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South Korean President Moon Jae-in visits a monument dedicated to the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle, Virginia, in June 2017. Next to President Moon is former marine and Korean War veteran Steven Olmstead. (AP/Yonhap News)
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Veterans fought at historic Battle of Chosin Reservoir
South Korea’s Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs announced on June 22 that it has invited 85 US veterans and their family members – including veterans who fought in the Battle of Chosin Reservoir – to attend an event marking the 68th anniversary of the Korean War, which began on June 25, 1950. The guests at the event will include Raymond Radke, 88, a sergeant with the 7th Infantry Division; Harold Ponther, 86, a private with the 1st Marine Division; and Patrick Finn, 87, a corporal also with the 1st Marine Division, who took part in the battle. The battle took place near the eponymous reservoir today known as Jangjin Lake, in South Hamgyong Province, North Korea, from Nov. 26 to Dec. 11, 1950. This was the battle during which 15,000 soldiers with the US 1st Marine Division broke out of a trap set by 120,000 soldiers from seven Chinese divisions and retreated to the city of Hamhung. More than 4,500 American soldiers were killed in battle, while over 7,500 suffered from frostbite. While staying in South Korea from June 23 to 28, these guests are scheduled to visit the War Memorial, pay their respects at the Seoul National Cemetery, attend a memorial service at the UN Memorial Cemetery in Busan and take a tour of Imjingak Park. Built by the UN Command in 1951, the UN Memorial Cemetery is currently the final resting place of 2,300 fallen soldiers from 11 countries who fought in the war, including the US. By Park Byong-su, senior staff writer Please direct comments or questions to [english@hani.co.kr]
