Korean War Vet vs. Korean Defense Vet

Peacetime in the ROK is something that depends upon where you were and when. I was there between 65 - 67 at Camp St Barbara north of the 38th. I don't recall the exact number but in that year about 70 GI's died. Though peaceful much of the time, it was not a place where you could wander around after dark and we carried a weapon for latrine visits. Do I think that our service compared to our brethren who fought in the war? Not really, they gave a hell of a lot more. Now I live in Baltimore - Now this place compares to a combat zone!

I came incountry July '73 with 1st bn 38th Arty. Did a lot of time Firebase 4P1 and different positions North of the Imjin. Some missions were hot some not. Took incoming Arty fire and shots across the "Z"! Got combat pay and wear the 2ID Combat patch on the right sleeve. So why am I not concidered a war vet? Not to take ANYTHING away from the men that searved in the 50's. Its baffling how the guys that see combat do not get recognized for it!

SFC Daniel Woerheide, I agree with you but can also say that I'd never heard of the KDSM until you mentioned it and I googled it. Thanks for your input.

Well said, I'm just as proud to say that I'm a small part of that as a Korean Defense Vet.

My son had a bed, TV, and so forth in Afghanistan when not out on Patrols!!!!

http://www.pinterest.com/brkeaster/ijmin-scout/

Thank you Sergeant Major and your are quite right.  I as have posted in several other places on here, Korea for many years was a tough and hard duty.  Especially 1991 and the years before that!

Also, Germany wasn't to pleasant before the wall came down in Germany.  Ask veterans who served in 11th ACR in the Gap or 2nd ACR on the old Czech border!  My brothers who served there can tell you some stories of that life!  While they were there, I was in Korea!

Compliments, thanks, and well done. To both you and your father. I don't need to have been in Vietnam to know that Advisory duty early in the conflict was significantly different from duty during Tet in 1968. Yet both produced casualties from enemy action. And where does the crew of the Mayaguez fit in? I also don't need to have been at the Chosin Reservoir to know that duty after the cease fire was signed was significantly different. And the sixteen injured soldiers that were thrown off the 2 1/2 ton truck with me and had to be medevaced? A month before those two trucks lost their brakes simultaneously at the top of a steep grade a tunnel from the north was discovered wide enough for traffic in both directions. Not sabotage? Doesn't matter. I was able to help, I didn't have anything more productive to do, so I did my best to make a difference in whatever corner of the world I found myself. I don't get, or want any benefits. Neither the medical profession nor the government will ever be eligible employers for me again. And recognition is most certainly not why I went. For those that made it home, welcome back, for those that didn't, GODSPEED.

I was at Camp Casey during that "event"
we had just left Camp Liberty Bell.

Any question is legitimate if you don't know the answer. unfortunately when talking about who deserves what medal, it can be sort of a hot topic. There seems to be a very fuzzy line between ensuring someone is awarded an honor they deserve, and people demanding recognition that they have not earned.

Awards never are given correct whether peace or war!  Korea has never been fully at peace!  Most of our Troops now, are out of harms reach with the exception of JSA/Panmunjon.  All Camps in the old western corridor are closed!  With Greaves and Garry Owen the last 2 to close in 2004.    1991 and before was totally different then now in Korea.  But people apparently have forgotten the past in Korea, what many of us endured! Life wasn't simply then.

I don't think the KDSM does the Infantry boys justice for out time on the DMZ. The patrols, the freezing in sub zero temps... Fact is all out lives was on the line..Fire fight or not. Every one who served in Korea got a dang KDSM.. At lease gives us a DMZ pin to go in out ribbon if we can't get the CIB.

My question is this "What was your job in Korea? Your MOS????

Try this: http://www.cfr.org/content/publications/attachments/Korean_Peninsula_Clashes.pdf

MAJ (Join to see) - Thanks Joe, we got that. Here is the link to Pinterest of what we have accumulated for the 2nd video:

https://www.pinterest.com/thomaslucken/dmz-incidents-2/

SGT Thomas Lucken - I have the luck of the Irish to call Doug Voss, my brother from another Mom and Dad! Glad to see you are connected with him as well, so I guess I've got a new brother too!

MAJ Michele Bretz - Hooah, Doug is close friends. We have done alot together about the DMZ.....

Add, being stationed at Camp Kasey...Helluva year !!!

I always liked the idea of a DMZ device for the KDSM.

That's weird that they kept the 5 fire fight rule for Korea but not for GWOT. It does actually contradict the "war" aspect, but I think the Defense ribbon works as well.

The history behind it is that during the VN war they did NOT want the communists to know that we were fighting a two theater war (in both Viet Nam and Korea). So the 5 firefight rule was instituted. It's that simple. We had everything to loose by letting on that we were going at it in two places so they didn't want anyone coming back from the ROK with a CIB so they made it almost impossible to obtain. This is a good primer on this subject:

IMHO, the 5 firefight thing was political. Don't want to advertise to the world that border skirmishes are more common than people realize.

That is some interesting history I did not know, thanks for sharing MAJ (Join to see) and SGT James Elphick

Well said for a lot of us, SFC.

You walk softly on the DMZ when on patrol! Not careful, end up missing a leg or worst life! Minefields are a dime on dozen on the DMZ! Roving NKs is normal especially at night! Why we run fully armed combat patrols! I enabled and disabled many of claymore mines on the DMZ! Not saying war, saying it wasn't a trip to Garmisch either like many think.

The issue with Korea is this: it's a war, yes, but a cold one. Yes there are occasional border skirmishes, but beyond that, the armistice holds. Unless you are actually near the DMZ, you'd never know that a hostle nation is on the northern border. Now, the scary part is that most people have grown complacent and discount the threat. If Kim Jong Un ever got a wild hair up his butt, he could turn Seoul into a flaming rubble pit (NK guns are within range of the capital, and some of his MLRS can hit Osan 40m to the south of Seoul).

According to Truman, it wasn't a war, it was a Police Action if people when to get technical on terms!!!!

The last American combat patrol ran on the DMZ, was late summer/early fall 91. Then we turned it over to the ROK Army. If you never served with 2ID and/or 7ID up on the DMZ. I and other DMZ veterans don't expect others to understand! But don't insult our duties either or we can insult yours!!!!!!

SGT Thomas Lucken - Not Truman, the United Nations Authorized the Police Action.