Returning to Korea

[Anchor Lead]

This year marks the 66th anniversary of the start of the Korean War. In remembering the tragedy, Korean War veterans and some surviving family members of soldiers made a visit to Korea.

[Pkg]

An American lieutenant colonel was in his 20s when he served in the Korean War. Now he has returned to Korea as a silver-haired gentleman.

[Soundbite] Richard Cary (Reserve Lieutenant General)

Fifty-six surviving Korean War veterans and the family members of deceased soldiers visited Korea to mark the outbreak of the Korean War. The Korean Army prepared a special welcoming event for them. The visitors gave resounding applause to the special forces members' martial arts performance. This visit is especially significant for the great-grandson of General Walton Walker, who had secured a bridgehead for the Incheon landing by defending the Nakdong-gang River to the end.

[Soundbite] Walton Harris Walker III

The visitors saw in somber silence the torpedoed remnant of the South Korean Navy's Cheonan destroyer.

[Soundbite] Walton Sim Sams Walker III

This visit reminded the Korean War veterans and surviving family members that their participation in the war was a meaningful and noble act.