National Officers and Directors - Korean War Veterans Association

Letters
1st Cav. veterans unite again
The Charles Richard family while traveling from Louisiana to
Boston in June of this year stopped to visit with the Alex Sykes
and his family in Efland, N.C. Although it was too short a visit,
Charles and Alex talked about their heritage with the 1st Cav.
while Hilda prepared a very delicious Bar-B-Que dinner for their
enjoyment. Charles served with the Defense Platoon in the 1st
Cav. while Alex served with A Co. 5th Cav. Reg. Both Troopers
served from 1949 in Japan until June 1951 in Korea. Although
Charles and Alex has been corresponding by e-mail, letters and
phone for several years they had not seen each other since they
were on R & R in Tokyo in Jan. 1951.
A return to modern South Korea
My recent trip to Korea - for the 50th anniversary of the cease
fire of the Korean War on July 27, 1953 - was a memorable revisit
to the Land of the Morning Calm. Even though it was my fifth
trip back since the Korean War a half century ago, it was still
quite nostalgic and poignant. Although I traveled solo and on my
own nickel, I joined over 500 Korean War veterans along with
their family members for the 50th anniversary commemoration
ceremonies. The Federation of Korean Industries was organized
to invite KW vets back for the 50th anniversary. These various
industries in Korea contributed to the funding of flying and housing
the veterans and
their family member
companions and provided
the all expenses
paid trip to some
400 veteran, chosen
last year in a random
drawing. Each of the
50 states was represented.
All of the
veterans were in
their 70’s and 80’s,
some in wheelchairs,
some using walkers
or canes. The veterans
were put up in
two of the choicest
hotels in Seoul, the
Lotte and the Sheila.
I was a private
July 25, 2003, USO Salute to Veterans, Grand
Hyatt Hotel, Seoul, ROK. Retired Major General
Richard Mills (left) being presented with ROK
Korean War Veterans Medal by ROK Navy Rear
Admiral Kim.
guest of Mr. George Kim, my former houseboy at the 3rd CIC
Detachment fifty years ago. George is a very successful private
businessman in Seoul and I was a guest in his lovely home.
George’s two sons were both educated here in the states
(University of Indiana and
the University of Missouri).
1st Cav Vets and their families Pictured, (left to right) are Hilda Sykes, Alex
Sykes, Jennifer Richard, Charles Richard, Fay Richard and Victoria
Richard.
I would like to locate any old Troopers that served with me in
the Defense Platoon I Cav. Div. In Japan and Korea from 1949 to
1951. They can reach me as follows:
Charles Richard,
P.O. Box 929
Amelia, La. 70340.
Tel: 985-631-3185
.
July 27, 2003, Joint Security
Area, Panmunjom, DMZ, Korea.
U.S. District Judge Richard Mills,
a retired Major General, stands
on the North Korean side of the
peace table where the cease-fire
was signed exactly 50 years ago.
On that day in 1953, MG(R) Mills
was serving with the 3rd Inf. Div.
when the guns fell silent.
George has visited in our home, as well as one of his sons, and I
have always spent a great deal of time with the Kims on my earlier
revisits to Korea.
George Kim and I drove to the 3rd Infantry Division sector
north of Pochon, south of Chorwon, on the Han Tan River and
located our old CIC Detachment Command Post. It was good to
revisit where we served over 50 years ago. The entire area is now
being either farmed or is residential. Very little is the same except
the typography and contour of the surrounding mountains. We
also had a good visit and lunch with Sergeant Chang, who was in
charge of our motor pool back during the war.
(Sorry Gen. Mills, I had to cut your revisit trip report short. I
have stated in the past I could not print any more revisit trips
because they were very similar. This one was a little special and
so I will allow you to be the spokesman for the 500 other special
veterans that took the trip and want theirs printed. —Editor.)
Page 36
The Graybeards