Korean War Memorial

This is the Korean War Memorial. I have the same solemn feeling here as I do at the Vietnam Memorial. I think that I would feel more reverent at the World War II Memorial if it had all of the names and/or faces of the soldiers that died like the Korean and Vietnam memorials do. Does that seem silly??

I have a particular fondness for this memorial because my grandpa Spracher served in this war. I love my grandpa Spracher more than anything. He is very, very dear to my heart. And so going to this memorial was kind of like honoring him and what he did to serve this country. He is a great man and I am so proud of him.

I like that the wall that has the names on it also has pictures of faces of soldiers. It is very artistic. This wall is also black and also reflects those looking at it. It's kind of neat to see your face next to the face of a soldier.

This is an ariel view of the whole memorial.

As you approach the memorial, the first things you see are the nineteen soldiers on patrol heading up hill. The use of Juniper bushes in the field is to show the rugged terrain they met. Veterans who visit the memorial view the granite slabs, located in front of each soldier, as obstacles that American soldiers had to overcome. A low granite slab does not do justice to the many obstacles that they had to overcome. The ponchos that each is wearing can only give you a hint as to the miserable weather they faced. The soldiers at the front of the patrol represent the first soldiers sent to the Korean peninsula. Many of the first soldiers were ill equipped and ill trained yet they persevered. American soldiers faced foul weather, rugged terrain, poor equipment, not to mention 54 divisions of communist Chinese soldiers but in the end they were able to overcome all these obstacles.

These are statues of soldiers marching.

If you look in to the faces of the soldiers you will notice that they represent all different races. Even though the United States had a very segregated society, the armed forces had begun to integrate units. Visitors to the memorial are so awe struck by the soldiers, that before they know it they have missed the other parts of the memorial. Along the north side of the memorial is a low stone wall, on which are engraved the 22 countries that made up the United Nations forces in Korea. Not all the nations participated militarily. Several contributed much needed medical supplies and personnel. These 22 nations felt strongly that their freedom was also being threatened, and was willing to help in whatever way they could.

Here is a close-up.

The soldiers represent a unit on patrol. There is much to see in the field, most of which is not readily apparent to the average visitor. The original design of the memorial was to have 38 statues to represent the 38th parallel. Most of the fighting occurred along this line but due to space limitations the number of statues had to be cut in half.

The highly polished surface of the wall of faces reflects all nineteen soldiers producing a total thirty-eight figures. It is not just the Army represented in the field. All four branches of the United States Military have representatives.

You can see the reflection in this photo.

The memorial says:

"OUR NATION HONORS HER SONS AND DAUGHTERS WHO ANSWERED THE CALL TO DEFEND A COUNTRY THEY NEVER KNEW AND A PEOPLE THEY NEVER MET."

General Douglas MacArthur said, "Old soldiers never die, they just fade away." When the last veteran of the Korean War fades into history, he can do so knowing that a memorial will remind future generations of his/her sacrifices in defense of South Korea.

This is me by the memorial.

This is the wall with the faces carved into it.

Along the south side of the memorial is the wall of faces. When the wall is viewed from a distance, the faces form the outline of the rugged hills that are a dominant part of the Korean landscape. The images depicted on the wall were taken from actual photographs of soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen who participated in the conflict. The faces along the wall represent the support troops it took to keep our foot soldier in the field. We do not often think about those who are behind the front lines. It is somewhat ironic that one of the best-known TV shows about war, MASH, takes place in Korea and is about doctors and nurses in the Korean War.

This is the wall with the faces carved into it.

This is at the very left hand side of the wall.

There is a reflection pool next to the memorial. There were signs that said not to throw coins into the pool. Partly because it defeats the purpose of it and partly because it causes a chemical reaction and leaves ugly gray stuff on the bottom.

The greatest achievement of the United States in its over 200 years of history is that its people have remained free. The American flag has become recognized as the symbol of freedom around the world. It's why so many people around the world strive to come here. It's also why so many countries hate us. Our freedom comes with a price and from time to time we will have to fight to defend the highest principle known to humanity, freedom.

Where the two walls come together there is an inscription inlaid with silver that says, "Freedom Is Not Free." Which means there is a cost to the freedom that so many of us take for granted.

This is where the wall says:
FREEDOM IS NOT FREE
You can see reflected from the wall where there is a reflection pool. The pool was empty because it was winter, but I'm sure that it is pretty.

The price the free world paid to insure that freedom, is engraved on the other wall. The total casualties of both the United States and the United Nations' forces are engraved there, and the numbers are staggering to many visitors. The Pool of Remembrance is the most misunderstood part of the memorial. It was meant to be a place where visitors can sit in the shade of the trees and reflect upon what occurred nearly fifty years ago. Unfortunately, the pool is viewed as some kind of wishing well where coins are left behind. In actuality the stilled water of the pool is the part of the memorial that is for those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our freedoms.