Page 42 - KAFSP Vision Camp - Guide

[38] New Horizon for the next generation

6. Additional reading
참고로 읽어 읽기

What does the United States mean to South Korea?
미국은 대한민국에게 어떤 존재인가?

The U.S. military first set foot in Korea on July 1, 1950, and suffered 172,800 casualties
during the 3 years and 1 month of war, including 54,246 killed, 8,177 missing, 7,140
prisoners of war, and 103,284 wounded. This is a staggering 27% compared to the 645,000
casualties suffered by the Korean military. Thus, many American soldiers sacrificed their
lives on Korean soil. We were particularly moved by the fact that 142 sons of American
generals participated in the war, and 35 of them were killed. Among them were the son of
the president, family members of cabinet members and even the son of the commander of
the Eighth U.S. Army, which made us feel ashamed.
For example, President Eisenhower's son, Lieutenant John Eisenhower, participated in the
war as a company commander of the 3rd Infantry Division in 1952. The fact that the
President's son fought and died in a foreign country is inconceivable. In addition, Lieutenant
Sam Walker, son of Eighth Army Commander General Walton Walker, served as a company
commander in the 24th Infantry Division, making the father and son a family dedicated to the
Korean War. When General Walker died in a car accident in Uijeongbu on December 23,
1950, it was his son who carried his body. Despite the loss of his father, his son later
became a four-star general in the U.S. Army in 1977 and a symbol of freedom.

General James Van Fleet, who participated in the invasion of Normandy, also fought in the
Korean War, rising to the rank of Corps Commander and Commander of the Eighth Army.
His son, James Van Fleet Jr. volunteered for the Korean War and became a B-52 bomber
pilot. However, Captain Jimmy Van Fleet was shot down by enemy anti-aircraft fire during a
night bombing mission over Sunchon, Pyongan Province, on April 4, 1952. His letter to his
mother when he first decided to join the war touched our hearts:

"Mother! Father is fighting for freedom on the Korean front. I think it is time for me to join him
and make a contribution. Mother! Please pray not for me, but for my comrades who are
fighting alongside me. Some of them have wives waiting for their safe return, and others
have not yet started a family. This letter turned out to be his last.
But that's not all. Major William Harris, son of Field Harris, commander of the First Marine
Aircraft Wing, was killed in action at the Battle of Chosin Reservoir during the Chinese
Army's second offensive. The son of CIA Director Allen Dulles, Second Lieutenant Allen
Dulles Jr., also fought in the Korean War and suffered a head injury that left him a disabled
veteran for the rest of his life. The son of General Mark Clark, Far East Commander and
U.N. Commander, also fought in the Korean War and was wounded.
The U.S. Congress awarded the Medal of Honor to soldiers who were killed or severely
wounded while serving in the Korean War, with 136 recipients. This number is smaller than
the 464 recipients during World War II, but larger than the 124 recipients during World War I,
indicating the intense nature of the Korean War. The last recipient of this prestigious medal
was awarded posthumously to Captain Emil Kapaun, 62 years after his death (2013.4).

Captain Kapaun was captured by Chinese forces in Unsan, North Pyongan Province, in
November 1950 while serving as chaplain for the 8th Cavalry Regiment of the 1st Cavalry
Division. Although he had the opportunity to escape, he chose to stay and bring comfort and
hope to the sick and wounded prisoners. He himself suffered greatly from illness and later