Korean War Vet vs. Korean Defense Vet

As with all things its a matter of where and when (like all long conflicts). Tell the guys that were there in 68 and 69 on the DMZ it wasn't a war (they will just laugh at you). Keep in mind the KDSM was finally created for a reason as well as the modification and expansion of the CIB criteria in Korea after 1954 through 1991 at least. Both the laws that created these awards are full of clear evidence that post 1954 duty is grossly misunderstood (for example over 40,000 cease fire violations and 1,200+ deaths in country since 1954). It's a can of worms and unless you have been there is best left alone.

I disagree.  Korean 'War' Vets deserve recognition above and beyond what those of us who served after the war deserve.  I am very proud to be a Korean 'Defense' Veteran, '69-'71 DMZ Camps Greaves, Dodge and Young.

The Korean War Veterans Association is trying to increase its membership since the average age now is around 84 and we are losing the combat veterans each day. Because under their charter, we are eligible to join (post-combat), I wonder how we can do this? I feel this is important because so much has happened since the Armistice and we are continuing to lose veterans to this day. Did you realize we lost 932 members per month during the combat period and we were only there 3 years!

My scariest time in Korea was literally at the end of my 1st tour. I was supposed to fly home on 9/11. Obviously that didn't happen. What did happen was the entire USFK went on lockdown and alert. MP set up TCPs at every gate, even the ones in Yongsan, and were in full battle rattle with live ammo. Hell even the KNP courtesy guards (the kids doing their mandatory service that they had stationed outside gates to keep protesters from harrassing soldiers) had traded in their body length billy clubs for body armor and M16 rifles.....WITH AMMO! We weren't sure if Kim Jong Il was going to try anything or not, but we were prepared...

Gentlemen, there is a distinction of Korean War and Korean Defense! But also understand, for those that lack there history, the hostilities have never stopped on the DMZ. Men have been WIA and KIA since the Armistice was signed!

If you did not serve on the DMZ any time before 1991, I don't expect you to know what it was like, but it wasn't no cake walk by far! But many of you are making assumptions, based on current duties especially if you served in Seoul or TDC since 1991. Where the living conditions and standards are well advance then they were years back.

1983 was my first tour at Yong Ju Gol, just a mile off the DMZ. Our barracks then were q-huts with no latrines, nearest latrine was 50 feet away. Made it far in the lovely harsh winters at 0200. We had diesel heat, no A/C, no phones, no PCs, 1 freaking AFN channel to watch, no VCRS/DVRs,no Playstations, no Class 6, curfews were in place. Once we crossed Freedom Bridge, conditions were worst!

2009 my sons first tour in OEF as a damn grunt, he had a cell phone, PC, Xbox, internet! And he was running with the ANA......

And I still haven't gotten to what it was like to run combat patrols!

there needs to be a distinct separation between combat veterans of the Korean War and those who stood post way after the fact.  You and I don't rate to be called Korean War vets!  

Here is a link to a well written story about life on the DMZ, just one small story!  The gentlemen wrote it based on his experience in the 80s.  In fact my time of my 1st tour overlaps his. 

But this is one story to give some others how life was like on the DMZ!  Seems that some think Korea has always been a vacation.

http://thisainthell.us/blog/?p=32602

It depends when and where you were station in Korea!!!!!  For those that were there from 1992 and on, might not understand what it was like before that. 

I ran combat patrols in Korea in 83 and 87.  Many others have ran them naturally since 1954, not including the Guard Posts (GP) and Observation Posts (OP) that were constantly man by our Troops till 1991.  The American sector was in what was know for a long time as the Western Corridor.

At Camp Greaves which is on the north side of the Imjin-gak (river) till closed in 2004.  Also, the temporary bases of Kitty Hawk, Liberty Bell, and Warrior base (names varied for same locations).  Were used to run combat patrols, OPs, GPs, till 1991.  Even after that, they were used at times for QRF and training.

So before you judged whether Korea is a combat zone or not, need to ask the old farts like me what it was like.  Back in the late 60s, there were several altercations on the DMZ with the North Koreans.  In fact, since after the Korean War this time period had some of the heaviest fighting in Korea.  I have older friends that were there in 1954 and on, that would tell you about making contact more then once.

To many times as Americans, we don't look at history currently to make judgements.  Also, we don't use history to learn from enough. 

I think that there is a huge difference between being in country during war time activities, and being in country 60 years after active hostilities have for the most part ceased, regardless of the official status.

I also think that anyone so concerned with medals and badges should reassess their reasons for being in the military.