NEWS: Korean War armistice 60th anniversary message from the Adjutant General of Wisconsin
Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs sent this bulletin at 07/23/2013 07:59 AM CDTHaving trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.
By Maj. Gen. Donald P. Dunbar
Adjutant General of Wisconsin
60 years ago today, an armistice was signed ending hostilities on the Korean Peninsula. The armistice was to be in effect until a permanent peace could be agreed upon. To this day, the permanent peace has eluded the people of North and South Korea and they remain - technically - in a state of war.
Korea was an unexpected war and a war dramatically different than World War II. To this day, many do not understand its history, sacrifice, bravery, or significance. The numbers are sobering.
There were 36,000 American combat deaths in theater with more than 103,000 total wounded and over 8,000 missing in action. Wisconsin sent 132,000 men and women into the conflict suffering 801 deaths and seeing over 4,200 wounded. It is estimated that there are more than 2.2 million Korean War veterans living in America today.
The stories from this conflict are not well known, but they are worth knowing and remembering. The early days, which were almost a debacle, remind us of the importance of maintaining military readiness. The landing at Inchon was an extraordinary victory and turned the fortunes of war almost immediately. The push to the Yalu River saw yet another reversal as the UN forces underestimated the Chinese entry into the conflict. What followed were many months of stalemate and service under difficult conditions until the armistice was signed in 1953.
On this day, let us honor and remember our Korean War veterans. Men and women who served America well and kept the torch of freedom burning under difficult conditions. Let us resolve to make Korea less of a "forgotten war" and make it a point to remember.
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