Remembering the ‘Forgotten War’

It is called the Forgotten War for a reason.

“(The Korean War) wasn’t a publicized war and it didn’t affect as many people as World War II or Vietnam,” said George Patrick, a Korean War veteran who served from 1950 until 1953. “There was no television coverage — no instant communication between people like there is today.

“People just didn’t pay attention to our war like they had with others in the past.”

The Korean War began June 25, 1950, and ended 60 years ago this weekend. Those three years came at a cost of more than 33,600 American lives and 8,000 missing in action. The North Koreans tallied more than 330,000 deaths and nearly 500,000 wounded before the armistice between the United States, the North Korean Korean People’s Army, and the Chinese People’s Volunteers was signed July 27, 1953.

“The whole thing went for three years and at the end, it went straight back to the way things had always been,” said Patrick, 83, of Hubert. “Hundred of thousands of lives were lost. Many were maimed and wounded. Others died in prison camps. Eighty-two of my men were lost at sea and never found from mines hitting ships and incoming bombardment. It’s a shame that the end result was what it was.”

Due to a war effort smaller than World War II, it left much less of an impact on Americans daily lives, said Patrick.

“Everything we had on our ship was from World War II,” said Patrick, who served as a radioman aboard the USS Tawakoni. “Every bit of gear we had was from that era too. ...We just didn’t have the resources like they had during previous wars.”

Patrick said his service may have not been known at the time — and may not be known now — as long as some people remember it, then the men who fought and died never will be forgotten.

“I knew at the time the devastating things that went on and I knew pretty much what happened during the war,” Patrick said. “It was a sad day when it was over because it ended with a treaty rather than a victory, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little bit happy to get the hell out of there.”

But Patrick said he wouldn’t trade his time in the Navy for anything.

“I’m proud that I did my part,” Patrick said. “I don’t feel bad about my service. It was something that happened but it needed to be done. ...I knew why we were there: to fight communism. And I believed it was a just fight.”

Ralph Gale, an 82-year-old Korea and Vietnam War veteran from Jacksonville, said very few people will realize what July 27 means to so many veterans.

“I know the guys who took part in it have not forgotten,” said Gale, a retired Marine gunnery sergeant. “I don’t quite know why our war has been forgotten, but it shouldn’t be. …No war should ever be forgotten.”

When he volunteered to join in 1948, Gale did so for his country, he said. The only thing he didn’t know was that he would turn an initial enlistment into a career full of horrible memories from countries afar.

“I have no good memories from the war,” Gale said. “Once one American has been killed, the fun stops. And we had a lot of good Americans killed.”

America now is too preoccupied with current events to remember the past, he said.

“All Americans should be taught about our country’s history, and Korea is part of that history,” Gale said. “They need to know that Marines froze to death in ditches fighting for our freedoms. They need to know that veterans walk around with memories like that imprinted on our minds forever.”

You can reach Thomas Brennan at 910-219-8453 or thomas.brennan@jdnews.com. Follow him on Twitter at @thomasjbrennan.