Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Lucas]

http://www.express.co.uk/news/history/543289/Korean-war-Hundreds-gather-honour-dead-last-time-Britain-forgotten-war

Nice gesture from the K government.

[kimchi_pizza]

That is a nice gesture~

But to be honest my immediate and even present chagrin is the lack
of sentiment or expression of gratitude shown the U.S. at least in the manner
of public monuments here or elsewhere.

I was once asked by a reporter of the Stars and Stripes about that and my
only response is that as Americans are seen as an 'occupational force' to this day or by
others as the 'instigators', no worthwhile monument has been or will be put
up. I'm deeply saddened by this having studied and been to nearly every
major engagement in S. Korea and to stand next to the very foxholes of men
who were slain in that very spot particularly in Wonju where the lone nondescript
monument is now cordoned off and in disrepair.

But for those who wish to visit monuments dedicated to their countrymen,
a few recommendations:

British: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gloucester_Valley_Battle_Monument
A humble, early monument that is by far the best I've yet seen.

Canadians: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gapyeong_Canada_Monument
Though I personally have questions about their actions of this particular
battle, it is a nice monument.

Australians: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Kapyong
Same battle fought alongside their Canadian Commonwealth brothers.
They conducted themselves honorably and there is a nice monument at
the base of the hill they fought hard to defend. By pure chance, I also
witnessed P.M. Julia Gillard give a nice commemorative speech there.

Netherlands: A superb monument just between Wonju and Hoengseong
that truly stands out.

French: There are small monuments propped up in nearly EVERY battle site
though I don't find the French military actually being involved specially since
so far it seems it was French Legionnaires (comprised in part if not mostly
of colonized nations) that made up their 'portion' of involvement. (Vietnam
was of more import at that time). *shrug*

U.S.: Only monument that that impressed me and the only one that I
personally know of is in Chipyongni http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Chipyong-ni
On a par with the Glouster Hill memorial though later constructed.
But other sites such as Chuncheon, Hoengseong, Wonju, Naktong....nada.
At least that I haven't found so far with a far greater impact of the war,
greater loss of life with numerous stories and examples of profound heroism and sacrifice.

I'm sure there are many other monuments out there that I simply haven't
heard of or been to. But the best monuments are the trenches, foxholes
and craters that can still be seen and visited and I HIGHLY recommend it
for those up for it. Just do a little reading beforehand to really grasp what
occurred on that very ground.