The Graybeards - Korean War Veterans Association

Korean Community. In attendance were
450 Korean War veterans and guests.
Each Korean War veteran was presented a
beautiful commemorative medallion.
Presidents of Korean War veterans organization
were presented with the first issue
of the Korean War Service Medal. Consul
General Lee Ji Doo thanked the veterans
for coming to the aid of South Korea.
Entertainment was provided by the Royal
Hawaiian Band and Korean community.
On July 1 the USS Boxer, berthed at
Pearl Harbor, an aircraft carrier which saw
duty in the Korean War, was the stage for
another large gathering of Korean War
veterans who were guests of the U.S.
Pacific Fleet, Hawaii. The event honored
Korean War veterans and their spouses.
Once aboard the ship veterans were
escorted by an officer to the carrier flight
deck where a ceremony took place. Each
veteran was pinned with a commemorative
lapel pin. Following the ceremony
more than 1,000 Korean War veterans and
their spouses and personnel of the U.S.
Navy went below to the hanger deck
where they were treated to a sumptuous
buffet dinner provided by members of the
RIMPAC nations. Entertainment was provided
by Navy personnel.
Korean War veterans returned to Pearl
Harbor on July 3 this time as guest of the
Republic of Korea Navy, a participant in
the RIMPAC exercise. Veterans were
treated to a very, tasty Korean barbecue
buffet dinner aboard the ROKS
Ulchimmondunk and ROKS Chonnam
Navy ships. Each veteran was presented
with a commemorative coin. Korean
Consul General Lee Ji-doo was the
keynote speaker.
The Annual 4th of July Parade, held in
Kailua, Oahu, was dedicated to Korean
War veterans- Members of the Korean
War Veterans Association, Hawaii
Chapter #1, the 5th Regimental Combat
Team, Hawaii, and the Korean War
Veterans Association, Aloha Chapter,
marched in their uniforms on that hot,
steamy morning to the snappy beat of the
Cupertino High School Band of
California. At the reviewing stand each
unit halted, faced the stand, and was cited
for their sacrifices in the Korean War.
Thousands of spectators lined the one
mile route, many shouting, “Thank you
veterans well done.” With these words of
Moses Pakaki, team leader of “Tell America,”
gestures to make a point to ROTC cadets at
Kamehameha High School
encouragement, the veterans sucked in
their guts, threw out their chests, held
their heads high and finished the parade
on sheer pride. The Chapter was selected
by the Chamber of Commerce as the most
outstanding marching unit in the Senior
Marching Unit catergory. Following the
parade more than 50 veterans and spouses
enjoyed a five course Chinese lunch at the
Yen Yen restaurant in Kailua.
At St. Peter’s Episcopal Church on
Sunday, July 9, Korean War veterans were
honored with a special service. BG Irwin
Cockett (Ret) of the 5th RCT and Co-
Chairman of 50th Anniversary of the
Korean War Commemoration
Commission led the procession of Korean
War veterans into the church. Veterans
Harry Kumabe and Harry Takane read
prayers from the Book of Common
Prayer, “For Our Country” and “For
Those in the Armed Forces of our
Country” respectively. Veteran Louis
Baldovi shared the pulpit with the
Reverend Thomas Yoshida, both speaking
on the theme of the Commemoration,
“Freedom Is Not Free.” A reception followed
the service.
On July 14 the 25th Infantry Division
(Light), the second Army unit to enter the
Korean War, honored veterans from that
war at a ceremony held at Stoneman
Stadium, Schofield Barracks. MG General
William E. Ward, Commander of the division,
played host to over 200 veterans and
their spouses. The ceremony included the
unveiling of the Department of Defense’s
Korean War Commemorative flag by MG
Ward and Irwin Cockett (Ret), Co-
Chairman of the Hawaii Commemoration
Commission. MG Ward addressed the
Korean War veterans and thanked them
for answering their country’s call and for
their sacrifices. Each veteran received a
beautiful certificate prior to the ceremony.
After the ceremony veterans were treated
to a static display of military equipment
and lunch. The lunch was an eye opener
for all veterans in that the dining hall and
the food did not resemble what they experienced
50 years ago. Many veterans
remarked, “If it were like this 50 years
ago, I would have reenlisted! It was like
having lunch at a very nice restaurant.”
The annual reunion of Korean War veterans
was held on July 27-29. The organization
in charge of the reunion was
KWVA HI Ch. #1 and the 5th RCT. It
began with a morning ceremony on July
27 at the Korean War Memorial. On July
28 veterans toured the USS Missouri,
enjoyed a “circle the island tour” while
others took in a golf tournament.
That evening 300 veterans and their
guests were treated to a luau at the Hale
Koa Hotel. Keynote speaker for the
evening was General Fred C. Weyand,
U.S. Army Chief of Staff, Ret. The three
day affair ended with another dinner on
the 29th at Fort Shafter, Honolulu, with
BG Irwin Cockett, Ret., the featured
speaker.
“Tell America” is alive and well in
Hawaii. Despite KWVA’s decision to terminate
“Tell America” several years ago,
Hawaii’s Chapter felt that it was an important
program to educate youngsters in the
schools about the Korean War and the role
of veterans. Hawaii’s 50th Anniversary of
the Korean War Commemoration
Commission has endorsed the program.
So far this year teams have visited 3 public
schools and one private school. On
schedule this fall for visitations are the
University of Hawaii and 2 private high
schools. We would like to hear from other
chapters that are involved in the program
(See “Monuments and Memories” for
additional photos and comments concerning
the Hawaian Korean War Vets.)
September/October, 2000 Page 49