Showing posts with label Korean War. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Korean War. Show all posts

Monday, July 16, 2012

Korean War and the U.S. Navy

When we remember the Korean War we usually think only of troops on the ground, or aircraft being
involved.

We do not think about the role the U.S. Navy played and the loss of life and ships and equipment being
damaged by the North Koreans and the aid given to them by the Communists.

So to honor our Navy and the brave sailors who took part, here is a list of ships that were sunk or
damaged. It is quite interesting and rather lengthy.

Remember also that the Korean War was a part of the Cold War. (The often repeated fallacy
-No shots were fired.


Sunk in action ( 5 ships):

USS Magpie (AMS-25) blew up after striking a mine, 21 missingin action and 12 survivors, 29 September 1950.
USS Pirate(AM-275) sunk after striking a mine at Wonsan, North Korea, 12October 1950
USS Pledge (AM-277) sunk after striking a mine at Wonsan,North Korea, 12 October 1950.

USS Partridge (AMS-31) sunk after striking a mine, 8 killed,6 seriously wounded, 2 February 1951.
USS Sarsi (ATF-111) sunk after striking a mine at Hungnam,North Korea, 2 killed, 27 August 1952.
Damaged in action ( 87 incidents):
USS Collett (DD-730) damaged by 7 hits with 5 wounded, 13 September 1950
USS Gurke (DD-783) minor damage from 3 hits, no casualties, 13 September 1950
USS Lyman K. Swenson (DD-729) 2 near misses caused 1 killed and 1 wounded, 13 September 1950.
USS Brush (DD-745) damaged after striking a mine at Tanchon,North Korea, 9 killed and 10 wounded, 26 September 1950.
USS Mansfield (DD-728) damaged after striking a mine, 5missing and 48 wounded, 30 September 1950.
USS Charles S. Perry (DD-697) damaged by 3 hits from ashore battery at Songjin, North Korea, 23 December 1950.
USS Ozbourn (DD-846) damaged after being hit by a shorebattery at Wonsan, North Korea, 2 casualties, 23 December 1950.
USS Walke (DD-723) extensively damaged after striking amine off the east coast of Korea, 61 casualties, 12 June 1951.
USS Thompson (DMS-38) extensively damaged after being hitby a shore battery at Songjin, North Korea, 3 killed and 4 wounded,14 June 1951.
USS Hoquiam (PF-5) slightly damaged after being hit bya shore battery at Songjin, North Korea, 1 casualty, 7 May 1951.
USS New Jersey (BB-62) slightly damaged after being hitby a shore battery at Wonsan, North Korea, 4 casualties, 20 May1951.
USS Brinkley Bass (DD-887) minor damage after being hitby a shore battery at Wonsan, North Korea, 8 casualties, 22 May1951.
USS Frank E. Evans (DD-754) slightly damaged after beinghit by a shore battery at Wonsan, North Korea, 4 casualties, 18June 1951.
USS Henry W. Tucker (DDR-875) superficial damage afterbeing hit by a shore battery at Wonsan, North Korea, 28 June 1951.
USS Everett (PF-8) minor damage after being hit by a shorebattery at Wonsan, North Korea, 8 casualties, 3 July 1951 
.USS Helena (CA-75) minordamage after being hit by a shore battery at Wonsan, North Korea,2 casualties, 31 July 1951 .
USS Dextrous (AM-341) superficial damage after being hitby a shore battery at Wonsan, North Korea, 1 killed and 3 wounded,11 August 1951.
USS William Seiverling (DE-441) fireroom flooded afterbeing hit by a shore battery at Wonsan, North Korea, no casualties,8 September 1951.
USS Heron (AMS-18) superficial damage after being hit bya shore battery at Wonsan, North Korea, no casualties, 10 September1951.
USS Redstart (AM-378) minor damage after being hit by ashore battery at Wonsan, North Korea, no casualties, 10 September1951.
USS Firecrest (AMS-10) slight damage after being hit bya shore battery at Hungnam, North Korea, no casualties, 5 October1951.
USS Ernest G. Small (DDR-838) extensive damage after strikinga mine off the East coast of North Korea, 27 casualties, 7 October1951.
USS Renshaw (DDE-499) slight damage after being hit bya shore battery at Songjin, North Korea, 1 casualty, 11 October1951.
USS Ulvert M. Moore (DE-442) moderate damage after being hit by a shore battery at Hungnam, North Korea, 3 casualties, 17 October 1951.
USS Helena (CA-75) - slight damage after being hit by ashore battery at Hungnam, North Korea, 4 casualties, 23 October1951.
USS Osprey (AMS-28) considerable damage after being hitby a shore battery at Wonsan, North Korea, 1 casualty, 29 October1951.
USS Gloucester (PF-22) light damage after being hit bya shore battery at Hongwon, North Korea, 12 casualties, 11 November1951.
USS Hyman (DD-732) minor damage after being hit by a shorebattery at Wonsan, North Korea, no casualties, 23 November 1951.
USS Crook County (LST-611) superficial damage after beinghit by a shore battery, no casualties, 22 December 1951.
USS Dextrous (AM-341) minor damage after being hit by ashore battery at Wonsan, North Korea, 3 casualties, 11 January1952.
USS Porterfield (DD-682) minor damage after being hit bya shore battery at Sokto, North Korea, no casualties, 3 February1952.
USS Endicott (DMS-35) minor damage after 2 hits from ashore battery at Songjin, North Korea, no casualties, 4 February1952.
USS Rowan (DD-782) minor damage after 1 hit from a shorebattery at Hungnam, North Korea, no casualties, 22 February 1952.
USS Shelton (DD-790) moderate damage after 3 hits froma shore battery at Songjin, North Korea, 15 casualties, 22 February1952.
USS Henderson (DD-785) minor damage after being hit bya shore battery at Hungnam, North Korea, no casualties, 23 February1952.
USS Wisconsin (BB-64) insignificant damage after 1 hitfrom a shore battery at Songjin, North Korea, 3 casualties, 16March 1952.
USS Brinkley Bass (DD-887) moderate damage after 1 hitfrom a shore battery at Wonsan, North Korea, 5 casualties, 24March 1952.
USS Endicott (DMS-35) insignificant damage after beinghit by a shore battery at Chongjin, North Korea, no casualties,7 April 1952.
USS Endicott (DMS-35) minor damage after 1 hit from a shorebattery at Songjin, North Korea, no casualties, 19 April 1952.
USS Osprey (AMS-28) minor damage after 1 hit from a shorebattery at Songjin, North Korea, no casualties, 24 April 1952.
USS Cabildo (LSD-16) minor damage after 1 hit from a shorebattery at Wonsan, North Korea, 2 casualties, 26 April 1952.
USS Laffey (DD-724) superficial damage after being hitby a shore battery at Wonsan, North Korea, no casualties, 30 April1952.
USS Maddox (DD-731) superficial damage after being hitby a shore battery at Wonsan, North Korea, no casualties, 30 April1952.
USS Leonard F. Mason (DD-852) superficial damage afterbeing hit by a shore battery at Wonsan, North Korea, no casualties,2 May 1952.
USS James C. Owens (DD-776) considerable damage after 6hits from a shore battery at Songjin, North Korea, 10 casualties,7 May 1952.
USS Herbert J. Thomas (DDR-833) superficial damage after1 hit from a shore battery at Wonsan, North Korea, no casualties,12 May 1952.
USS Douglas H. Fox (DD-779) minor damage after 1 hit froma shore battery at Hungnam, North Korea, 2 casualties, 14 May1952.
USS Cabildo (LSD-16) superficial damage after being hitby a shore battery at Wonsan, North Korea, 2 casualties, 25 May1952.
USS Swallow (AMS-26) slight damage after 3 hits from ashore battery at Songjin, North Korea, no casualties, 25 May 1952.
USS Murrelet (AM-372) slight damage after being hit bya shore battery at Songjin, North Korea, no casualties, 26 May1952.
USS Firecrest (AMS-10) minor damage after hits from machinegun mounts. No casualties, 30 May 1952.
USS Buck (DD-761) motor launch damaged after being hitby a shore battery at Kojo, North Korea, 2 casualties, 13 June1952.
USS Orleck (DD-886) minor damage 1 hit after receiving 50 rounds of 75 mm, 4 casualties, 13 June 1952.
USS Southerland (DDR-743) minor damage after 4 hits from shore batteries, 8 casualties, 14 July 1952
USS John R. Pierce (DD-753) moderate damage after 7 hitsfrom a shore battery at Tanchon, North Korea, 10 casualties, 6August 1952.
USS Barton (DD-722) minor damage after 1 hit from a shorebattery at Wonsan, North Korea, 2 casualties, 10 August 1952.
USS Grapple (ARS-7) minor damage after 1 hit below thewaterline from a shore battery at Wonsan, North Korea, no casualties,12 August 1952.
USS Thompson (DMS-38) minor damage in the vicinity of thebridge after an air burst and near misses from a shore batteryat Songjin, North Korea, 13 casualties, 20 August 1952.
USS Competent (AM-316) superficial damage and lost sweepgear after a shrapnel near miss from a shore battery at Pkg. 4-5,no casualties, 27 August 1952.
USS McDermut (DD-677) superficial damage after receiving60 rounds at 3,700 yards while at Pkg 4-5, no casualties, 27 August1952.
USS Agerholm (DD-826) superficial damage after being hitby a shore battery at the Kangsong, North Korea area bombline,1 casualty, 1 September 1952.
USS Frank E. Evans (DD-754) slight damage from near misses,after receiving 69 rounds, from a shore battery at Tanchon, NorthKorea, no casualties, 8 September 1952.
USS Barton (DD-722) major damage after striking a mine90 miles east of Wonsan, North Korea, 11 casualties, 16 September1952.
USS Alfred A. Cunningham (DD-752) moderate damage from5 hits and 7 air bursts. Received 150 rounds of 105 mm from 3guns. First round was a direct hit at a initial range of 3,500yards. 8 casualties, 19 September 1952
USS Perkins (DDR-877) superficial damage after being straddledby 5 rounds, from a shore battery at range of 5,000 yards, atKojo, North Korea. The ship was sprayed with shrapnel from 2 nearmisses, 18 casualties, 13 October 1952.
USS Osprey (AMS-28) minor damage after being hit by a shorebattery at Kojo, North Korea, 4 casualties, 14 October 1952.
USS Lewis (DE-535) moderate damage from 2 hits after receiving50 rounds from 4-6 guns at Wonsan, North Korea, 8 casualties,21 October 1952.
USS Mansfield (DD-728) minor shrapnel damage after receiving40 rounds from 4 guns. The suspected radar controlled guns straddledthe ship at a range of 4,300-8,000 yards. No casualties, 28 October1952.
USS Uhlmann (DD-687) minor damage from 3 hits after receiving160 rounds from a shore battery, 13 casualties, 3 November 1952.
USS Kite (AMS-22) 1 small boat destroyed by a shore batteryat Wonsan, North Korea, 5 casualties, 19 November 1952.
USS Thompson (DMS-38) minor damage from 1 hit after receiving89 rounds from a shore battery at Wonsan, North Korea, 1 casualty,20 November 1952.
USS Hanna (DE-449) moderate damage from 1 hit after receiving60 rounds from a shore battery at Songjin, North Korea, 1 casualty,24 November 1952.
USS Halsey Powell (DD-686) whaleboat damaged after beinghit by a shore battery at Hwa-do, North Korea, 2 casualties, 6February 1953.
USS Gull (AMS-16) minor damage from 1 hit after receiving60 rounds at a range of 5,400-10,000 yards while at Pkg 2, 2 casualties,16 March 1953.
USS Taussig (DD-746) slight damage from 1 hit after receiving45 rounds at a range of 6,400-10,000 yards, 1 casualty, 17 March1953.
USS Los Angeles (CA-135) slight damage from 1 hit afterreceiving 40 rounds of 105 mm at Wonsan, North Korea, no casualties,27 March 1953.
USS Los Angeles (CA-135) minor damage after 1 hit froma shore battery at Wonsan, North Korea, 13 casualties, 2 April1953.
USS Maddox (DD-731) slight damage from 1-76 mm hit afterreceiving 209 rounds of heavy fire from a shore battery at Wonsan,North Korea, 3 casualties, 16 April 1953.
USS James E. Kyes (DD-787) slight damage from 1 hit afterreceiving 60 rounds of 155 mm at a range of 8,000-12,000 yardsfrom a shore battery near Wonsan, North Korea, 9 casualties, 19April 1953.
USS Maddox (DD-731) moderate damage from 1 hit from a shorebattery at Hodo Pando, North Korea. The ship received 186 roundsof 105 mm and several near misses from 4 guns. No casualties,2 May 1953.
USS Owen (DD-536) minor damage from 1 hit from a shorebattery at Hodo Pando, North Korea. The ship received 100 roundsof 105 mm with 1 near miss and several straddles from 4 guns.No casualties, 2 May 1953.
USS Bremerton (CA-130) superficial damage after 1 nearmiss from a shore battery at Wonsan, North Korea. The ship received18 rounds of 76 mm - 135 mm, 2 casualties, 5 May 1953.
USS Samuel N. Moore (DD-747) superficial damage from 1hit from a shore battery at Wonsan, North Korea. The ship received60 rounds of 90 mm, no casualties, 8 May 1953.
USS Brush (DD-745) minor damage after 1 hit from a shorebattery at Wonsan, North Korea. The ship received 20 rounds of76 mm, 9 casualties, 15 May 1953.
USS Swift (AM-122) superficial damage from 1 hit from ashore battery at Yang-do, North Korea. The ship received 30 roundsof 76 mm, 1 casualty, 29 May 1953.
USS Clarion River (LSMR-409) minor damage after 2 hitsfrom a shore battery at Walsa-ri, North Korea. The ship received30 rounds of 76 mm, 5 casualties, 4 June 1953.
USS Wiltsie (DD-716) superficial damage after 1 hit froma shore battery at Wonsan, North Korea. The ship received 35 roundsof 76 mm with several air bursts, no casualties, 11 June 1953.
USS Henderson (DD-785) superficial damage after being hitby a shore battery at Wonsan, North Korea, 17 June 1953.
USS Irwin (DD-794) minor damage from 1 hit after receiving90 rounds near Wonsan, North Korea, 5 casualties, 18 June 1953.
USS Rowan (DD-782) moderate damage from 5 hits after receiving45 rounds of 76-155 mm, at 7,500 yards, near Wonsan, North Korea,9 casualties, 18 June 1953.
USS Gurke (DD-783) slight damage from 2 hits and shrapnelfrom 5 near misses after receiving 150 rounds of 76-90 mm, at6,000 to 11,000 yards, near Songjin, North Korea, 3 casualties,25 June 1953.
USS Manchester (CL-83) superficial damage after near missesduring a 30 minute gun duel with a shore battery at Wonsan, NorthKorea, no casualties, 30 June 1953.
USS John W. Thomason (DD-760) minor shrapnel damage afternear misses from 150 rounds of 107 mm from a shore battery atHodo Pando, North Korea, 7 July 1953.
USS Irwin (DD-794) minor damage after 80 rounds of 76 mmair bursts close aboard from a shore battery at Pkg 2, 5 casualties,8 July 1953.
USS Saint Paul (CA-73) severe underwater damage after one76-90 mm hit from a shore battery at Wonsan, North Korea, no casualties,11 July 1953.

Sources consulted:

Cagle, Malcom W. and Frank A. Manson. The Sea War in Korea.Annapolis, MD: United States Naval Institute, 1957.

Silverstone, Paul H. US Warships since 1945. Annapolis,MD: Naval Institute Press, 1987.



---- Jerald Terwilliger Past Chairman American Cold War Veterans "We Remember" ---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Search for Korean War MIA's to Renew

On Friday Oct. 21 the Department of Defense announced that the United States and the
Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) agreed to resume the search and recovery
of remains of American service members missing in action from the Korean War.

U.S. teams will work in two sections of North Korea. Approximately 60 miles north of
Poyongyang in Unsan County. The other area is in the Chosin/Jangjin Reservoir, where it is
believed more than 2,000 Marines and soldiers are buried.

The agreement includes logistics and matters to help ensure the safety and effectiveness of the
teams working in the DPRK.

The search is expected to begin next year as a humanitarian effort, and will be the first since
2005, when relations and increased tensions on the Korean Peninsula forced the American
teams to halt their search.

The Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command had teams conducting searches in the country
for ten years before the halt. It is believed that the remains of 225 servicemen have been
recovered since 1996.

More than 7,900 Americans are missing from the Korean War, more than 5,500 are believed
to have been lost in North Korea.

Our country must continue to search with every means available to locate and repatriate the
remains of every MIA. We must demand the full accounting of all those who are MIA.

The families of those who are still missing deserve nothing less than our full, complete and
concentrated effort. Those who are missing must be found to bring closure to the loved ones
of those who never came home.

Jerald Terwilliger
National Chairman
American Cold War Veterans
"We Remember" 

---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996

Friday, February 25, 2011

Valor Flight for Korean War Veterans

The Great state of Tennessee is changing the Honor Flight for WWII veterans. They are now
calling it Valor Flight, The Flight of the Not forgotten, and it is for Korean War Veterans.

After honoring over 1,000 WWII veterans, now the flight will be to take Korean War Veterans
to see the memorial, of 19 stainless steel statutes and the memorial wall.

Organizer Steve Celuch says "A lot of treasured memories surface as a result, and we hope
to recreate that experience for Korean Veterans."

The organization is looking for Tennessee Valley Korean War Veterans who live in Madison,
Limestone, Morgan, Marshall and Jackson counties.

More information can be found on the website Valor Flight The Flight of The Not Forgotten

This is a very thoughtful and touching tribute to all Korean War Veterans, one that we hope
every state will follow. They have been forgotten for a long time, and now it is time to show
all Korean War Veterans they are no longer forgotten.

Jerald Terwilliger
National Chairman
American Cold War Veterans
"We Remember"

---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Teams to Search Cambodia for Vietnam War MIAs

I have for a long time been a staunch supporter of the POW/MIA problems. It is a tragedy that
so many are still Missing. Their families and loved ones need and deserve closure.

Everyone please contact your elected officials and demand a full and complete accounting of all
MIAs from the countries involved. We must bring them home. They are not forgotten.
 
Teams to Search Cambodia for Vietnam War MIAs
 
From a Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command News Release

WASHINGTON, Feb. 4, 2011 - Two archeological teams from the U.S. Joint Prisoners of War/Missing in Action Accounting Command are scheduled to arrive in Cambodia soon to search for Americans unaccounted-for from the Vietnam War, and physicians and nurses from military commands in Hawaii will accompany them to participate in a health engagement mission.

As part of the recovery portion of this dual-purpose deployment, more than 40 recovery team members will excavate a burial site and an underwater aircraft crash site in search of four missing Americans in Cambodia's Kampong Cham and Kracheh provinces.

The deployment, expected to last about 40 days, marks the command's 44th joint field activity in Cambodia, officials said.

Recovery teams search for human remains, life-support items and other material evidence that may further the identification of Americans missing from past conflicts.

In addition to recovery efforts, U.S. and Cambodian personnel will participate in a medical engagement outreach event, treating 4,000 to 8,000 people in rural and highly underserved communities, officials said. The specialized 12-member team of experts in various medical specialties will provide basic health assistance, laboratory services and optometry examinations.

The U.S. medical team members are from Tripler Army Medical Center, the 18th Medical Command and the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command. U.S. and Cambodian physicians will reinforce medical capabilities by participating in an information exchange, benefitting both countries educationally and socio-culturally, officials added.

"[Tripler] is sending physician residents from OB/GYN and family medicine to conduct expert exchanges with local physicians, and will be invited to work alongside the Khmer physicians and treat their patients," said Army Capt. Drew Webb, a Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command physician assistant.

This will be the first time a Tripler resident program has deployed to a foreign country on a humanitarian outreach mission, Webb added.

"The big takeaway for all of this is that the [Tripler] residents will get training and experience in such a unique environment," he said.

Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command is a jointly manned U.S. Pacific Command organization of more than 400 military and civilian specialists that has investigated and recovered missing Americans since the 1970s, officials said, noting that 1,702 Americans still are listed as missing in action from the Vietnam War.


Jerald Terwilliger
National Chairman
American Cold War Veterans
"We Remember"

---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

VA Publishes Final Regualation To Aid Korean Veterans Exposed to Agent Orange

 New Regulations Will Provide Easier Path To Health Care and Benefits to those exposed to
 illnesses for those exposed to herbicides.



WASHINGTON - Veterans exposed to herbicides while serving along the
demilitarized zone (DMZ) in Korea will have an easier path to access
quality health care and benefits under a Department of Veterans Affairs
(VA) final regulation that will expand the dates when illnesses caused
by herbicide exposure can be presumed to be related to Agent Orange.

"VA's primary mission is to be an advocate for Veterans," said Secretary
of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki "With this new regulation VA has
cleared a path for more Veterans who served in the demilitarized zone in
Korea to receive access to our quality health care and disability
benefits for exposure to Agent Orange." 

Under the final regulation published today in the Federal Register, VA
will presume herbicide exposure for any Veteran who served between April
1, 1968, and Aug. 31, 1971, in a unit determined by VA and the
Department of Defense (DoD) to have operated in an area in or near the
Korean DMZ in which herbicides were applied.  

Previously, VA recognized that Agent Orange exposure could only be
conceded to Veterans who served in certain units along the Korean DMZ
between April 1968 and July 1969.  

In practical terms, eligible Veterans who have specific illnesses VA
presumes to be associated with herbicide exposure do not have to prove
an association between their illness and their military service.  This
"presumption" simplifies and speeds up the application process for
benefits and ensures that Veterans receive the benefits they deserve.

Click on these links to learn about Veterans' diseases associated with
Agent Orange exposure
ses.asp>  at
birth defects in children of Vietnam-era Veterans
_defects.asp>  at

VA encourages Veterans with covered service in Korea who have medical
conditions that may be related to Agent Orange to submit their
applications for access to VA health care and compensation as soon as
possible so the agency can begin processing their claims.

Individuals can go to website
complete understanding of how to file a claim for presumptive conditions
related to herbicide exposure, as well as what evidence is needed by VA
to make a decision about disability compensation or survivors benefits.

Additional information about Agent Orange and VA's services for Veterans
exposed to the chemical is available at
www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange

The regulation is available on the Office of the Federal Register
website at http://www.ofr.gov/.

---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996

Monday, December 20, 2010

North Korea Has More Remains Of U.S. Soldiers

North Korea has said they have more remains of U.S. soldiers to be returned.

The remains including bones, effects and a single dog tag were discovered recently Maj. Gen.
Pak Rim Su told Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico.

President of Korean War Veterans Association Bill MacSwain said he found the timing interesting that
it would come now. "I'm afraid it's more political than humanitarian,  they use our dead to further
their gains," he said. "But we need to bring them home."

More than 54,000 died in the war, and some 8,000 are still missing.

Once again I ask everyone to contact their elected officials and ask them to demand a full and accurate
accounting; and the return of all remains of the MIA from all wars. We should never forget
the sacrifice of these brave men and women.

It is a blot on our fine military, our veterans, our nation that so many are still unaccounted for. Bring
them home and give closure to the families of those who never returned.

Jerald Terwilliger
National Chairman
American Cold War Veterans
"We Remember"

---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996

Saturday, December 18, 2010

North Korea Warns of Nuclear War

The escalating tension in Korea has become even more evident and frightening.

North Korea threatened South Korea that it might deploy a nuclear bomb on the South because
of "South Korean's reckless war policies." North Korea also said "The intensity and scope of the
strike will be more serious than the Nov. 23 shelling."

The two countries have been fighting over the 38th parallel and the adjacent areas since the end of
the Korean War, which ended more as a cease fire, without a treaty.

The North's National Peace Committee has said "The army and our people are ready for both an
escalated war and an all out war."

Reminders of the Cold War abound as this not only involves the North and South, but the entire
region. Pakistan has accused the U.S. and South Korea of an ongoing policy of confrontation. Pakistan
also says that North Korea needed its nuclear program to fend them off.

China has long been a supporter, and supplier of North Korea. Chinese Foreign Minister
Yang Jiechi said "Our general goal is for all sides to exercise calm and restraint and to make
every effort to avoid such incidents recurring."

So the world waits and watches to see exactly what course the North will take. We also wonder what
will their new leader do when he takes control of the country from his father.

Jerald Terwilliger
National Chairman
American Cold War Veterans
"We Remember"

---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996

Thursday, September 30, 2010

North and South Korea talks end with no progress

North and South Korea had their first military talks in almost 2 years. They last met in October 2008.

No progress was made. South Korea has demanded that North Korea apologize for the sinking of the
South Korean ship Cheonan. North Korea has repeatedly said they had nothing to do with the sinking.

In fact, North Korea accuses South Korea and the U.S. of using false information and implications to
use this to force North Korea to bow to pressure.

The U.S. and South Korea recently held join naval exercises close to the coast of North Korea, included was a nuclear powered aircraft carrier.

North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Pak Kil Yon told the UN yesterday that North Korea will continue to make nuclear weapons. Pak said "As long as U.S. nuclear aircraft carriers sail around the seas of
our country, our nuclear deterrent can never be abandoned, but should be strengthened further."

The Korean War ended with a cease-fire so they are still technically at war since no peace treaty
was ever signed.

In other news, Kim Jon Un, the son of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il was named a four star general
and was given key party and military posts. This brings up the possible transfer of power to the younger Kim, believed to be in his late 20's.

Jerald Terwilliger
National Chairman
American Cold War Veterans
"We Remember"

---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996