Endorsements
The trustees of the Korean War Veterans National Museum and Library welcome and encourage Korean War veterans groups and other veterans associations throughout the United States and the world to officially endorse the museum project in Douglas County, Illinois, USA and to encourage their members to get behind the project and push it to completion in a timely fashion. If your organization wants to endorse the museum, or if it has already officially endorsed the museum but is not listed here, be sure to contact the museum headquarters in Tuscola, Illinois.
DEPARTMENT OF MISSOURI KWVA
The Department of Missouri KWVA officially endorsed the Korean War Veterans National Museum and Library on October 13, 1998. The Missouri department received its charter on September 27, 1993. Since then, it has held two state reunions, one in 1997 and the other in 1998. In 1996, the state department, along with the Department of Illinois KWVA, co-sponsored the KWVA National Reunion in St. Louis. Its most important activities, however, have been the "Tell America" program where chapter veterans answer questions put forth by students and the general public about the Korean War. All five chapters are included in this informative activity. Department of Missouri chapters include: Chapter One (Saint Louis), Chapter Two (Malador Chapter in Kansas City), Chapter Three (Jefferson County Chapter in Hillsboro), Chapter four (North St. Louis Chapter), and Chapter Five (Harry S. Truman Chapter in Branson).
CHOSIN FEW ASSOCIATION
The survivors of the November/December 1950 battle at Changjin Reservoir (known as the Chosin Reservoir on Japanese maps) near Hagaru-ri, North Korea, held a reunion in Florida in June 1998. At that meeting, the Board of Directors of the organization known as "The Chosin Few" voted to endorse the proposed Korean War Veterans National Museum and Library. Colonel Robert Henderson (USMC Ret), who serves as secretary to the board, indicated that the endorsement includes encouraging members to support the museum project both financially and by contributing photographs and other artifacts from their service in Korea to be displayed in the museum.
84th & 62nd ENGINEER COMBAT BATTALIONS
The first Korean War veterans group to purchase a $1,000 tile for the museum's convention center wall, these two battalions hold a joint reunion each year. In Spring of 1998, the 84th and 62nd met in Kissimee, Florida, where they endorsed the museum project. Guest speaker at the reunion (plane fare and lodging paid by the 84th & 62nd) was Lynnita Sommer of Tuscola.
44th ENGINEER (BROKEN HEART) BATTALION ASSOCIATION
This association not only endorsed the Korean War Veterans National Museum and Library this summer, it also has the distinction of being the first group of Korean War veterans to hold its annual reunion in Tuscola, Illinois. Its members chose Tuscola, even though the museum is not yet under construction, as a sign of support. The 44th held a silent auction during the reunion, raising nearly $3,000 for the museum's building fund.
KOREAN WAR VETERANS ASSOCIATION
The original proposal for the Korean War Veterans National Museum and Library was brought before the directors of the KWVA in February of 1997. In July of 1997, the KWVA officially endorsed the concept of the museum. After the endorsement, the new organization called the Korean War Veterans National Museum and Library incorporated with the state of Illinois in August of 1997. The rest of the story is history in the making!
8221st ARMY UNIT ASSOCIATION
At their bi-yearly reunion and meeting held in October 1998 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, the members of the 8221st Army Unit Association voted unanimously to support and contribute $500 to the museum and library. The donation came from the "Lim Fund" which is named for Dr. Byung Sun Lim, a physician and surgeon who resides in Massena, NY with his wife. Dr. Lim was a very young boy in Taegu, South Korea when the war started and remembers very well the hardships and trauma experienced by his family, friends and his fellow countrymen. Now in the United States for some time with his wife and family and practicing medicine, Dr. Lim has not forgotten what the United Nations, and in particular, what the American military has done for his country to keep it free. Dr. Lim has been unselfish in his support to many patriotic causes over the years, and the 8221st Army Unit Association holds him in the highest regard. The 8221st Army Unit Association was established in 1994. It saw service in the Korean War from 1950 to 1954 as a detachment of X Corps Artillery.
BAKER COMPANY, 15th REGIMENT, 3rd DIVISION
At their 1998 reunion, the members of Baker Company, 15th Regiment, 3rd Division, voted to endorse the Korean War Veterans National Museum and Library by purchasing a Bronze convention center tile. Jack Wells of Alton, Illinois is the Baker Company representative to the Korean War Museum. B Company, 15th Regiment, 3rd Division landed at Wonson, North Korea on November 11, 1950 and saw action until the end of the war.
NEW ENGLAND CHAPTER CHOSIN FEW
The text of a letter (December 4, 1998) from Norman Deptula, secretary/treasurer of the New England Chapter Chosin Few reads as follows: "The officers and members of the Advisory Board of the New England Chapter of the Chosin Few heartily endorse the construction of a Korean War Veterans National Museum and Library. Accordingly, I have been directed to forward a check in the amount of $50, said amount to be used to help defray the cost of building the museum and library. The members of the New England Chapter of the Chosin Few wish you the best of luck in the pursuit of this noble endeavor."
DEPARTMENT OF ILLINOIS KWVA
December 12, 1998
Dear Officers, Board members, and other interested parties:
On behalf of the Department of Illinois, Korean War Veterans Association, we would like to formally give our appreciation and support to the Korean War Veterans National Museum and Library. We believe you have undertaken a worthwhile and much needed endeavor. As you may know, our resources are rather limited, but we will try to give you all the support possible.
Sincerely,
Richard Teike, President, Dept. of Illinois KWVA
Duane Boriff, Secretary, Dept. of Illinois KWVA
AMVETS
Department of Iowa
P.O. Box 77
Des Moines, IA 50301
AMVETS (American Veterans of World War II) began in August of 1943 as a means to provide veterans who fought in the war, and who were united by similar experiences--in jungles, in the Arctic, in deserts, in mountains, at sea, and in the skies. On July 23, 1947, President Harry S. Truman signed the AMVETS charter. In 1966, and again in 1976, membership in AMVETS was redefined to include Korean War and Vietnam War veterans, respectively.
The trustees of the Korean War Veterans National Museum and Library are pleased to announce that on February 18, 1999, the Department of Iowa AMVETS officially endorsed the national museum project with the following letter:
February 18, 1999
Clyde Fruth
Korean War Veterans National Museum & Library
Dear Mr. Fruth:
The Iowa Department of AMVETS are very enthused about the establishment of the Korean War Veterans Museum and Library. We are totally committed and endorse the creation of this Memorial. Please find enclosed check for $1,000.00 as our official endorsement of the project. We must not forget the efforts put forth by the Korean War Veteran to help keep communism from entering into the free world.
Sincerely,
David D. Parsons, Commander
Iowa Department of AMVETS
Korean Marine Corps Association
In a letter to our board president, Bob Kenney, dated March 1, 1999 and faxed from Seoul, Korea, the museum received an official letter of endorsement from the Korean Marine Corps Association. The letter was written by Park, Jung Mo. Colonel Park, who put the flag back up on the capitol building of Seoul after retaking Seoul city, (thanks to American and Korean Marines and other allied forces) from the communists during the Korean War, is considered to be a national hero in Korea.
He arrived in the United States in April to participate in the national fund-raiser in Chicago for the Korean War Veterans National Museum and Library. Accompanying him on the trip to the U.S. was Koh, Col. Woo Sang and Kim, Col. Kwan Jin.
Colonel Park
Colonel Park's letter reads as follows:
Dear Mr. Kenney:
The Korean Marine Corps Association is pleased to announce that its membership has decided to fully endorse and support the establishment of the Korean War Veterans National Museum and Library in Tuscola, Illinois USA. We will do everything we can in Korea and in the United States to help your board of trustees accomplish the goal of building a museum to honor Korean War veterans.
In the Pusan Perimeter, during the Inchon landing, and throughout the entire duration of the Korean War, Korean Marines and American Marines fought valiantly to stop the communist aggressor. We will never forget that Korean and Americans fought and died side by side to win the victory of freedom.
We will not only encourage the members of the Korean Marine Corps Association to support your efforts to establish the national Korean War Museum, we will also encourage the people of both Korea and the United States to step forward to honor Korean War veterans by making donations to the museum project. Someday soon, we hope that representatives of the Korean Marine Corps Association will have the opportunity to visit Illinois and the site of the museum. Until then, if we can help you in any way, please be sure to contact us.
Sincerely,
Park, Jung Mo
President
Policy Planning Committee
Korean Marine Corps Association
Early Photo of Colonel Jung Mo Park
Jung Mo Park is the recipient of four of Korea’s highest combat medals: Gold Star
Chung-Mu; Silver Star Chung-Mu; Silver Star Woolge; and Gold Star Hwarang. Colonel
Park is also the recipient of 15 other star medals from the Korean government. He is
considered to be a national hero in Korea because of his activities in the Korean
War. He, along with Che-Guck Pan and Yang Beyong-Soo, were serving in the Korean
Marine Corps during the retaking of Seoul in September of 1950. The newly-organized
Korean Marines were quickly trained on Jeju-do (island) southwest of Korea, and were then
sent on American vessels to participate in the Inchon Invasion. The Korean Marines
were attached to American Marine Corps regiments and other allied troops battling to
reclaim Seoul and surrounding towns from the Communists. Jung Mo Park was a second
lieutenant and platoon leader in the 2nd Battalion at the time. During the street
fighting in Seoul, Korean Marines were especially useful in routing out North Koreans who
had changed from military uniforms to street clothes and who were hiding out in buildings
in Seoul. Because they were familiar with local dress and language, Korean Marines
could easily differentiate between a North and South Korean.
As various buildings were reclaimed in Seoul, the flags of conquering United Nations units
went up and communist flags came down. Jung Mo Park, along with Beyong-Soo Yang and
Che-Guck Pan, were part of an American/Korean Marine fighting force that attacked the
capital building at 3 a.m. on September 27, 1950. By 6:10 a.m. the same day, the
building was secured. The three Korean Marines were given the responsibility to put
the Korean flag back up on the capitol building roof. Unfortunately, climbing to the
top proved hazardous because a wire leading to the roof was attached to a bomb.
Instead of using the wire, Korean Marines made a makeshift line by connecting belts from
members of the platoon. They climbed to the top of the building and put the Korean
flag back into a place of honor.
Che-Guck Pan and Jung Mo Park attended a ceremony in Seoul last year to commemorate the
raising of the flag. (Yang Beyong-Soo is now deceased.) Korean War Museum trustees
were present as special guests for the ceremony and reception, as was museum member and
Medal of Honor recipient General Ray Davis. The trustees had the honor to dine with
several Marine military officials, including Colonel Park and Che-Guck Pan. During
the lavish dinner bestowed on the trustees by the Korean Marines, details of the national
museum project were discussed, and printed materials about the museum were given to the
Korean Marine Corps Association for their consideration. Two days later, in the
Korean War gallery of the national military museum in Seoul, our board members saw a
sculpture and exhibit about the retaking of Seoul. Then on Saturday, the eve of our
board members’ departure from Seoul, a delegation of Korean Marines came to the Hotel
Sofitel for one last visit with museum officials. The Marines announced to our
trustees that the Korean Marine Corps Association had reviewed the national museum project
in Illinois and had decided to support the Korean War Veterans National Museum &
Library.
Incidentally, if our visitors have a particular interest in learning more about the
retaking of Seoul (which was lost and reclaimed four times throughout the Korean War),
comprehensive accounts of U.S. Marine involvement in the Seoul campaign can be found in
several military history books. Included in these are U.S. Marine Operations in
Korea by Lynn Montross and Historical Division, Headquarters, US Marine Corps, Washington,
DC (1972); The Korean War, Volume 1, by David Knox; and Victory at High Tide by Robert
Debs Heinl, Jr. Americans who traveled so far from home fought and died in the Seoul
campaign, as did Korean nationals. Everyone who was involved in the fierce
door-to-door fighting and the heated distant fire fights that took place there deserves to
be recognized. It was history in the making, and history that no one should ever
forget.
Copyright © 1998 Korean War Veterans National Museum and Library