An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : Media : News : News Article View
NEWS | July 22, 2015

Gone but Not Forgotten

By Sgt. Jesse Smith, 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade

CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea – One summer afternoon in Korea, the sun was high and there was not a cloud in sight. The heat could be seen on every person’s face. U.S. and Republic of Korea Soldiers gathered underneath a shaded area to sit in the audience. The ceremony was to begin shortly. Korean War veterans found their seats in the front row, closest to the monument. As the event began, selected individuals made their way to the back of the memorial to a 10-foot wall covered by a delicate curtain. The individuals lifted up the ropes, and at once, the curtain was pulled down, wavering as it hit the ground.

Col. William Taylor, the 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade commander, and Soldiers from the 2nd CAB took part in a Korean War memorial ceremony on July 10 on Gaemi Hill in Sejong, South Korea. The memorial service saw many performances and speeches paying tribute to the Soldiers who gave the ultimate sacrifice to support our allies in Korea.

“It is a time to remember those who not only answered the call to arms, but who were willing to give everything to protect freedom and peace on the Korean peninsula and the ideals and values at the heart of this nation,” Taylor said.

Distinguished guests were given the opportunity to place flowers at the foot of the memorial as a form of remembrance. The emotion for the special ceremony shone on their faces as they saluted and bowed in front. Four hundred and twenty eight U.S. Soldiers walked into the Battle of Gaemi Hill during the Korean War, but only their honor returned home.

“Today, we are here to recognize and honor 428 U.S. fallen comrades who sacrificed their lives to defend this hill against North Korea during the Korean War,” Taylor said. “As you know, they were members of the 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, and the Gaemi Hill battle was one of the fiercest and horrible battles during the early face of the Korean War.

As the ceremony proceeded, a poet, painter, two school children and the ROK Army band gave special performances to pay homage to the U.S. Soldiers sacrifices.

The mayor of the Sejong Metropolitan Autonomous City Government, Choon-hee Lee, was one of the guest speakers.

“On behalf of bereaved family members, I’d like to express my deepest appreciation to Col. Taylor, the commander of the 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade, and the USFK service members for joining us,” Lee said.

The mayor went on to explain how this year was special because the ROK’s Ministry of National Defense remains exhumation identification group and Soldiers from the 32nd ROK Infantry Division are currently working to recover U.S. Soldiers remains and get them back to their families.

“The freedom and peace that we are enjoying these days was not free,” Lee said. “The sacrifice of war veterans and fallen comrades who gave everything to protect freedom and peace enabled us to enjoy these.”

The ceremony concluded with the audience having the chance to view the memorial up close and take photos. Some of the Soldiers took the opportunity to salute, bow their heads and have a moment of silence for the 428 names of the fallen Soldiers engraved in marble which had been unveiled at the beginning of the ceremony on the 10-foot wall.

“It is for us, the living, rather to be dedicated to the great task remaining before us; that from these honored dead, we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion; that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom; and that government of the people, by the people, and for the people shall not perish from the earth,” Taylor said quoting the U.S. President Abraham Lincoln. “Our commitment to the fallen must be to live our own lives as fully as possible and always to be willing and able to give back to our families, our communities, our Nations, and our world
CONNECT WITH USINDOPACOM

ENGAGE & CONNECT MORE WITH PACOM

                                      

IN THE USINDOPACOM NEWS
Readout of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth's Call With Republic of Korea Acting Minister of National Defense Kim Seon-ho
Readout graphic
Jan. 31, 2025 - Department of Defense Spokesman John Ullyot provided the following readout:...

Readout of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth's Call With Japanese Minister of Defense Nakatani Gen
Readout graphic
Jan. 31, 2025 - Department of Defense Spokesman John Ullyot provided the following readout:...

Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group Departs Thailand
The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) arrives at Port Laem Chabang, Thailand, Jan. 27, 2025. The visit demonstrates the continuation of a long-standing partnership among allied countries rooted in close people-to-people, economic and security ties. Vinson, the flagship of Carrier Strike Group ONE, is currently pier-side in Laem Chabang, Thailand, for a scheduled port visit. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Kenneth Ostas)
Jan. 31, 2025 - The Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group departed Laem Chabang, Thailand, Jan. 31, after conducting a scheduled five-day port visit...

U.S. Pacific Fleet Navy Reserve Public Affairs Summit: Training to be the Strategic Advantage and Enabling Effective Communication in the Indo-Pacific Region
PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (Jan. 10, 2025) Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, center, met with Sailors from several Navy Reserve public affairs units that support the command during a public affairs summit at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, on Jan. 10. Koehler discussed the vital role public affairs and the information environment play in denying, defending and dominating adversaries in the U.S. Pacific Fleet area of operations.
Jan. 30, 2025 - Forty Sailors from six Navy public affairs reserve units supporting Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMPACFLT) attended a reserve public affairs summit Jan. 9 to 11, 2025, focused on rapidly developing and sustaining their...

Defend the base: 51st SFS and Army integrate during BH 25-2
U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Joseph Hopkins, 51st Security Forces Squadron member, patrols during Beverly Herd 25-2 at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Jan. 27, 2025. Beverly Herd is an annual 51st Fighter Wing readiness exercise. During the exercise, 51st SFS Airmen are primarily responsible for defending the base, allowing the wing to generate combat airpower. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Clayton Lenhardt)
Jan. 29, 2025 - Airmen from the 51st Security Forces Squadron trained alongside soldiers from the U.S. Army Correctional Facility-Korea, 94th Military Police Battalion during Beverly Herd 25-2 at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea Jan. 27,...