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From: Jim White
Date: July 13, 2015
Subject: Still at War in Korea
This is what happens to North Korean generals who have so many medals they have to pin them on their trousers. It is also a warning to any of you who might suddenly go on a "earn a medal" binge. I also suggest you avoid sleeping on the job.
Anti-aircraft fire? Did they suspend him from a balloon or were they able to depress the barrels far enough?
Jim W
From: Frank Rogers
Date: April 13, 2015
Subject: Still at War in Korea
Since the end of the Korean Service Medal there is a new one that President W. Bush(?) signed - Korea Defense Service Medal - to which anyone who has served in and around Korea is entitled, to this day, as there is no date for ending the award. I learned of it a few years ago from the "Medals For America" publication, and had to change my "fruit salad" arrangement.
I wonder why no medal was never authorized for Taiwan Defense to those who served in and around there, including the Navy's Formosa Patrol. Too late now, as it would anger Beijing, and no one seems to want that.
I don't know who the people are who decide on Commemoratives, but even they haven't done that. Also, there is a Commemorative for service in Europe, but not for Japan or the Far East.
Frank
From: Frank Rogers
Date: April 13, 2015
Subject: Still at War in Korea
All those medals make them a more prominent target for purges, then executions.
Frank
From: Mike Jackson
Date: April 12, 2015
Subject: Medals, Medals, Medals
Have you ever noticed how the armies with the funniest hats always lost?
MikeJ
From: Ken Kalish
Date: April 12, 2015
Subject: Medals, Medals, Medals
What, you don’t recognize the importance of personal armor in an atmosphere of constant warfare?
Ken
From: Forest Brandt
Date: April 12, 2015
Subject: Medals, Medals, Medals
One of my 1968 Ft. Lewis buddies had just returned from Korea. He had been a platoon leader for a 2nd Division Mech company. Though he didn’t have the CIB, he was awarded the purple heart for wounds he received in combat with North Koreans. Many companies of the 1st ID carried names on their morning report of soldiers were “recuperating from wounds” in Korea. I’ve talked with others who report that “games” continue between the two sides all along the DMZ.
Forrest
From: Steve Sevits
Date: April 12, 2015
Subject: Medals, Medals, Medals
Absolutely, who wouldn't be impressed with guys who have five medals pinned to their pants leg and down their sleeve? They seem to lack a certain sense of decorum, but maybe that's the style in North Korea. I can't wait until they unleash their version of smart phones on the world! You do have to admit hey have a unique sense of style ---they can stand there, looking like they do and not a smile among any of them. Could this photo be labeled wrong and it's really from Halloween? Maybe this year I'll go as a North Korean General, not much chance anyone will wear the same outfit.
From: Jim White
Date: April 12, 2015
Subject: Medals, Medals, Medals
David,
Yes, technically (and as far as North Korea is concerned actually) North Korea and South Korea are still at war. A good source for this is https://history.state.gov/milestones/1945-1952/korean-war-2 To quote a portion:
"The armistice was only a ceasefire agreement, not a formal peace treaty ending the war. A final peace treaty was supposed to be on the agenda at the Geneva Conference of 1954, but by the time that conference began, the French colonial war in Indochina took precedence. Ultimately, the United States and the ROK signed a mutual defense treaty, and U.S. troops became a part of the DMZ patrols on a semi-permanent basis."
It is now 2015 and we still have troops on the border.
Steve,
Wrong date: The cease fire went into effect on July 27, 1953. The U.S. military continued to award the Korean service medals for another year, and by May 12, 1954 I was there and therefore "earned them?"
Sometimes things do flare up a little on the DMZ and elsewhere in that part of the world. A good list is at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_border_incidents_involving_North_Korea
But I don't worry too much about a full scale war. None of the North Korea officers would be able to get across the Han River without drowning due to the weight of their medals. I see pictures like the one below fairly often on TV here in Japan and almost always amazed. I think they get their medals for "not farting" in the direction of Kim Jong-un, the present "great leader, etc." Kim has the power and the will to use the power to summarily execute anyone who displeases him--and that includes such as those in the photo. The number of such generals does seem to be going down slightly (facing the wrong way when the farted?). On the other hand, maybe the number is going up--I don't know if he is appointing replacements or not.
Jim W (I live south of Osaka, Japan and only some 600 miles from the DMZ just north of Seoul, so perhaps I am closer to the DMZ than anyone else in this group?)
PS: Not in my original message, but technically, with no official peace treaty, the following nations are also still at war with North Korea: The single largest UN contributor was the United States of America (USA) which at one stage had 140,000 personnel deployed in direct combat roles in Korea. Great Britain, Canada, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Colombia, Ethiopia, South Africa, New Zealand, Turkey, Greece, Thailand, Philippines and Luxembourg sent fighting units. Norway, Sweden, Denmark, India, [and] Italy contributed military hospitals and field ambulances to the cause. For more information click here.
From: David Pinto
Date: April 12, 2015
Subject: Medals, Medals, Medals
Although I cannot immediately find a source for this, I believe that I have read that North Korea and South Korea are still, technically, at war.
Something about an armistice never having been signed.
David
From: Steve Ziegler
Date: April 11, 2015
Subject: Medals, Medals, Medals
Interesting, North Korea hasn't been to war since 1952, but everybody is a military hero. Could it be that someone's cousin is in the medal business - they should learn about ribbons.
They must get medals for farting.
Medals, Medals, Medals
April & July 2014
The North Korean Military Brass are certainly be-medaled.
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