Jan/Feb 2008 - KWVA - Korean War Veterans Association

CID 135 – Harry S. Tuman Chapter Remembers Korean War Armistice Anniversary
A colorful and proper remembrance of the
Korean War Armistice anniversary was held July
27th by the Chapter at the Korean War Memorial
in Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery, Branson, MO.
This was the ninth annual observance in the
Chapter’s 10-year history.
Among the 150 who attended were friends from
the area’s Korean-American community and
members of the 58th Combat Engineer Battalion’s
Treadway and Float Bridge Company. The
Engineer Company held its national reunion here
specifically to coincide with the ceremony, which
they had seen announced earlier on a Branson
website.
Respect was paid to those who gave their lives
in the war: the Forsyth High School Junior ROTC
color guard posted the Colors; Jana King Evans,
vocalist with Les Brown’s Orchestra and daughter
of a Korean War veteran, sang the National
Anthem and “God Bless America”; Chapter members
Clint Masterson and Adjutant Rich Peters
placed a wreath at the KWVA Memorial; our Honor
Guard fired three volleys, and “Taps” was played
by Chapter bugler Dale Bouse.
Branson Mayor Raeanne Presley reflected briefly
on the war and its toll. Both keynote speaker Tong
Hyun Kim, president of the Springfield, MO,
Korean-American Association, and the Rev. Young
K. Yoon, senior pastor of the Korean Presbyterian
Church of Springfield, paid tribute to the sacrifices
and valor of American and Korean military forces
which brought freedom and prosperity to their
land. Chapter commander Joe Bryant saluted the
spirit and endeavor of the people of the Republic
of Korea, which has culminated in one of the
world’s strongest and most prosperous democracies.
Beauty, grace and color were added by Kyung
Soon Shim and Hanna Yoon. In brilliant native costume
they performed a traditional Korean dance
for long life, which they
dedicated to all Korean
War veterans. Following
the ceremony, with the
assistance of Pemberton-
Jennings Post 220,
American Legion, which
made its post home available,
the Chapter entertained
the visiting reunion
unit and others at a catered lunch.
Members of the 58th CEB Treadway and Float
Bridge Co. were well impressed with the ceremony
and hospitality. That company built—and
removed—bridges across every major river in
Korea from 1950 to post-armistice days. They
were with X Corps at the Chosin Reservoir and
bridged a chasm south of Koto-ri which severed
the Main Supply Route, using steel treadway
bridging dropped by the Air Force. This span
enabled 14,600 soldiers and Marines to withdraw
to Hungnam.
Joe Bryant, 28 Crown Drive, Branson West,
MO 65737, (417) 365-1389
ABOVE: Kyung Soon Shim (L) and Hanna Yoon (R), in native costume, perform
a traditional Korean dance for long life.
LEFT: Tong Hyun Kim, president of the Springfield, MO, Korean-American
Association, delivers the keynote address at CID 135’s ceremony
RIGHT: Several members
of the 58th CEB
Treadway and Float
Bridge Company gather
around the memorial at
conclusion of the ceremony
26
ABOVE: CID 135 members Clint Masterson and Rich
Peters place a wreath at the Korean War Memorial in
Ozark Memorial Park, Branson.
LEFT: CID 135 Honor Guard
presents arms during the
sounding of Taps (L-R) Lewis
Carroll, Odo Burkhoder, Clint
Masterson, Ed Little, Bob
Layton, Gordon Nelson, Leroy
Schroeder and bugler Dale
Bouse.
January-February 2008
The Graybeards