VETERANS OF KOREA REMEMBERED

Honoring the soldiers of the Forgotten War

By Stephanie Koons

The Korean War, begun 59 years ago Thursday, is often referred to as the "Forgotten War." But one State College couple showed a group of local Korean War veterans Thursday that the war, and their sacrifices, are not forgotten.

CDT/Christopher Weddle

Veteran Frank Greenleaf, right, and wife Nancy talk with John McPherson at the Kimchi Korean Restaurant on Thursday, June 25, 2009. CDT/Christopher Weddle

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About 40 Korean War veterans from Centre County and Lock Haven attended a dinner marking the war’s anniversary at Kimchi Korean Restaurant, 1100 N. Atherton St., State College. Gathering for the first time in four years, the veterans socialized and shared war stories while enjoying a buffet that included traditional Korean dishes such as noodles, fried rice and barbeque, as well as kimchi, a spicy Korean cabbage dish.

“It’s always great to see old friends again,” said Tom Pelick, a veteran from State College.

Pelick said he helped organize reunion picnics for the veterans that were sponsored by the Penn State Korean Student Association for several summers. The students eventually lost interest, he said, and the picnics were discontinued after 2005.

Sang Han, who purchased Kimchi three years ago with his wife, Jong Choi, said he had thought about having a dinner for the veterans for some time. With the help of Forrest Remick, a College Township councilman and Korean War veteran, and Remick’s wife, Soon, Han located and invited the veterans who had been attended the reunion picnics.

Han, a native of Seoul, said his parents and grandparents often talked to him about the Korean War.

On June 25, 1950, the North Korean army invaded South Korea. The U.S. and its allies quickly intervened. Almost 37,000 U.S. soldiers lost their lives before an armistice in 1953 restored the boundaries between North and South Korea.

“I’m not too old or too young, so I know what (the veterans) did for Korea,” he said.

Herb Wong, of State College, said he doesn’t think the Korean War gets the respect it deserves. He served in the war in 1951 as a scout in the 1st Marine Division, he said, and received a Purple Heart after being wounded in 1952.

He and other soldiers and Marines were practically ignored when they returned home from Korea, Wong said, despite the high level of casualties within a relatively brief period.

“It’s nice for people to remember us, that we didn’t do things in vain,” he said.

Korean War veteran John McPherson, of Pennsylvania Furnace, said that because President Harry Truman avoided obtaining a declaration of war from the U.S. Congress before going into Korea, the war was officially termed a police action, or the “Korean Conflict.” Because of that technicality, he added, those who fought in the war have often had trouble in obtaining veterans’ benefits.

“Believe me, it was a war,” McPherson said.

Frank Greenleaf, of State College, served in Korea with the Marine Corps Air Wing in the 1st Marine Division from 1951 to 1952. He enlisted in the Marines in 1948, he added, and was due to get discharged on the same day that he landed in Pusan, South Korea.

“I was an unhappy camper, but I had to do my duty,” Greenleaf said. “It was for a good cause, absolutely.”