Graybeards - Korean War Veterans Association

From the President
William Mac Swain
On October 27,
1950, only four months
after the start of the war
when the North Korean
Peoples Army attacked
South Korea, it had suffered defeat. The
Chinese Communist Forces (CCF) launched
their First Phase Offensive against the II
Corp ROK Corp to try and slow down the
Eighth Army Offensive. That offensive
ended on November 2, 1950, six days later.
This was the first hint that China had infiltrated
North Korea.
Eighth Army spirits were high, for the
rumors said the North Korean People’s Army
had retreated clear to the Yalu River, the war
was won, and troops would be going home in
December. As we learned then, rumors are
never to be trusted. Many are started, but not
very many are ever true. Below is one that is.
I have stated before that an Educational
Foundation was being formed. Well, that
rumor has finally become fact. The IRS has
determined that the Legacy of the Korean
War Foundation has met the requirements.
Thus, a 501(c)3 Foundation has been authorized.
It is ready to function as a separate entity
from the KWVA, Inc., and will no doubt
be a great help in furnishing educational
materials to help publicize the Korean War to
the American public. You can read about it in
this issue of The Graybeards.
Our Tell America Project people know
their history, and we are hoping that the new
educational foundation will be able to furnish
us with posters, videos, and pictures to help
them show the American public what the
Korean War actually accomplished.
Your Board of Directors held a meeting
on October 19, 2010 in Irving, Texas to continue
unfinished business from its last meeting.
The delay was due to the number of
60th Anniversary Commemoration events
that required attendance by the officials and
the membership. The main business on the
agenda was to determine when and where
our Annual Membership Meetings will be
held in 2012 and 2013. In addition, the date
for the 2011 Annual Meeting in Boston, MA
was set and the Approval of Committee
Chairmen was finalized.
A couple other business matters were also
The IRS has determined that the Legacy of the Korean War Foundation has met the
requirements. Thus, a 501(c)3 Foundation has been authorized.
discussed. You will be informed of what took
place in the November-December issue of
The Graybeards. Minutes of the Board and
Annual Association Membership Meetings
held on July 25, 2010 in Washington, DC are
included in this issue.
The President, Ceremonies Chairman
Thomas McHugh, Assistant Marty Goge, my
Veterans Day Committee meetings representative,
Chapter 142 Color Guard, and some
KWVA members will be in Washington, DC
for the Veterans Day Ceremony at the
Arlington National Cemetery. Wreaths will
be laid at the Tomb of the Unknown and at
the Korean War Memorial in remembrance
of all Korean War veterans who were
POW/MIAs, and those who gave their lives
for the freedom won for the Korean people
and stopped communism from expanding
throughout the world by force.
I apologize for giving the wrong date for
the POW/MIA Day in the previous issue.
The correct date was September 17, but my
calendar did not even mention the date. I
wrote it as September 18th by mistake.
Unfortunately, I did not notice it until after
the deadline, and the magazine was already
printed. That sometimes is a problem.
Today, I am writing for November and
December in the first week of September. So,
I am current after the magazine gets to our
members in the last part of October.
Membership Number
First two characters reflect
membership type
Check Your Mailing Label
The Board of Directors and all of my staff
wish you a great Thanksgiving. Did you
know that on November 25, 1950 the CCF
started its Second Phase Offensive and began
to crush the II ROK Army and those U.S.
troops in North Korea, both in the east and
west, with hordes of troops? Their
Thanksgiving was a bitter one.
Also, we wish for all to have a Very
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Did you know that on December 24, 1950
the Chosin Reservoir Battle ended, and on
New Year’s Eve, December 31, 1950, the
CCF began its Third Offensive to capture
Seoul?
Thank you, members, for all you do in
your communities, volunteering in VA hospitals,
doing Meals on Wheels, and helping
veterans who are in need. I also offer thanks
for the donations many of our members give
to help with The Graybeards and for showing
the world that veterans are strong, brave,
patriotic, and caring.
Finally, I remind veterans to vote in their
local, state, and national elections in
November for those candidates who have
veterans affairs foremost in their thoughts
and have shown that they respect what veterans
have done for freedom and security for
our nation.
William Mac Swain,
KWVA President
Membership Dues Expiration Date. The example
shows a dues expiration date of November 1st, 2010
*************************************************5 Digit
R012345 11/1/2010
JOHN J. JOHN
12345 MAIN ST
SMILEY NY 01234-5678
DELIVERY POINT BARCODE
Check your name and address ( Apt./Bldg/Lot No.). Notify the Membership
Administrative Assistant at membership@kwva.org if you find an error. If your
zip code does not contain 9 digits (zip+4), your address is not correct
according to the USPS. Contact your local Post Office for proper format.
Important: If barcode
does not
extend across the
full label, then
your zip code
does not have 9
digits and your
address is not
complete according
to the USPS.
Contact your local
Post Office for
proper format.
3
The Graybeards
September – October 2010