midwest. On the way to Korea, aggregate was able-bodied organized, appropriate check-in curve for the Korean War Veterans at Accoutrements or Immigration and Customs counters. At Chicago's O'Hare Airport we were met by Doyle's Army buddy, Art Gagnon, who collection us to the International Terminal from American Airlines. Our accoutrements went from Kansas City-limits to Korea. The Bout busses met us at Inchon Airport and a appropriate agent of Army, Navy and Marines helped the Veterans get their packets of actual and their accoutrements on the appropriate bus. We are still afraid at the bulk of alertness and planning that an accomplishment this ample entailed. Leaving Korea, our bout adviser escorted us to the Inchon Airport, breadth afresh we had a appropriate line, to get arrested in with our luggage. Afresh we were on our own advancing back. We had to affirmation our accoutrements at O'Hare in Chicago and acquisition the American Airlines terminal by ourselves. We absent a attache bag if we were claiming our added luggage. The Airport Aegis put a woman on our case. I went to the Blow Room while the intercom was adage 'All abandoned accoutrements will be angry over to the Chicago Police Dept.' I anticipation we'd never see that case again. However, aural about 40 minutes, the adult came with our bag! We were so charmed we both gave her a big hug and thanked her. We were blessed we still had an hour afore communicable our next even home. We waited afresh (on board) because an Iranian couple's little boy was sick. They fabricated 5 of them get off the even to assure the blow of the passengers. We wondered what was traveling on with so abounding authorities advancing on the even to allocution to these people? Finally we accustomed at Kansas City-limits International Airport. Neither of us had aureate anywhere in 50 years, so it was with a bit of alarm that we had gotten on the even in Kansas City-limits a anniversary earlier. But,that's if we assuredly believed we were in fact traveling on this trip. Doyle had never won annihilation afore and said this cruise to Korea would be the highlight of his accomplished life. We are acutely beholden of the acceptable befalling afforded war veterans to acknowledgment to Korea by the absorption of the Federation of Korean Industries. We shall always be beholden to them for the acquaintance of a a lot of admirable adventure to the 'Land of Morning Calm.' It will absolutely advice to calm the advancing war memories of abounding Korean War Veterans.