00:00:08GOOD MORNING, LADIES AND
GENTLEMEN.
00:00:29THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR
OUR CEREMONY IN RECOGNITION OF
00:00:33KOREAN WAR VETERAN STATE.
WE HOLD THE CEREMONY ON THE 59TH
00:00:38ANNIVERSARY OF THE END OF THE
WAR.
00:00:41WE WILL LEARN MORE ABOUT IT
FROM TWO VETERANS WHO SERVED IN
00:00:47KOREA.
YOU WILL DEPART WITH A GREATER
00:00:52APPRECIATION FOR THE PEOPLE WHO
FOUGHT THE WAR, THE CHALLENGES
00:00:55THEY FACED, AND THE SACRIFICES
THEY MADE.
00:00:58MY NAME IS MIKE MCKINNEY.
MY USUAL JOB IS DIRECTOR OF
00:01:04COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE OHIO
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS SERVICES.
00:01:07THERE ARE A FEW PEOPLE IN OUR
AUDIENCE WOULD LIKE TO
00:01:11RECOGNIZE.
THERE IS A REPRESENTATIVE OF
00:01:16CONGRESSMAN PAT TIBERI.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF STAFFERS
00:01:23FROM THE OHIO HOUSE AND SENATE
WHO TOOK THEIR TIME OFF TO BE
00:01:26WITH US TODAY.
WE THANK THEM ALSO FOR BEING
00:01:29HERE.
MY JOB IS DIRECTOR OF
00:01:33COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE OHIO
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS SERVICES.
00:01:35OUR MISSION IS TO FIND VETERANS
AND CONNECT THEM TO THE BENEFITS
00:01:40THEY HAVE EARNED A AND THAT THEY
RICHLY DESERVE.
00:01:43THIS IS MADE AT THE COUNTY
VETERANS SERVICES OFFICE.
00:01:48ANY VETERAN WHO NEEDS TO FIND AN
OFFICE CLOSEST TO THEM, OR TO
00:01:54FIND OUT INFORMATION ABOUT ANY
BENEFITS THEY HAVE EARNED, HE
00:02:00CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT
WWW.OHIOVETS.GOV, OR CALL 1-877-
00:02:09644-6836 -- 1-877-644-6838.
WE HAVE A BENEFITS RESOURCE
00:02:36GUIDE.
THAT EXPLAINS IN A BRIEF FORMAT
00:02:39ALL ABOUT THE VARIOUS FEDERAL
AND STATE BENEFITS THAT VETERANS
00:02:43HAVE EARNED IN OHIO, FOR
WHATEVER TIME THEY HAVE SERVED.
00:02:47IT PROVIDES THEM A POINT OF
CONTACT, AND PROVIDES CONTRACT
00:02:52FOR EACH OF OUR VETERANS
SERVICES OFFICES.
00:02:56WE ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO TAKE
IT, LEAVE IT, HE AND MAKE
00:03:05CONTACT WITH IT.
THIS DISPLAY SHOWS THE
00:03:08CHRONOLOGY OF THE KOREAN WAR.
WE INVITE YOU TO LOOK AT THE
00:03:12DISPLAY AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THE
MAJOR EVENTS THAT SHAPED THE WAR
00:03:17AND THE UNITS THAT FOUGHT THERE.
I AM A VETERAN OF THE THIRD
00:03:21INFANTRY DIVISION.
IT DOES MY HEART GOOD TO SEE IF
00:03:25IT REPRESENTED.
I KNOW MANY OF YOU SERVED IN
00:03:28OTHER UNITS.
TAKE A LOOK AND LEARN MORE ABOUT
00:03:30THE EVENTS THAT MADE THE
CONFLICT HAPPEN.
00:03:35WE WILL LEARN MORE BY SPEAKING
WITH A COMBAT PILOT AND CAREER
00:03:46AIR FORCE OFFICER.
HE IS A MEMBER OF THE OHIO
00:03:54VETERANS HALL OF FAME, AND A MAN
I AM PROUD TO WORK FOR.
00:03:56[LAUGHTER]
-- [APPLAUSE]
00:04:03>> THANK YOU.
I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR
00:04:12BEING HERE TODAY.
AND I WANT TO THANK THE VETERANS
00:04:15OF THE KOREAN WAR FOR YOUR
SERVICE DURING A VERY
00:04:19CHALLENGING TIME IN OUR HISTORY.
I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT AMONG
00:04:24OUR GUESTS TODAY IS THE NEW
STATE COMMANDER OF AMVETS.
00:04:30I AM PLEASED TO HAVE YOU WITH US
TODAY.
00:04:36I SEE A NUMBER OF YOU I KNOW.
ARE THERE OTHER MEMBERS HERE?
00:04:39SANDY, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
GEORGE IS A PROMINENT MEMBER OF
00:04:47THE AMVETS STAFF.
IT IS ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU,
00:04:54TODAY.
AS I EXPRESSED MY THANKS TO THE
00:05:00KOREAN WAR VETERANS, IT IS FOR
YOU THAT WE ARE HAVING THIS
00:05:04CEREMONY, TO HONOR YOU.
THE KOREAN WAR, WITH AN
00:05:09UNPROVOKED INVASION OF SOUTH
KOREA BY NORTH KOREA ON JUNE
00:05:1525, 1950 -- IT ENDED ALMOST
EXACTLY THREE YEARS LATER, WITH
00:05:19THE SIGNING OF AN ARMISTICE ON
JUNE 27, 1953.
00:05:23BETWEEN THOSE DATES, THOSE THREE
YEARS, WAS SOME OF THE MOST
00:05:29DESPERATE FIGHTING EVER
EXPERIENCED BY OUR MILITARY, IN
00:05:33SOME OF THE MOST BITTER WEATHER
CONDITIONS.
00:05:35I CANNOT EVEN IMAGINE MY TERM IN
THE TROPICS, THE TIMES I FELT A
00:05:42LITTLE CHILLY, WHAT IT WAS LIKE
ON THE DAYS OF FROZEN FLASH.
00:05:46I THINK YOU WOULD BE SAFE TO
SAY.
00:05:49THE KOREAN WAR WAS ALSO A MODERN
WAR, BUT SAW THE INTRODUCTION OF
00:05:56JETLINERS, THE INTRODUCTION OF
HELICOPTERS.
00:05:58U.S. FORCES FOUGHT BACK TO REPEL
A NORTH KOREAN INVASION.
00:06:02AS THERE WERE DOING SO,
SUCCESSFULLY, CHINA ENTERED THE
00:06:07WAR.
THIS MADE THE WAR A HOT SPOT IN
00:06:10THE COLD WAR ONGOING BETWEEN THE
WESTERN POWERS AND SOVIET
00:06:15EXPANSIONISM.
INITIALLY, THE WAR WAS ONE OF
00:06:18RAPID MOVEMENT, BACK-AND-FORTH,
UP AND DOWN THE KOREAN
00:06:22PENINSULA.
MAJOR BATTLES WERE SHOT -- WERE
00:06:26FOUGHT AROUND SEOUL.
1951, IT BECAME LIKE THE WAR
00:06:32FOUGHT IN 1914, THE WAR IN THE
TRENCHES.
00:06:36WE CAN TO HEARTBREAK RIDGE IN
PORKCHOP HILL.
00:06:41EACH SIDE FOUGHT FOR SOME GROUND
TO GAIN AND A VINTAGE.
00:06:46AT THE SAME TIME, THERE WAS
BARGAINING GOING ON TO TRY TO
00:06:51WIN THE WAR.
THERE WAS A WAR THAT STARTED NOT
00:06:56MANY YEARS LATER IN VIETNAM, THE
SAME ENEMY.
00:07:00SOME VETERANS ALSO BELIEVE THE
KOREAN WAR WAS A FORGOTTEN WAR,
00:07:07THEY WERE CAUGHT BETWEEN WORLD
WAR II AND OUR INVOLVEMENT IN
00:07:11VIETNAM.
I KNOW ONE PERSON THAT DOES NOT
00:07:14EVER FORGET THE IT NO MORE, AND
THAT IS ME, AND EVERY PERSON IN
00:07:19THIS ROOM, AND MILLIONS OF
AMERICANS.
00:07:22NATIONS CAN UNITE TO REPEL
AGGRESSION.
00:07:25ONE OF THE FEW TIMES I KNOW OF
THAT THE UNITED UNDER THE FLAG
00:07:30OF THE UNITED NATIONS.
THAT IS PRETTY RARE,
00:07:34UNFORTUNATELY.
WHILE NO FORMAL POLICE TREATY
00:07:39WAS SIGNED, A FREE AND
PROSPEROUS SOUTH KOREA WAS PROOF
00:07:43THAT SOMETHING OF GREAT VALUE
WAS ACHIEVED FOR OUR SACRIFICE.
00:07:47TURN ON YOUR TELEVISION AND THE
DAY OF THE WEEK, AND LOOK AT THE
00:07:52CONTRAST BETWEEN THE
SUCCESSFUL, THRIVING, AND HAPPY
00:07:58POPULATION IN SOUTH KOREA -- I
WISH I COULD SAY THE SAME FOR
00:08:05VIETNAM -- AND WHAT IS HAPPENING
ACROSS THE BORDER IN NORTH
00:08:10KOREA.
DESPOTISM HAS NEVER REACHED SUCH
00:08:14LOWS.
IF YOU NEED ANY PROOF OF WHAT
00:08:16YOU DID IN CORREA, THAT IS IT.
BUT THERE WAS SACRIFICE.
00:08:2234,000 AMERICANS KILLED IN
ACTION.
00:08:26ALMOST 2000 OF THEM WERE FROM
OHIO.
00:08:28100,000 WOUNDED, INCLUDING
NEARLY 5000 FROM OHIO.
00:08:34WE WERE TO THIS VERY DAY, THE
U.S. DOES, TO TRY TO FIND AND
00:08:47IDENTIFY THOSE REMAINS.
EVERY ONCE IN AWHILE, WE HAVE A
00:08:51BREAKTHROUGH WITH THE DESPOTS IN
NORTH KOREA.
00:08:53AS WITH ANY WAR, NO ONE CAN
TRULY KNOW WHAT IT WAS LIKE
00:08:58UNLESS HE OR SHE WAS THERE, TO
FEEL THE TERROR OF THE, THE
00:09:05FIGHT, OR THE MIND NUMBING
EXHAUSTION.
00:09:07MANY OF YOU WERE THERE, AND HAVE
EXPERIENCED THOSE FEELINGS.
00:09:13TODAY, ONCE AGAIN, I SAY WE
HONOR YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND
00:09:17SACRIFICE OF NEARLY 60 YEARS
AGO.
00:09:20A TIME WHEN YOU SHOWED THE WORLD
THAT AMERICA COULD AND DID STAND
00:09:26FIRM IN THE FACE OF AGGRESSION.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR VALOROUS
00:09:35SERVICE.
[APPLAUSE]
00:09:37NOW, IT IS MY DISTINCT PLEASURE
TO INTRODUCE ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL
00:09:59WHO SERVED OVER THERE, A
DIFFERENT PLACE AND A DIFFERENT
00:10:03TIME, A COMBAT VETERAN OF IRAQ,
A FORMER ARMY GREEN BERET.
00:10:08NOW, HE IS A MEMBER OF THE OHIO
GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
00:10:15HE IS A CHAMPION OF LEGISLATION
TO SUPPORT OUR VETERANS AND
00:10:20THEIR FAMILIES.
PLEASE WELCOME THE STATE
00:10:25SENATOR.
[APPLAUSE]
00:10:26>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WHAT AN HONOR IT IS TO BE HERE
00:10:35AMONG FELLOW VETERANS TODAY.
I DISTINCTLY REMEMBER, AS I KNOW
00:10:41A LOT OF US DO, THE FIRST STATE
IN BREAKING -- IN BASIC
00:10:46TRAINING, AFTER YOU GOT YOUR
HAIR CUT AND LEARN YOUR NEW NAME
00:10:51STARTED WITH IRAQ.
I REMEMBER LOOKING DOWN AT MY
00:10:54NEW UNIFORM AND HAVING THE
REALIZATION THAT I AM A SOLDIER
00:10:57NOW.
MORE DISTINCTLY, I AM PART OF A
00:11:04LEGACY.
IT IS A LEGACY FORGED BY GREAT
00:11:08AMERICAN'S.
WE ARE HERE TODAY TO HONOR THOSE
00:11:12VETERANS OF THE KOREAN WAR.
WE WHO HAVE SERVED IN TIME SINCE
00:11:19THEN FOLLOW IN THE FOOTSTEPS.
SOME HAVE CALLED THIS A
00:11:26FORGOTTEN WAR.
I DO NOT THINK OHIO HAS MADE
00:11:30THAT MISTAKE.
I KNOW WE HAVE NOT.
00:11:31WE ARE PATRIOTIC PEOPLE.
WE ARE A STATE WHICH HAS
00:11:37ANSWERED THE CALL TO SERVICE,
AND AGAIN.
00:11:40HERE WE ARE ON THE ANNIVERSARY
OF THE ARMISTICE, NOT ONLY TO
00:11:45REMEMBER THE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN
FROM OHIO, BUT THOSE WHO ARE
00:11:51HERE TODAY AS VETERANS.
WELCOME TO THE OHIO STATE HOUSE.
00:11:56WE ARE PROUD AND HONORED TO HAVE
YOU HERE.
00:11:59ON BEHALF OF THE REST OF THE
MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY,
00:12:04AND GOD BLESS YOU, AND THANK YOU
SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE.
00:12:07WELCOME TO THE OHIO STATE HOUSE.
[APPLAUSE]
00:12:12>> A FEW MONTHS AGO, I SAT DOWN
WITH MY STAFF AND DISCUSSED THE
00:12:24ISSUE, ESPECIALLY WITH MIKE,
ABOUT GETTING THE WORD OUT ABOUT
00:12:28OUR DEPARTMENT AND BENEFITS THAT
ARE DUE, WHICH HAVE BEEN BURNED
00:12:32BY OUR VETERANS.
IN DOING SO, WE KNEW WE HAD A
00:12:37CHALLENGE.
NO ONE KNEW WHO WE ARE.
00:12:39WHO ARE WE?
WE ARE THE OHIO DEPARTMENT OF
00:12:44VETERANS SERVICES.
WE HAVE DESIGNED A LOGO AS A
00:12:47SYMBOL OF WHAT WE DO FOR OUR
VETERANS IN A STATE OF OHIO.
00:12:51THAT SYMBOL, THAT LOGO, THE
FRONT AND CENTER, IS A BIG V.
00:12:56NOT JUST FOR VETERANS.
IT IS ALSO FOR VICTORY, FOR
00:13:04VALOR, AND FOR THE ROMAN
NUMERAL FIVE, THE FIVE SERVICES
00:13:12THAT KEEP US FREE.
THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL SYMBOL OF
00:13:18OHIO.
IN THE CENTER OF THAT,
00:13:21PROMINENTLY, THE RED DOT WITH
THE WHITE 0 AROUND IT -- THAT IS
00:13:28OHIO.
IT IS ALSO 37TH BUCKEYE
00:13:31DIVISION.
MY UNCLE HAROLD FOUGHT IN THAT
00:13:33UNIT IN WORLD WAR ONE.
THEY FOUGHT IN WORLD WAR II AND
00:13:41BEYOND.
WE HAVE MADE A LIMITED NUMBER OF
00:13:43THESE COINS TO PRESENT TO
SPECIAL PEOPLE.
00:13:48NOT EVEN TIME OF THESE HAVE BEEN
HANDED OUT YET.
00:13:50SENATOR, I WOULD LIKE YOU TO BE
ONE OF THE RECIPIENTS.
00:13:54[APPLAUSE]
>> NOW WE COME TO THE MAIN PART
00:14:13OF THE PROGRAM TODAY, WHAT ALL
OF YOU ARE WAITING TO HEAR.
00:14:17THAT IS FROM OUR TO VETERANS WHO
WERE THERE, WHO WERE IN CORREA,
00:14:22AND CAN TELL US ABOUT IT THIS
MORNING.
00:14:23I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE MR.
WILLIAM ADAMS OF COLUMBUS.
00:14:29HE IS AN ARMY VETERAN.
HE SERVED IN CORREA -- IN KOREA
00:14:37FROM 1946 THROUGH 1948.
HE CAN TELL US ABOUT THE MAN HE
00:14:43KNOWS FROM THE COLUMBUS AREA WHO
FOUGHT THERE, PARTICULARLY OUR A
00:14:48AFRICAN-AMERICAN VETERANS, WHO
SERVED WITH GREAT DISTINCTION.
00:14:50POST-SERVICE, MR. ADAMS IS A
MEMBER OF THE MAYOR'S COMMITTEE
00:14:59FOR VETERANS AFFAIRS.
HE IS ALSO THE COMMISSIONER FOR
00:15:03RECREATION AND PARKS IN
COLUMBUS.
00:15:05PLEASE WELCOME BILL ADAMS.
[APPLAUSE]
00:15:07>> GOOD MORNING.
THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.
00:15:19LET ME PREFACE MY REMARKS BY
SAYING HOW WONDERFUL IT IS TO BE
00:15:26HERE AND HAVE THIS HONOR ON THE
KOREAN WAR VETERANS.
00:15:32I HAD THE PLEASURE OF MEETING
THE PEOPLE HERE A COUPLE OF
00:15:38YEARS AGO.
I DID THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
00:15:40WITH MY SCOUT TROOP.
I HAVE BEEN A VOLUNTEER AT THE
00:15:46COLUMBUS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL GOING
ON 17 YEARS.
00:15:49I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT.
IF WE PUT OUR RESOURCES AT THE
00:15:54ELEMENTARY LEVEL, WE ELIMINATE A
LOT OF PROBLEMS IN HIGH SCHOOL.
00:15:58I ALSO HAD THE PLEASURE OF BEING
WITH THE COLONEL AT THE STATE
00:16:03HOUSE, AT THE FRANKLIN COUNTY
HOUSE, WHEN THE REPORTER HAD A
00:16:11RECEPTION.
I AM HONORED.
00:16:14I WOULD LIKE TO SHAKE YOUR HAND
AGAIN.
00:16:16I MADE A REMARK THAT THE KOREAN
WAR WAS A FORGOTTEN WAR.
00:16:22BUT NOT BY HIM.
I THINK THAT IS REALLY
00:16:26WONDERFUL.
SIT DOWN.
00:16:29TAKE A LOAD OFF.
THANK YOU.
00:16:30I AM HONORED TO BE SITTING NEXT
TO THIS GENTLEMAN, AND THE REST
00:16:36OF THE KOREAN WAR VETERANS.
I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU A
00:16:41LITTLE PERSPECTIVE FROM THE
BEGINNING, BEFORE THE WAR BROKE
00:16:44OUT.
IF YOU CAN IMAGINE, I JOINED THE
00:16:49ARMY RIGHT OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL,
AT 16.
00:16:54I PUT MY A JOKE.
IT WAS THE FIRST STORY I HAD --
00:16:58-- MY AGE UP.
IT WAS THE FIRST STORY I EVER
00:17:04TOLD.
AT 17, I WAS IN KOREA.
00:17:08IT WAS THE COLDEST TIME EVER,
AND IT JUST SO HAPPENED I WAS
00:17:17THERE AT THAT TIME.
IO WAS STATIONED AT INCHON,
00:17:25KOREA.
THE HAD THE BASIN THERE, THE
00:17:32HEAVY SHIPS DOCKED OUT IN THE
BAY.
00:17:33CARGO WAS BROUGHT IN BY LCT'S,
LANDING CRAFT THEY USED TO BRING
00:17:45MATERIAL IN.
PART OF OUR DUTY WAS TO GUARD
00:17:48THE BASIN WHERE THE MATERIAL WAS
STORED.
00:17:54WHEN I WAS IN KOREA, THEY HAD
THE SIXTH AND SEVENTH INFANTRY
00:18:02DIVISION TRAINING THEIR.
PRIOR TO THE HOSTILITIES
00:18:06BREAKING OUT, THE SIXTH AND
SEVENTH INFANTRY DIVISION WERE
00:18:09SHIPPED OUT.
NOT BEING A POLITICAL ANALYST,
00:18:17SOME OF US COULD NOT UNDERSTAND
WHY THAT WAS HAPPENING.
00:18:22BEFORE THE WAR BROKE OUT, THERE
WERE SOME HOSTILITIES GOING ON.
00:18:28OUR TROOPS WERE BEING MAIMED AND
SHOT, AND DIFFERENT THINGS.
00:18:33WE CANNOT UNDERSTAND THAT.
IT WAS NOT OUR REASON, TO DO OR
00:18:42DIE.
IT WAS A DECISION THAT WAS MADE.
00:18:43WHEN I LEFT CORREA, I WAS
SCHEDULED TO BE SHIPPED TO
00:18:50JAPAN.
I SPENT THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
00:18:54TWO YEARS OF THAT WERE SPENT IN
CORREA -- IN KOREA.
00:19:03THAT STOPPED ME GOING TO JAPAN,
HE WHERE THE 24TH AND 25TH
00:19:10DIVISION WERE THE FIRST TROOPS
THAT CAME BACK TO KOREA WHEN
00:19:22HOSTILITIES BROKE OUT.
MOST OF THOSE WERE AFRICAN-
00:19:25AMERICANS.
THEY JUST HAPPENED TO BE
00:19:29AFRICAN-AMERICANS.
AND THEY WERE AMERICANS.
00:19:31THEY LOST A LOT OF THEIR LIVES
BY BEING THE FIRST PEOPLE THERE
00:19:42, SUPPORT AND, IN A HOLDING
PATTERN -- SUPPORTING IN A
00:19:48HOLDING PATTERN BEFORE WE COULD
SEND OUR TROOPS OVER TO DO WHAT
00:19:52WAS NECESSARY, AND WHAT HAD TO
BE DONE.
00:19:54IT WAS A LOT OF YOUNG MAN AND
YOUNG LADIES THAT PARTICIPATED
00:20:02IN THAT KOREAN WAR THAT REALLY
DID NOT GET THERE JUST DUES WHEN
00:20:09WE CAME BACK, WHEN THEY CAME
BACK.
00:20:12I LEARNED THAT AS A YOUNG
PERSON, AT 16 AND 17, THERE IS
00:20:22NO GREATER HONOR OUR COMMITMENT
THAT YOU CAN HAVE, OF DEFENDING
00:20:31YOUR COUNTRY AND DEFENDING WHAT
OUR COUNTRY STANDS FOR.
00:20:36REGARDLESS OF THE TIME,
REGARDLESS OF WHAT WENT ON,
00:20:41REGARDLESS OF THE TREATMENT BY
SOME PEOPLE, NOT ALL -- WE ARE
00:20:47ALL AMERICANS.
WE DID WHAT WE HAVE TO DO.
00:20:49KOREA WAS A LEARNING CURVE FOR
SOME OF US.
00:20:56AFTER WORLD WAR TWO AND,
EVERYBODY WAS COMFORTABLE.
00:21:02WORLD WAR II WAS A WAR THAT
UNITED AMERICA.
00:21:10THEN, THE KOREAN WAR CAME ABOUT.
AMERICANS WILL ALWAYS RISE TO
00:21:20THE OCCASION, NO MATTER WHAT.
NO MATTER WHAT YOUR ETHNICITY
00:21:26IS.
AFTER WHAT YOUR BACKGROUND IS.
00:21:27YOU WILL ALWAYS BE THAT MELTING
POT BUT WILL RISE TO THE
00:21:32OCCASION.
IT WILL DEFEND OUR VALUES AND
00:21:37OUR COUNTRY.
THAT IS WHAT IT IS AN HONOR FOR
00:21:39ME, FAST FORWARD, TO BELONG TO
CARIBBEAN WAR VETERANS CHAPTER
00:21:50116 -- KOREAN WAR VETERANS
CHAPTER 116, SITTING RIGHT HERE.
00:21:55WE ALSO HAVE TWO ARMY NURSES.
WE MEET THE THIRD TUESDAY OF
00:22:02EVERY MONTH.
SOME OF THE STORIES YOU ARE
00:22:04PRIVILEGED TO HEAR, I WOULD
ENCOURAGE YOU.
00:22:11WE MEET AT 7:30 AT THE VETERANS
MEMORIAL, EVERY THIRD TUESDAY OF
00:22:20THE MONTH.
I AM HONORED TO BE ASSOCIATED
00:22:24WITH CAREER AND WAR VETERANS
CHAPTER 116.
00:22:27-- WITH KOREAN WAR VETERANS TO
OF FOR 116.
00:22:31YOUNG PEOPLE TODAY -- I AM NOT
GOING TO SAY ALL YOUNG PEOPLE,
00:22:38BUT SOME YOUNG PEOPLE -- DO NOT
HAVE THE COMMITMENT, I THINK,
00:22:45AND MAYBE IT IS OUR FAULT IN THE
SCHOOL SYSTEM, IN OUR
00:22:51COMMUNITIES, BY NOT DOING A
BETTER JOB OF EDUCATING THEM --
00:22:55BUT WHEN I LOOK BACK, WHEN I WAS
A YOUNG LAD, HERE IS THE
00:23:02DISPATCH, "THE COLUMBUS
DISPATCH."
00:23:04THEY HAD CARRIERS THROUGHOUT
COLUMBUS, AND WE DELIVERED
00:23:13PAPERS.
THIS WAS COLUMBUS DISPATCH
00:23:18SUBSTATION 52.
I WAS IN SUBSTATION 51.
00:23:25A LOT OF THESE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT
YOU SEE IN THIS PHOTO WERE YOUNG
00:23:32PEOPLE NOT WENT ON TO
DISTINGUISH THEMSELVES AND THEIR
00:23:41COUNTRY BY DOING GREAT THINGS IN
THE MILITARY.
00:23:44THIS GENTLEMAN, MR. ROBERT
MARTIN -- HE WAS IN THE NAVY.
00:23:48HE WAS GOOD FRIENDS WITH OUR
FORMER CHIEF JACKSON, WHO WAS IN
00:23:54THE THIRD MARINE DIVISION.
THEY WOULD HAVE A LOT OF FUN,
00:24:03BUT THEY REPRESENTED COLUMBUS.
THESE YOUNG MEN TODAY, MOST OF
00:24:06THEM, LIKE MYSELF, WERE CAUGHT
THE VALUES OF COMMUNITY, FAMILY,
00:24:16AND COUNTRY.
THE OTHER PICTURE I HAVE IS
00:24:21YOUNG MEN IN THE 64TH HEAVY TANK
BATTALION IN CORREA -- KOREA.
00:24:31THEY WERE SHIPPED FROM JAPAN IN
THE EARLY STAGES OF THE WAR.
00:24:36ALL OF THESE AFRICAN AMERICANS
-- THE HUSBAND TO BE A AFRICAN-
00:24:46AMERICANS.
THERE WERE AMERICANS.
00:24:47A LOT OF THEM LOST THEIR LIVES.
IT IS A PLEASURE AND AN HONOR
00:24:55FOR ME TO BE HERE TO REPRESENT
NOT ONLY THE MAYOR OF COLUMBUS
00:25:02ON THE VETERANS AFFAIRS -- RICK
ISABEL -- BUT TO BE HONORED BY
00:25:11THIS STUFF -- THE STAFF.
WE THANK YOU.
00:25:19IT IS INDEED A PLEASURE.
I THANK MY COMRADES, NOT ONLY
00:25:25THE MILITARY PEOPLE WHO HAVE
SERVED, BUT MY COMRADES THAT ARE
00:25:28HERE TODAY, CHAPTER 116 OF THE
KOREAN WAR VETERANS.
00:25:33IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS, I AM
HAPPY TO ENTERTAIN QUESTIONS.
00:25:39THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE]
00:25:42>> AT THIS TIME, WE HAVE
ANOTHER KOREAN WAR VETERAN WE
00:25:52ARE GOING TO HEAR FROM.
HE IS MR. DAVIS, OF LONDON,
00:25:58OHIO.
HE ALSO SERVED IN THE UNITED
00:26:01STATES ARMY.
HE WAS IN CORREA IN THE LATER
00:26:04STAGES OF THAT CONFLICT, FROM
NOVEMBER OF 1951 THROUGH MARCH
00:26:10OF 1953.
HE CAN SPEAK TO THE TIME OF
00:26:14ATTRITION THE COLONEL TALKED-
ABOUT EARLIER, AS WELL AS OTHER
00:26:18THINGS HE EXPERIENCE.
HE HAS ALSO SERVED OUR STATE AS
00:26:22A TEACHER, A PRINCIPAL, THE
SUPERINTENDENT, AND A VOCATIONAL
00:26:28DIRECTOR.
HE RETIRED IN THE 1980'S AS A
00:26:31CAREER EDUCATOR.
HE HAS BEEN ACTIVE IN VETERANS
00:26:36AFFAIRS.
WE WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME HIM FOR
00:26:38HIS REMARKS MR. DAVIS.
[APPLAUSE]
00:26:42>> BEFORE I GET STARTED, CAN YOU
HEAR ME, BROTHER?
00:26:52MY BABY BROTHER IS IN THE
AUDIENCE.
00:26:54WOULD YOU GO AND GET ME ONE OF
THOSE LONG -- I NEED THEM TO
00:27:05HELP ME WITH MY PRESENTATION,
HERE.
00:27:07THIS MAP SHOWS A LOT -- I
BROUGHT SOME EXTRAS, SO JUST
00:27:26TAKE ONE IF YOU DO NOT HAVE ONE.
SOME OF CHAPTER 116 ALREADY HAVE
00:27:31THEIRS.
YES, SIR.
00:27:40AN OLD FARM BOY FROM SOUTHERN
MADISON COUNTY, ONE OF 15
00:27:46CHILDREN, THIRD FROM THE TOP.
MY BROTHER, BABY BROTHER, WAS
00:27:56THIRD FROM THE BOTTOM.
THERE WERE FIVE BOYS AND 10
00:27:59GIRLS.
ALL OF THE GIRLS ARE STILL
00:28:01LIVING, STILL GIVING ADVICE.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE OLDEST
00:28:05BROTHER, YEAR OUT OF HIGH
SCHOOL, DIED SUDDENLY.
00:28:08I WAS A SENIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL.
THE OTHER BROTHER, WE BURIED HIM
00:28:15THREE YEARS AGO.
HE SERVED IN VIETNAM, IN THE
00:28:2050TH ARTILLERY.
I STILL THINK IN MY HEART THAT
00:28:24THE AGENT ORANGE IS WHAT TOOK
HIS LIFE.
00:28:26HE GOT CANCER WHEN IT BURNED UP
IN HIS BONES.
00:28:29IN LIFE, I HAVE BEEN PRETTY
HEALTHY UNTIL THE LAST THREE
00:28:37YEARS.
NOT SUPERMAN, BUT WAS ABLE TO
00:28:39GET AROUND.
NOW I AM PERIODICALLY IN THE
00:28:42WHEELCHAIR.
BUT I TOOK MY BROTHER IN AND OUT
00:28:48OF RIVERSIDE FOR CHEMOTHERAPY IN
HIS WHEELCHAIR, BECAUSE HE WAS
00:28:53NOT ABLE.
HE WAS 66 YEARS OLD.
00:28:57LITTLE DID I KNOW THREE YEARS
LATER SOMEBODY WOULD BE PUSHING
00:29:01ME AROUND.
MAYBE THAT IS THE WAY THE GOOD
00:29:05LORD -- WE COME FROM A CHRISTIAN
FAMILY, MY BROTHER AND FIVE.
00:29:09MY DAD LIVED TO BE 84.
MY LOVE -- THE MOTHER LIVED TO
00:29:16BE 84.
HARD WORK.
00:29:18NOW, THE STORY.
AFTER BASIC TRAINING AT FORT
00:29:24KNOX, KENTUCKY, I THOUGHT I WAS
GOING TO GO SOMEWHERE.
00:29:28I'D DONE -- I DID NOT EVEN KNOW
GERMANY EXISTED.
00:29:33I FIGURED I WOULD BE GOING TO
KOREA.
00:29:36AFTER BASIC TRAINING, WE HAVE AN
OPTION BEFORE WE WENT SOMEWHERE,
00:29:44SO I CHOSE MINISTERIAL SCHOOL.
THEN I GOT ORDERS, FAR EAST
00:29:50COMMAND.
THE SEVEN SOLDIERS THAT WENT IN
00:29:54TOGETHER TO BASIC TRAINING --
FIVE OF THEM WENT TO KOREA.
00:29:59FIVE OF THEM WENT TO GERMANY.
ANOTHER BOY AND I WENT TO KOREA.
00:30:07I ASSUMED WHEN I GOT OVER THERE
I WOULD BE DRIVING A TANK, WHICH
00:30:11I LOVED TO DRIVE.
BUT I GOT INTO THE DEPOT AND
00:30:20THEY TOLD ME, "YOU ARE GOING TO
COACH ITO -- TO KOJITO."
00:30:26WHAT IS GOING ON OVER THERE?
"WE ARE NOT GOING TO TELL YOU
00:30:32ANYTHING.
YOU WILL FIND OUT WHEN YOU GET
00:30:35THEIR."
HERE IS WHAT I FOUND OUT.
00:30:36MY EXPERIENCE WAS DIFFERENT THEN
THE FELLOW VETERANS HERE.
00:30:42THE MEDAL OF HONOR WINNER YOU
ALL KNOW, THE ONLY MEDAL OF
00:30:47HONOR WINNER IN OHIO -- HE
SHOWED UP THERE IN THE SUMMER OF
00:30:521952 AND HELP US CLEAN UP THE
MESS.
00:30:54WE HAD A BUNCH OF ORDINARY NORTH
KOREANS.
00:30:57-- ORNERY NORTH KOREANS.
IF YOU LOOK AT THIS MAP LATER,
00:31:07HERE IS THE DMZ.
IT SEPARATES NORTH AND SOUTH.
00:31:12WAY DOWN HERE IS A LITTLE ROCK.
WE CALL THAT ALCATRAZ, BIG
00:31:19ALCATRAZ.
ONCE YOU GET THERE, IT SHOWS A
00:31:23PRETTY BIG.
WHEN I GOT THERE IN NOVEMBER OF
00:31:281951, YOU HAD TO GET THERE BY
BOAT.
00:31:33THE ASSIGNED ME TO ONE THAT
ALREADY HAD MILITARY POLICE
00:31:40COMPANIES.
FEED, CLOTHE, TAKE CARE.
00:31:44THERE ARE ONLY 170,000 OF THEM.
SOUNDS LIKE A SMALL CITY,
00:31:53DOESN'T IT?
I GOT A JOB WITH THE COMPANY
00:32:00CLERK FOR ABOUT THREE WEEKS.
AND NICE AFRO-AMERICAN BOY FROM
00:32:06TENNESSEE, CHATTANOOGA.
HE CALLED ME BUCKEYES.
00:32:08I DID NOT LIKE IT.
I SAID, "I AM A TRUCK DRIVER
00:32:16FARM BOY.
I WANT OUT OF YOUR."
00:32:17HE SAID HE WOULD TALK TO THE
SERGEANT.
00:32:22TWO WEEKS LATER, I GOT A JOB,
AND THAT IS ALL I DID THE NEXT
00:32:28SIX MONTHS.
HE AND I, ABOUT 15 OF US.
00:32:31ANYWAY, THE LAND WAS WELL
CHOSEN, BECAUSE IT WAS AWAY FROM
00:32:39THE FRONT.
IT WAS SPLIT BY A GREAT BIG
00:32:46MOUNTAIN, THE ISLAND.
WE HAVE HALF OF THEM ON ONE
00:32:49SIDE, HALF OF THEM ON THE OTHER.
WE HAVE ABOUT 5000 AMERICAN
00:32:54SOLDIERS WITH DIFFERENT DUTIES.
WE HAVE OUR COMPANY.
00:33:00DROVE A TRUCK.
TOOK THE PRISONERS FOR A WALK.
00:33:07EVERYBODY KEPT BUSY.
OF COURSE, TRUCK DRIVERS -- WE
00:33:12WENT INTO THE COMPOUNDS.
WE HAD THE BAD ONES.
00:33:15YOU GO BACK BY YOURSELF.
YOU HAVE NOBODY TO HELP YOU.
00:33:21NO GUNS OR ANYTHING.
YOU GROW UP IN A HURRY.
00:33:28YOU LEARN TO KEEP YOUR MOUTH
SHUT.
00:33:29IN JULY OF 1951, WE THOUGHT THE
WAR WAS GOING TO BE OVER BY
00:33:39CHRISTMAS.
THE NORTH KOREANS -- CHINA
00:33:47PETITIONED TO STOP THE WAR.
THEY DID NOT WANT TO BE THERE
00:33:54IN THE FIRST PLACE.
THEY GOT UP TO PEACE TALKS, AND
00:33:57THE HEAD FOR ISSUES TO DEAL
WITH.
00:33:59THE MOST IMPORTANT WAS THE
PRISONERS.
00:34:02THE NORTH KOREANS AND CHINESE
WANTED ALL THOSE TROOPS
00:34:06RETURNED.
BUT SOME OF THEM DID NOT WANT TO
00:34:09GO HOME.
THEY WANTED TO GO TO FORMOSA.
00:34:11THEY WOULD NOT GIVE IN.
WE WOULD NOT EITHER.
00:34:15HARRY TRUMAN GOT INVOLVED.
HE SENT A MEMO TO THE
00:34:22NEGOTIATOR.
HE SAID, "WE ARE GOING TO SCREEN
00:34:24THEM, EVERY SOLDIER AND ABOUT
800 WOMEN.
00:34:30THE ONES WHO WANT TO GO HOME, WE
WILL PUT THEM IN ONE PLACE.
00:34:36THE ONES THAT DO NOT WANT TO GO
HOME, WILL TAKE THEM OFF THE
00:34:41ISLAND, KICK THEM SOMEWHERE
ELSE."
00:34:43THE ONES THAT WANTED TO STAY, WE
KEPT THEM.
00:34:45WE SCREAMED OUT ABOUT 80,000 OF
THEM.
00:34:49GOT DOWN TO ABOUT 70,000.
THEY WANTED TO GO BACK HOME.
00:34:56SOME OF THE CHINESE.
NOT TOO MANY.
00:35:01WE HAD ABOUT 20,000 OF THEM.
THEY ALL WENT HOME, THE
00:35:07NEGOTIATORS, AND NOTHING
HAPPENED.
00:35:09TROUBLE STARTED IN THE
COMPOUNDS.
00:35:12IN THOSE COMPOUNDS, HE WAS A
MIXTURE OF NORTH KOREANS WHO
00:35:16WANTED TO STAY AND WANTED TO GO
HOME.
00:35:19THEY PUT THESE OFFICERS -- THEY
RAN THEIR OWN COMPOUND.
00:35:25WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER WHAT
WENT ON IN THE COMPOUND.
00:35:28SERIOUSLY.
THEY IT WOULD KILL SOMEBODY, AND
00:35:35DRAG HIM UP TO THE GATE, AND WE
WOULD VERY THEM IN THE CEMETERY.
00:35:38WE HAD 6000 OF THEM IN ONE PAN.
IT GOT TO BE A NASTY SITUATION.
00:35:44WE GOT THROUGH UNTIL -- TROUBLE
STARTED IN SEPTEMBER OF 1951.
00:35:55WHEN I GOT THERE IN NOVEMBER,
THEY GOT TO BE MORE SERIOUS.
00:36:00THEY BROUGHT IN A COUPLE.
THEY CHANGED THE HEADQUARTERS
00:36:08COMMAND.
THEY WOULD NOT SEND MORE TROOPS.
00:36:14WE GOT AROUND TO FEBRUARY AND
STARTED SCREAMING THEM.
00:36:17WE RAN INTO A LOT OF TROUBLE.
WE LOVE THEM LAY LOW FOR A WHILE
00:36:26AND COOL OFF.
GENERAL DODD, GOD BLESS HIS
00:36:36SOUL.
HE WENT DOWN TO ONE OF THE
00:36:40COMPOUNDS WERE ALL THE FOOD AND
STUFF IS, NUMBER 76.
00:36:43I WAS THERE FIRST.
THE BATTALION COMMANDER WAS
00:36:50BEFORE I GOT THERE.
I PARKED MY TRUCK.
00:36:52THEY GOT A ARGUING BACK AND
FORTH.
00:36:57I COULD HEAR THEM TALKING.
THE 238TH INFANTRY SOLDIERS,
00:37:04THREE AMERICAN SOLDIERS, SEVEN
ENLISTED PEOPLE, ONE CASUALTY.
00:37:07THERE WERE 10 OF US WHO SAW HIS
SEIZURE.
00:37:16THEY SAID, "HAVE HIM COME DOWN
AND TALK TO US."
00:37:19S. TRUMAN SAID, HE WAS NOT
THINKING RIGHT WHEN HE SAID WE
00:37:25SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT HIM UP TO
HIS OFFICE UNDER ARMED GUARD,
00:37:29BUT WE DIDN'T.
WE GOT TO TALKING.
00:37:32A BUNCH OF TROOPS CAME UP
CARRYING THESE HONEY BUCKETS.
00:37:36THE STOCK RIGHT AT THE GATES.
THE SECOND MISTAKE WAS MADE.
00:37:39I SENSED DANGER.
SOMETHING WAS NOT RIGHT.
00:37:46THE GOT TO ARGUING BACK AND
FORTH.
00:37:49SOMEBODY BLEW A WHISTLE.
A GANG GRABBED THE GENERAL AND
00:37:59THE COLONEL.
IT WAS TOO LATE FOR THE GENERAL.
00:38:03WE HELPED GET THE COLONEL
RELEASED.
00:38:06THEY HAD MET THE OBJECTIVE.
THEY HAD CAPTURED AN AMERICAN
00:38:12GENERAL.
IN A FEW MINUTES, HE BROUGHT OUT
00:38:15A GREAT BIG SIGN.
"WE CAPTURED AMERICAN GENERAL,
00:38:20AND HE WILL BE SHOT."
THINGS REALLY GOT TIGHT AROUND
00:38:23THERE.
MORE HELP WAS COMING.
00:38:26THREE DAYS, THEY SENT IN ANOTHER
GENERAL TO GET HIM OUT.
00:38:33HE MADE A BAD MISTAKE.
HE NEGOTIATED WITH THEM.
00:38:38ONE OF THE POINTS WAS THE
ACCUSED WE VETERANS OF
00:38:45MISTREATING.
THEY ACCEPTED THAT AND TURNED
00:38:50HIM LOOSE.
TRUMAN SAID, "MY GOD.
00:38:57WE GOT TO GET THIS STRAIGHT
ABOUT."
00:39:00THE 38TH INFANTRY WAS ALREADY
THERE.
00:39:02THEY BROUGHT INTO MORE ITALIANS.
THERE WAS A NASTY MARINE FROM
00:39:14WORLD WAR II.
THEY SENT HIM OVER THERE.
00:39:18THEY NOTICED THESE NASTY,
ORNERY, 130% AIRBORNE.
00:39:41THREE THINGS HAVE TO HAPPEN.
HE TOLD THEM TO START THE
00:39:55RIFLES, AND GET THEM TO HAMMER
AND NAILS.
00:39:58WE HAVE A LOT OF FUN.
OF THE SAME TIME, IT WAS A
00:40:01SERIOUS SITUATION.
JUNE 10, AFTER HE GOT THE FENCE
00:40:11BUILT AND EVERYTHING, HE
SURROUNDED THE COMPOUND WITH TWO
00:40:19LAYERS OF AIRBORNE.
ON THE OTHER SIDE WAS THE 1038
00:40:32INVENTOR.
THE HUD TRIPS OUTSIDE.
00:40:33UNFORTUNATELY, I DID NOT GET TO
SEE THE BREAKUP, BUT IT WAS
00:40:38NASTY.
THE WEEK BEFORE, I DO NOT KNOW
00:40:43HOW I DID IT.
I THINK I DO.
00:40:48IT WAS RICE BAGS.
IF YOU EVER PICKED UP A LOOSE
00:40:53100 POUND BAG OF CORN, IT IS
HARD TO HANDLE.
00:40:59ALL I WANT OF IN THE THIRD -- I
WOUND UP IN THE THIRD.
00:41:13BIG BREATH OF.
THE 76 OFFICERS SAID, "WE ARE
00:41:19NOT GOING TO COME OUT."
WE WILL SEE ABOUT THAT.
00:41:23GIVEN TO ORDERS.
THE FIRST, WE REFUSED.
00:41:32HE SAID, GO GET THEM.
THEY FOUGHT HAND-TO-HAND COMBAT
00:41:40FOR TWO HOURS.
CHARLIE BANKS USED TO BE AT THE
00:41:44VA OFFICE.
I JUMPED OUT OF THE AIRPLANES
00:41:52RETURNS IN A COMBAT ZONE.
I WAS NEVER SO SCARED IN MY LIFE
00:41:55AS GOING INTO THAT COMPOUND.
WE FOUGHT TO DEATH.
00:42:00A LOT OF THEM WERE INJURED.
NOT A SHOT WAS FIRED BY OUR
00:42:07TROOPS.
NOT ONE SHOT.
00:42:08UNFORTUNATELY, THE TWO GENERALS
WERE DEMOTED TO COLONEL AND
00:42:23RETIRED.
THEY PUT ANOTHER STAR ON
00:42:29BOLTNER'S SHOULDER AND MADE HIM
GENERAL.
00:42:34THINGS SETTLE DOWN.
THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT THEY WERE
00:42:37GOING TO DO WITH ME.
I WAS JUST A PFC, A TRUCK
00:42:41DRIVER.
I HAD SIX MONTHS TO GO.
00:42:45I WILL MAKE THIS QUICK.
I WENT OVER TO PERSONNEL AND
00:42:48SAID, "SERGEANT, WHAT ARE YOU
GOING TO DO WITH ME?"
00:42:53HE SAID, "THE MAJOR ONES TO TALK
WITH YOU."
00:42:59WHAT HAVE I DONE WRONG?
NOTHING.
00:43:01HE SAID, "WE ARE GOING TO OPEN
UP THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE
00:43:08ISLAND HERE, AND WE WANT YOU TO
RUN IT."
00:43:11I SAID, "WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT
ME?"
00:43:14"YOUR DAD HAS A FARM BUSINESS
BACK IN OHIO."
00:43:20I SAID, "CAN'T YOU GET A
SERGEANT OR A LIEUTENANT,
00:43:28SOMEONE WITH MORE RANK AND I
GOT?"
00:43:31>> -- HE SAID, "I DO NOT WANT
THEM.
00:43:39I WANT YOU."
THAT IS WHAT I DID FOR THREE
00:43:42MONTHS.
I WENT TO JAPAN FOR 12 WEEKS, 12
00:43:48MONTHS BEFORE YOU GOT A VACATION
IN JAPAN.
00:43:51I CAME BACK AND GOT A JOB
WORKING FOR ONE OF THE FINEST
00:43:56AFRICAN-AMERICAN MAJOR
SERGEANT'S PROBABLY IN THE
00:43:59UNITED STATES ARMY.
I WAS HIS CLERK, AND WE GOT
00:44:03ALONG JUST FINE.
BEING A HISTORIAN AND INTERESTED
00:44:12IN THE IDEA OF GETTING FIRST
HAND INFORMATION, I HAVE GONE TO
00:44:20THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND
PURCHASE PICTURES.
00:44:23THERE HAVE BEEN ABOUT 10 BOOKS
WRITTEN ON IT.
00:44:26UNFORTUNATELY, OF ALL OF THEM,
ONLY 10 WORDS ABOUT THE TROOPS.
00:44:33WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THOSE
PRISONERS.
00:44:37I HAVE GOT IT IN WRITING.
ALL I NEED TO DO IS GET IT
00:44:46ASSEMBLED.
I JUST TURNED 81 A COUPLE MONTHS
00:44:49AGO.
I NEED TO GET DONE.
00:44:50WE HAVE A SMALL MUSEUM IN
LONDON, BUT IT IS NOT BIG ENOUGH
00:44:56TO PUT THE MILITARY STUFF IN.
I AM GOING TO LEAVE THIS WITH
00:45:04KAREN.
ONE MORE FINAL THING, AND I WILL
00:45:09CALL IT QUITS.
2005, MY WIFE AND I DECIDED TO
00:45:17RETURN TO CORREA.
IN OCTOBER, THE MOST BEAUTIFUL
00:45:21TIME OF YEAR TO GO.
AT THAT TIME, IT SERVED TWO
00:45:28PURPOSES.
THEY LANDED US IN SOLD -- IN SE
00:45:35OUL.
THEY TOOK US ALL DOWN BY THE
00:45:40DMZ, WHERE THE SOLDIERS FOUGHT
IN THE BATTLES.
00:45:43I SAID, "I WILL GO IN, IF YOU
LET ME STAY THREE MORE DAYS -- I
00:45:50WILL GO TO KOJITO."
THEY SAID, "WE CANNOT DO THAT."
00:45:57I SAID, "YOU GIVE ME THE OPTION
OF GOING TO CHINA.
00:46:05I WANT TO GO TO KOJITO."
IT COST ME A THOUSAND DOLLARS TO
00:46:13RENT A VAN AND A DRIVER.
AWAY WE WENT.
00:46:15THE ISLAND AT THAT TIME WAS
NOTHING BUT STRAW HUTS ENTER
00:46:20ROADS.
THE ISLAND IS JUST LIKE ANY
00:46:25PLACE IN AMERICA -- APARTMENTS,
COLLEAGUES AND.
00:46:30THEY HAVE SHIFT-BUILDING
CORPORATIONS -- SHIPBUILDING
00:46:37CORPORATIONS.
THEY BUILD THE LARGEST SHIPS IN
00:46:41THE WORLD.
THOSE PEOPLE ARE VERY
00:46:45INDUSTRIOUS, GOOD PEOPLE.
I NEVER HAD A TROUBLE WITH ANY
00:46:51OF THE KIDS.
THEY BEHAVE THEMSELVES, AND
00:46:54TREAT PEOPLE LIKE HUMAN BEINGS.
GOOD PEOPLE.
00:46:57I APPRECIATE YOU GIVING ME THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THIS WITH
00:47:01YOU.
I JOINED THE 116 ABOUT 35 YEARS
00:47:08AGO.
I AM THE ONLY ONE FROM MY
00:47:11COUNTY.
I AM THE ONLY ONE FROM MY COUNTY
00:47:14THAT EVEN WENT TO KOJITO.
I HAVE RUN INTO THREE IN THE
00:47:22COLUMBUS AREA.
RON WAS THERE.
00:47:29I AM SURE THERE WERE OTHERS.
ANY QUICK QUESTIONS?
00:47:38MY WIFE SAYS SOMETIMES I TALK
TOO LONG.
00:47:41ANYWAY, I GOT UP, CAME BACK, AND
DECIDED TO GET MY DEGREE.
00:47:49I HAD A CALLING TO BE A TEACHER.
MY YOUNGER BROTHER TOOK OVER THE
00:48:01FARM.
I MADE UP MY MIND I WAS GOING TO
00:48:05BE THE BEST I COULD BE AS A
TEACHER.
00:48:08SINCE 1983, I HAVE BEEN THE
PARENT ORGANIZATION HEAD IN
00:48:20LONDON.
WE DO EVENTS ON MEMORIAL DAY,
00:48:28VETERANS DAY.
I HAVE SLOWED DOWN.
00:48:30THEY ARE TRYING TO TRAIN SOME
OTHERS TO TAKE MY JOB.
00:48:33EVERY TIME I GO TO THE CLINIC,
WHICH IS USUALLY ONCE A MONTH, I
00:48:38CANNOT FEEL BETTER.
YOU KNOW WHY?
00:48:40I SEE SOMEBODY WORSE OFF THAN I
AM.
00:48:44THINK ABOUT THAT.
ANY QUESTIONS?
00:48:47SORRY IF I WENT ON TOO LONG.
[APPLAUSE]
00:48:52>> GENTLEMEN, WE THANK YOU BOTH
VERY MUCH FOR THOSE
00:49:00RECOLLECTIONS OF CORREA THEN AND
NOW -- OF KOREA THEN AND NOW,
00:49:08AND YOUR INSPIRATION TO US AS
AMERICANS.
00:49:11I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE COLONEL
TO COME BACK UP FOR A COUPLE OF
00:49:15SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS.
>> IT IS SO GREAT THAT WE CAN
00:49:32CAPTURE THESE STORIES FROM THOSE
DAYS, THE LIVING HISTORY, THE
00:49:40FASCINATING DETAIL.
I HAVE READ BOOK AFTER BOOK
00:49:44ABOUT THE KOREAN WAR.
TO HEAR IN PERSON THESE STORIES
00:49:49IS VERY, VERY MEANINGFUL.
I AM GOING TO CHECK WITH MY
00:50:09BOSS, MIKE, FOR A SECOND.
IT TAKES A LOT TO TAKE CARE OF A
00:50:35COLONEL.
YOU KNOW WHAT I AM SAYING?
00:50:36GENTLEMEN, I WOULD LIKE TO
EXTEND AN HONOR TO YOU I HAVE
00:50:40EXTENDED TO SENATOR LAROSE.
I PRESENT YOU WITH A COIN IN
00:50:50RECOGNITION OF YOUR SERVICES.
[APPLAUSE]
00:50:52>> THE GOVERNOR PREPARED A
PROCLAMATION ON THE OCCASION OF
00:51:21TODAY'S COMMEMORATION OF THE
KOREAN WAR.
00:51:24I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A LIBERTY
FOR A MOMENT, SINCE I GUESS I ON
00:51:28THE PODIUM.
-- I OWN THE PODIUM.
00:51:34WE HAVE HEARD NAMES OF COMMENTS
FROM THE PAST.
00:51:38I MENTIONED BRIEFLY MY UNCLE
HAROLD, WHO FOUGHT IN WORLD WAR
00:51:43ONE.
I ALSO HAD AN UNCLE I NEVER MET.
00:51:45HIS NAME WAS BYRON MILLER.
LIEUTENANT.
00:51:49CAPTURED BY THE NORTH VIETNAMESE
-- I AM SORRY.
00:51:52THE NORTH KOREANS.
I HAVE SAID THAT TWICE NOW.
00:51:56CAPTURED BY THE NORTH KOREAN
ARMY AND HERDED WITH A BUNCH OF
00:52:01COLLEAGUES INTO A FIELD AND
MURDERED IN COLD BLOOD.
00:52:03IF THERE IS EVER ANY DOUBT ABOUT
WHAT WE HAVE DONE IN THIS
00:52:11COUNTRY TO DEFEND OUR FREEDOMS
AND HELP OTHERS, THE MEMORY OF
00:52:16PEOPLE LIKE BYRON MILLER -- YOU
HAVE MEMORIES OF YOUR OWN FAMILY
00:52:20AND FRIENDS.
WE MUST NEVER FORGET THEM, OR
00:52:24THE SACRIFICE MADE BY EVERYONE
HERE.
00:52:26THE GOVERNOR WANTS TO OFFICIALLY
RECOGNIZE THE KOREAN WAR
00:52:37VETERANS ASSOCIATION, DEPARTMENT
OF OHIO.
00:52:40HE WRITES, "WE SALUTE THE
VETERANS ON THE DAY DESIGNATED
00:52:44IN STATE LAW TO HONOR THOSE WHO
FOUGHT, DIED, AND ARE STILL
00:52:50UNACCOUNTED FOR IN THE KOREAN
WAR.
00:52:53PEOPLE WHO SERVED THEIR DID ALL
THE COUNTRY ASKED IN A HARD-
00:52:58FOUGHT CONFLICT IN A COUNTRY OF
EXTREME CLIMATES.
00:53:00WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR COURAGE
AND STEADFASTNESS IN A WAR THAT
00:53:08HELP SOUTH KOREA BECOME A FREE
NATION.
00:53:09THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK TODAY TO
MAKE ALL GENERATIONS REMEMBER
00:53:14THIS WAR AND THE PEOPLE WHO
FOUGHT IT, AND FOR KEEPING FAITH
00:53:17TO A DEAR COMRADES, AS WELL AS
THE VETERANS OF TODAY.
00:53:21WE EXTEND TO ALL OF YOUR BEST
WISHES IN ALL FUTURE ENDEAVORS."
00:53:30SIGNED JOHN KASICH, GOVERNOR,
AND MARY TYLER, LIEUTENANT
00:53:37GOVERNOR.
-- MARRIED -- MARY TAYLOR, A
00:53:46LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.
I WOULD LIKE TO CALL FOR WITH
00:53:48THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE
VETERANS' ASSOCIATION.
00:53:54HE WILL ACCEPT THIS HONOR ON
BEHALF OF HIS COMRADES.
00:53:58>> ON BEHALF OF THE KOREAN WAR
VETERANS, I ACCEPT THIS
00:54:09DOCUMENT, AND WE THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
00:54:12IT HAS BEEN A PLEASURE TO BE
HERE.
00:54:14THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[APPLAUSE]
00:54:17>> I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND A
SPECIAL THANKS TO MR. ADAMS AND
00:54:33MR. DAVIS FOR SHARING THEIR
EXPERIENCES WITH US TODAY, SO
00:54:37THAT ALL OF US CAN BETTER
APPRECIATE ALL THE VETERANS WHO
00:54:40FOUGHT IN THIS WAR.
THANK YOU ALSO TO THE DIRECTOR
00:54:44AND THE SENATOR FOR BRINGING US
THEIR REMARKS TODAY.
00:54:48THANKS AGAIN TO THE SENATOR AND
THE CAPITOL SQUARE REVIEW AND
00:54:53ADVISORY BOARD FOR ALLOWING US
TO USE THIS VENUE FOR HOUR
00:54:56CEREMONY.
THANK YOU FOR FILMING THIS
00:54:59EVENT.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SAY A
00:55:05SPECIAL THANK YOU TO MY
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF
00:55:10COMMUNICATIONS FOR HER
DEDICATION, ENERGY, AND
00:55:12ENTHUSIASM IN MAKING THIS
CEREMONY HAPPEN.
00:55:15[APPLAUSE]
I WOULD INVITE ALL OF YOU,
00:55:22BEFORE YOU LEAVE THIS AREA THIS
AFTERNOON, TO TAKE THE TIME TO
00:55:28LOOK TO CUT OUR DISPLAY.
THE PICTURES WITH THEM.
00:55:32AND VISIT OUR TABLE BACK IN THE
REAR OF THE AUDIENCE AND LEARN
00:55:36MORE ABOUT THE BENEFITS
AVAILABLE.
00:55:41WE HOPE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS
PART OF YOUR HISTORY.
00:55:46A SPECIAL THANKS GOES OUT TO ALL
OF THE KOREAN VETERANS WHO ARE
00:55:52WITH US TODAY.
WITHOUT YOU AND THE
00:55:56CONTRIBUTIONS OF ALL VETERANS,
NONE OF US WOULD BE ABLE TO BE
00:55:59HERE DOING WHAT WE ARE DOING
TODAY OR ANY DAY IN THIS
00:56:02COUNTRY.
THIS CONCLUDES OUR CEREMONY.
00:56:06HAVE A SAFE TRIP HOME.
THANK YOU.
00:56:09[APPLAUSE]
Note : Transcripts are compiled from uncorrected captions