Service remembers soldiers' sacrifices

Five decades after the start of hostilities, a ceremony honors local residents who fought and died in Korea.

By JULIANNE WU

© St. Petersburg Times, published June 26, 2000

The occasion was to mark the 50th anniversary of the start of the Korean War: June 25, 1950, the day when North Koreans attacked their southern counterparts below the 38th parallel, the arbitrary dividing line established after World War II by the Allies and the Soviet Union.

In all, about 590,000 South Koreans and more than 480,000 Americans fought side by side in the war, along with another 39,000 troops from the United Kingdom and other United Nations member nations. American casualties alone numbered more than 142,000, with over 33,000 dead and more than 5,000 missing in action.

At Sunday's solemn ceremony, first the American flag was lowered and a special flag marking the Korean War, 1950-1953, was added to the flagpole. Then, both flags were raised and lowered again to half-staff.

Peter Palmer, a member of the Seminole-based Sunshine State Chapter of the Korean War Veterans Association, gave a short memorial speech followed by a prayer. Palmer, originally from Wales, fought in Korea under the United Kingdom's flag.

"These heroes sleep in the land they made free. . . . Earth may run red with other wars, but these soldiers are at peace," he said. "We hope the North and South Koreans, who are now talking, will make peace soon."

He was referring to the fact that although there was a temporary armistice agreed to on July 27, 1953, there was never an official end to the war. Today, there are still about 37,000 American troops stationed in Korea. For 12 hours Sunday -- from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. -- members of the Pinellas County Veterans Liaison Council Honor Guard took turns standing at attention, along with veterans from the Sunshine State Chapter and the Forgotten Korean War Veterans group. With their rifles reversed (pointed down) two men at a time stood on either side of a reversed rifle topped with a GI's helmet to signify a fallen comrade.

Alongside the many flags fluttering gently in the breeze stood an easel containing the names of the 25 soldiers from Pinellas County who died in the Korean War.

One of those who looked on was Douglas McClain, 74, who moved back to the Largo area from Inman, S.C., six months ago.

"I was actually in three wars: World War II, Korea and Vietnam," said McClain. He retired in 1973 as a master sergeant in the Army.

"Today brings back memories . . . things you haven't thought of in a long time," he said as he wiped away a tear.

Another spectator was Capt. John Carroll, a Largo police officer. "This is a day to honor the guys who saved our country," he said.

A Largo native, Carroll served in the Army Military Police from 1977-1980 in Germany and then returned home to become a police officer.

But, the kinship among veterans didn't begin with the ceremony at the Court of Honor.

Before the event, Tom McGuire and George Landon had talked in the parking lot as they unloaded ceremonial rifles for their part in the memorial service.

"This day has a lot of memories," said McGuire, 69, of Clearwater. He served as a private under the flag of the United Kingdom, Scottish Regiment, and was attached to the 24th Infantry Division of the United States.

"The big deal," said Landon, 67, of St. Petersburg is "the Korean War showed these little countries they couldn't push us around. We call Korea the "Forgotten War.' You ask any kid and they don't even know what the Korean War was all about."

Landon was on duty from 1951-53 as a corporal with the 45th Division, 279th Heavy Weapon unit. Because his feet got frostbitten while he was on duty, Landon now has to wear special shoes.

"There were no ticker tape parades when our boys came home," said Marion McGuire, wife of Tom McGuire.

- Information from Times files, Encyclopaedia Britannica Online and American Military History used in this report.

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