The Korean War is sometimes referred to as the forgotten war, but the Republic of Korea Consul General said his people will never forget the actions of Americans in that conflict.
“Seventy-one years ago today, American leaders made the right decision,” said South Korean Consul General Yoonjoo Park at a ceremony June 25 at the Korean War Memorial on Broad Street. “Americans came to Korea to defend freedom and democracy.”
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Fought from June 25, 1950 to July 27, 1953, the Korean War saw the deaths of more than 33,000 American service members. Eighty-five Augusta residents were among those who died, and their names are engraved on the marker.
A couple of Korean War veterans attended the ceremony as did the family of the late Master Sgt. Willard Blankenship, who fought in the conflict. His daughter Sue Blankenship Stallings called her father her “greatest hero.”
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She was just a little girl when he kissed her goodbye and left for Korea to serve with the 11th Airborne Division of the 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team.
She said it wasn’t until she was an adult and traveled with her parents to his military reunions that she realized he had fought in the war. When she told him that she didn’t know he’d fought in Korea, he told her she wasn’t supposed to know; it was up to him to know.
She thanked the veterans “for their love of freedom and willingness to protect us all,” she said.
Maj. Gen. Neil Hersey, commanding general of Fort Gordon and the Cyber Center of Excellence, said the Army was also among those who would never forget those who served in Korea and that he was “honored to acknowledge the sacrifices of true American heroes.”
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Not only did 33,000 Americans lose their lives, but American allies also fought and died.
“I want to recognize our allies who served and sacrificed,” he said mentioning Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the Philippines, Thailand and Japan.
The Korean Association of Augusta sponsored the ceremony. Because of the pandemic last year, the group was not able to mark the 70th anniversary of the start of the conflict.
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“No matter what we do or say, we will never be able to convey how grateful we are for their ultimate sacrifice,” said Seung Chui Phillip Song, president of the Korean Association of Augusta.
Charmain Z. Brackett is the Features Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach her at charmain@theaugustapress.com.
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