Jan/Feb 2006 - Korean War Veterans Association

How did events move from Livingston and his team’s deaths to naming a bridge after him? For one, he was said to have
been the first officer of the 196th FA Bn to have been killed in action in the Korean War, but it seems that the nature of his
death played a considerable part.
Livingston’s siblings. I then researched all
the Livingstons in Massachusetts, focusing
on Thomas’ brother, James J Livingston.
Late one January evening in 2005, after
many unsuccessful internet searches and
phone calls explaining the nature of my
search for 2nd Lt Thomas W Livingston’s
family, a Jim Livingston, of Mashpee,
Massachusetts, answered, “I am his brother.”
That was an unbelievable moment!
We talked for the next hour and followed
up with emails. After a couple
months, Jim sent me an unbelievable copy
of the memorial sign that had been erected
in 1953 at the 2nd Lt Thomas W
Livingston Firing Range. He had found the
photo in the basement in a box marked
“Tommy” that the family had placed there
with Lt Livingston’s personal belongings.
The old “bridge” could actually be seen in
the enlarged photo.
Finally, I was able to put a package
together for the Inje District’s Mr. Choi,
complete with statements from Lieutenants
Saxon and Kamstra, copies from the
National Archives and, of course, the photo
of the sign dedicated as 2nd Lt Thomas W
Livingston, Jr. Artillery Range. It was obvious
that the artillery range could not have
remained after the war near Inje with its
citizens returning. The name of the
Artillery Range was simply transferred to
the nearby bridge to commemorate the sacrifice
of Lt Livingston and his unit. A photo
of the area verified the identical terrain
between the mountains and bridge in 1953
photo and the present.
The Inje County could now prepare its
rededication of the newly rebuilt bridge.
The planning was under the leadership of
the Inje District Chief, Mayor Kim, Jang-
Jun, who had the idea of locating the
Livingston family for the rededication of
the new bridge as a sign of good will
between Korea and the United States and
of the soldiers’ sacrifices.
The District of Inje invited the Jim
Livingston family, Col and Mrs. Kamstra,
and my wife Carolyn and me to come to
Korea for a solemn and beautiful ceremony
on Friday, 28 October 2005. District Mayor
Kim, many local Koreans, Korean officials,
and troops from the Korean Army
participated in the ceremony. Also, included
were U.S. soldiers and KATUSA of the
Second Infantry Division, under the leadership
of Col Matt R Merrick, 2ID Fires
Brigade Commander, accompanied by the
U.S. Army 2nd Infantry Warrior Band.
Mayor Kim, Jang-Jun, me , Col
Merrick, and Mr. Jim Livingston gave
speeches in front of the large banner which
bore the inscription “Memorial Service,
2nd Lt Thomas W. Livingston, Jr.” It was
flanked on each side with an American and
Korean flag and flowers and a streamer
bearing the words, “We still remember the
Korean War.” Guests were invited to lay
white chrysanthemums on the altar and
drop incense into a burning urn which
stood under the photograph of 2nd Lt
Livingston.
The speeches were translated into both
languages. Mr. Jim Livingston retraced the
education of his brother and his idealism,
and noted that he had been prepared to die
for liberty. Col Merrick told of the military
activities of Lt Livingston and how he and
his men were killed performing their duty.
I cited the events that led up to this ceremony,
and reminded the audience that the
2ID had been a major factor in liberating
Inje on 28 May 1951. Moreover, I commented,
Inje and the hills surrounding us
on this day clothed in beautiful autumn
foliage had been free the past 50 years
because of the sacrifice of the allied and
Korean soldiers.
I also explained that after Inje, the 2nd
Infantry Division pushed to and liberated
the Punch Bowl, Bloody Ridge and
Heartbreak Ridge – and paid a high price in
the process. A twenty-one-gun salute was
given from the Honor Guard on the
Livingston Bridge which was lined with
Korean and American flags.
A luncheon was given after the ceremony
for everyone. Gifts were presented to
District of Inje Mayor Kim by the
Livingston Family and me and Carolyn.
The seven Livingstons, the Kamstras, and
Carolyn and I were hosted for three more
days by the Inje government. Our visit was
organized by the Manager of the County of
Inje Tourism Office and ably directed by
his deputy, Mr. Joen, Keun-Jae, with Mr.
Choi as our constant and able interpreter
and guide.
Particularly memorable was a Korean
Army jeep ride to the top of an 800-meterhigh
hill overlooking the inaccessible Hill
854 which is in the DMZ, where Lt
Livingston and his unit were killed. We
were able to look far into North Korean.
We were warmly welcomed by the Korean
Colonel and Lt Colonel at their DMZ
camps and their very sharp troops assigned
to that rugged, cold, and lonely mountain
top.
The last day we were invited to a service
commemorating the Korean citizens
and soldiers who were killed in the war. At
the end of the moving ceremony, the
Livingston family, Col & Mrs. Kamstra,
and Carolyn and I were asked to stand.
Each of us was awarded Honorary
Citizenship of the Inje District. This was
the first such honor that Inje had ever
bestowed on anyone.
The ideas the research, the assistance,
and the efforts of many—both in the
United States and in Korea—have built a
lasting monument between us. A great
endeavor by many in upholding good
Korean-American relations was a very
gratifying success.
If you should go to Inje, visit the
Livingston Bridge over the Soyang River
and Inje County Headquarters. Tell them
you heard about the good relations between
the U.S. and South Korea from the 2nd
Infantry Division, Korean War Veterans
Alliance Bulletin and The Graybeards! You
will be welcomed warmly.
Ralph M Hockley is Secretary and /Past
President, 2ID-KWVA. He is also a member
of KWVA Chapter 76, Lone Star
Chapter, Houston, TX. He can be reached
at 10027 Pine Forest-Houston TX 77042-
1531, (713) 334 0271 (Ph), (713) 334 0272
(Fax), or rmh-2id-kwva@earthlink.net
Continued
75
The Graybeards
January - February F
2006