Filed under: Korea, Veterans | Tags: Arlington National Cemetery, Korean War, Veterans
On the Korean War Armistice Day 2012, the Department of Defense will hold a commemoration ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery’s Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, starting at 9:00am. This event is open to the public and kicks off with a wreath-laying ceremony and keynote remarks by Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta. To RSVP for this, go to http://koreanwar.defense.gov/july27rsvp.html There are buses available for veterans from a number of locations, as far away as Baltimore, Annapolis and Richmond. There will also be a local shuttle for those wishing to drive and park at the Navy Annex.
Additionally, in the evening, Korea’s Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs is hosting a banquet in honor of Korean War Veterans at the Sheraton Pentagon City Hotel (which is actually across the highway from Pentagon City mall) starting at 5pm. To RSVP for that, contact Monika Stoy via email at monikastoy@yahoo.com or phone 703-912-4218 or 571-419-8915 by July 13th.
Filed under: Homefront, Veterans, Weekend Wanderings, WWII | Tags: Japanese Internment, Korean War, RAF, Veterans
This weekend, the Jets and Steelers face off for the AFC championship, while the Packers and Bears have an old-school matchup for the NFC championship. Hopefully, nothing gets in the way of your chicken wings, ribs, burgers, cold beers and NFL watching. As always, I will be checking what Terry and Howie have to say, but first, here’s the most interesting stuff I’ve found this week….
- New Zealand provided pilots to the RAF and one of their daughters posted up photos from her Dad’s service in 127 Squadron. Hopefully, she’ll post some of his journal entries.
- Three veterans in New Jersey shared some stories with the Wyckoff Historical Society. There are several inaccuracies in the article, as it puts Saigon in Korea (it was probably a town that sounded the same instead of the capital of South Viet Nam) and vaguely refers to the Korean War starting “less than 10 years after World War II” instead of 5 years, but provides interesting little tidbits nonetheless. With World War II veterans dimishing in numbers every day, their stories drift away with them. Hopefully, we can record as many as possible, while also putting them in context with slightly more accurate historical knowledge….
- One of the darkest chapters of American history is the internment of Japanese-Americans in World War II. A blogger writes about their own mother’s inability to talk about her internment and has an interview with one of the women was interned on video. If it doesn’t bring a tear to your eye, you must be made of stone….
Filed under: Books, Korea, Marines, Veterans | Tags: Anniversary, Korean War, Marines
Today is the 235th birthday of the United States Marine Corps. Happy Birthday, Devil Dogs!
Private Hector Cafferata, awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions on Fox Hill during the Korean War, has so much respect for the process of becoming a Marine and is so proud of being able to call himself a Marine, humbly says, “…even though I didn’t go to boot camp, I can call myself a Marine.”
Later this month, we reach the 60th anniversary of the Chosin Reservoir campaign. I just read Last Stand of Fox Company and read good articles about it in both American Rifleman (Arms of the Chosin Few) and Naval History (70 Miles of Cold, Hard Road and The Snowy Battle for Hill 1304). What those Marines accomplished in atrocious conditions, against insurmountable odds is simply beyond belief.
My sincere thanks and wishes that this may be the happiest of birthdays for the Corps, with special thanks to my own favorite Marines: Alex Apple, Joe Muccia, Frank Zamarippa, Fernando Castelli and Carl Kime.
We're not lost, Sergeant, We're in ... France 