The Graybeards - Korean War Veterans Association
The Graybeards - Korean War Veterans Association
The Graybeards - Korean War Veterans Association
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<strong>Korean</strong> Community. In attendance were<br />
450 <strong>Korean</strong> <strong>War</strong> veterans and guests.<br />
Each <strong>Korean</strong> <strong>War</strong> veteran was presented a<br />
beautiful commemorative medallion.<br />
Presidents of <strong>Korean</strong> <strong>War</strong> veterans organization<br />
were presented with the first issue<br />
of the <strong>Korean</strong> <strong>War</strong> Service Medal. Consul<br />
General Lee Ji Doo thanked the veterans<br />
for coming to the aid of South Korea.<br />
Entertainment was provided by the Royal<br />
Hawaiian Band and <strong>Korean</strong> community.<br />
On July 1 the USS Boxer, berthed at<br />
Pearl Harbor, an aircraft carrier which saw<br />
duty in the <strong>Korean</strong> <strong>War</strong>, was the stage for<br />
another large gathering of <strong>Korean</strong> <strong>War</strong><br />
veterans who were guests of the U.S.<br />
Pacific Fleet, Hawaii. <strong>The</strong> event honored<br />
<strong>Korean</strong> <strong>War</strong> veterans and their spouses.<br />
Once aboard the ship veterans were<br />
escorted by an officer to the carrier flight<br />
deck where a ceremony took place. Each<br />
veteran was pinned with a commemorative<br />
lapel pin. Following the ceremony<br />
more than 1,000 <strong>Korean</strong> <strong>War</strong> veterans and<br />
their spouses and personnel of the U.S.<br />
Navy went below to the hanger deck<br />
where they were treated to a sumptuous<br />
buffet dinner provided by members of the<br />
RIMPAC nations. Entertainment was provided<br />
by Navy personnel.<br />
<strong>Korean</strong> <strong>War</strong> veterans returned to Pearl<br />
Harbor on July 3 this time as guest of the<br />
Republic of Korea Navy, a participant in<br />
the RIMPAC exercise. <strong>Veterans</strong> were<br />
treated to a very, tasty <strong>Korean</strong> barbecue<br />
buffet dinner aboard the ROKS<br />
Ulchimmondunk and ROKS Chonnam<br />
Navy ships. Each veteran was presented<br />
with a commemorative coin. <strong>Korean</strong><br />
Consul General Lee Ji-doo was the<br />
keynote speaker.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Annual 4th of July Parade, held in<br />
Kailua, Oahu, was dedicated to <strong>Korean</strong><br />
<strong>War</strong> veterans- Members of the <strong>Korean</strong><br />
<strong>War</strong> <strong>Veterans</strong> <strong>Association</strong>, Hawaii<br />
Chapter #1, the 5th Regimental Combat<br />
Team, Hawaii, and the <strong>Korean</strong> <strong>War</strong><br />
<strong>Veterans</strong> <strong>Association</strong>, Aloha Chapter,<br />
marched in their uniforms on that hot,<br />
steamy morning to the snappy beat of the<br />
Cupertino High School Band of<br />
California. At the reviewing stand each<br />
unit halted, faced the stand, and was cited<br />
for their sacrifices in the <strong>Korean</strong> <strong>War</strong>.<br />
Thousands of spectators lined the one<br />
mile route, many shouting, “Thank you<br />
veterans well done.” With these words of<br />
Moses Pakaki, team leader of “Tell America,”<br />
gestures to make a point to ROTC cadets at<br />
Kamehameha High School<br />
encouragement, the veterans sucked in<br />
their guts, threw out their chests, held<br />
their heads high and finished the parade<br />
on sheer pride. <strong>The</strong> Chapter was selected<br />
by the Chamber of Commerce as the most<br />
outstanding marching unit in the Senior<br />
Marching Unit catergory. Following the<br />
parade more than 50 veterans and spouses<br />
enjoyed a five course Chinese lunch at the<br />
Yen Yen restaurant in Kailua.<br />
At St. Peter’s Episcopal Church on<br />
Sunday, July 9, <strong>Korean</strong> <strong>War</strong> veterans were<br />
honored with a special service. BG Irwin<br />
Cockett (Ret) of the 5th RCT and Co-<br />
Chairman of 50th Anniversary of the<br />
<strong>Korean</strong> <strong>War</strong> Commemoration<br />
Commission led the procession of <strong>Korean</strong><br />
<strong>War</strong> veterans into the church. <strong>Veterans</strong><br />
Harry Kumabe and Harry Takane read<br />
prayers from the Book of Common<br />
Prayer, “For Our Country” and “For<br />
Those in the Armed Forces of our<br />
Country” respectively. Veteran Louis<br />
Baldovi shared the pulpit with the<br />
Reverend Thomas Yoshida, both speaking<br />
on the theme of the Commemoration,<br />
“Freedom Is Not Free.” A reception followed<br />
the service.<br />
On July 14 the 25th Infantry Division<br />
(Light), the second Army unit to enter the<br />
<strong>Korean</strong> <strong>War</strong>, honored veterans from that<br />
war at a ceremony held at Stoneman<br />
Stadium, Schofield Barracks. MG General<br />
William E. <strong>War</strong>d, Commander of the division,<br />
played host to over 200 veterans and<br />
their spouses. <strong>The</strong> ceremony included the<br />
unveiling of the Department of Defense’s<br />
<strong>Korean</strong> <strong>War</strong> Commemorative flag by MG<br />
<strong>War</strong>d and Irwin Cockett (Ret), Co-<br />
Chairman of the Hawaii Commemoration<br />
Commission. MG <strong>War</strong>d addressed the<br />
<strong>Korean</strong> <strong>War</strong> veterans and thanked them<br />
for answering their country’s call and for<br />
their sacrifices. Each veteran received a<br />
beautiful certificate prior to the ceremony.<br />
After the ceremony veterans were treated<br />
to a static display of military equipment<br />
and lunch. <strong>The</strong> lunch was an eye opener<br />
for all veterans in that the dining hall and<br />
the food did not resemble what they experienced<br />
50 years ago. Many veterans<br />
remarked, “If it were like this 50 years<br />
ago, I would have reenlisted! It was like<br />
having lunch at a very nice restaurant.”<br />
<strong>The</strong> annual reunion of <strong>Korean</strong> <strong>War</strong> veterans<br />
was held on July 27-29. <strong>The</strong> organization<br />
in charge of the reunion was<br />
KWVA HI Ch. #1 and the 5th RCT. It<br />
began with a morning ceremony on July<br />
27 at the <strong>Korean</strong> <strong>War</strong> Memorial. On July<br />
28 veterans toured the USS Missouri,<br />
enjoyed a “circle the island tour” while<br />
others took in a golf tournament.<br />
That evening 300 veterans and their<br />
guests were treated to a luau at the Hale<br />
Koa Hotel. Keynote speaker for the<br />
evening was General Fred C. Weyand,<br />
U.S. Army Chief of Staff, Ret. <strong>The</strong> three<br />
day affair ended with another dinner on<br />
the 29th at Fort Shafter, Honolulu, with<br />
BG Irwin Cockett, Ret., the featured<br />
speaker.<br />
“Tell America” is alive and well in<br />
Hawaii. Despite KWVA’s decision to terminate<br />
“Tell America” several years ago,<br />
Hawaii’s Chapter felt that it was an important<br />
program to educate youngsters in the<br />
schools about the <strong>Korean</strong> <strong>War</strong> and the role<br />
of veterans. Hawaii’s 50th Anniversary of<br />
the <strong>Korean</strong> <strong>War</strong> Commemoration<br />
Commission has endorsed the program.<br />
So far this year teams have visited 3 public<br />
schools and one private school. On<br />
schedule this fall for visitations are the<br />
University of Hawaii and 2 private high<br />
schools. We would like to hear from other<br />
chapters that are involved in the program<br />
(See “Monuments and Memories” for<br />
additional photos and comments concerning<br />
the Hawaian <strong>Korean</strong> <strong>War</strong> Vets.)<br />
September/October, 2000 Page 49