For the second time in less than a year, large groups of Korean war veterans and Americans who served in the conflict gathered at Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos.
On Saturday, July 27, the base celebrated the 69th Anniversary of the official signing of the Korean War Armistice in an event that featured cultural dances, celebratory speeches and a gathering of surviving veterans of the Korean conflict and their families.
The JFTB event was hosted by the Association of the Republic of Korea Army U.S. West Chapter in partnership with the Greater Los Angeles Chapter of the Association of the US Army, according to Man K. “Martin” Choi, president of the Korean Army association.
Earlier this year, in April, the Los Alamitos base was the scene for many of the same patriots as the base officially retired the colors of the Sunburst Division of Korean veterans.
The Los Alamitos base is home to the storied 40th Infantry Division, whose many heroes played outsized roles in the American military effort in Korea.
The event at the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos is evidence that the alliance between the two countries continues today.
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Courtesy photo
The Korean War began on June 25, 1950, when 75,000 soldiers from the North Korean People’s Army crossed the 38th parallel into South Korea. Although Korea was not then strategic to the United States, nearby the USA was already in the throes of a cold war with the Soviets and did not want to appear soft on Communism.
The 40th Infantry Division, based in Los Alamitos, deployed from California in late 1951, trained for months in Japan, and moved to the battle in Korea in 1952, according to military officials.
When the 40th reached the front, they fought, and won two of the Korean War’s most infamous battles on “Heartbreak Ridge,” and “Sandbag Castle.” They paid a heavy price with 1,457 casualties, including 376 soldiers killed in action and 47 more that later died of injuries, said Shiroma.
Three soldiers in the 40th Infantry Division earned Medals of Honor for their heroism.
Gapyeong is in the center of the Korean Peninsula, and it was the site of one of the fiercest battles of the war. Following the battle of Heartbreak Ridge, the 40th ID pulled back for a break near the town, which had been devasted by earlier fighting.
The harsh fighting destroyed the middle school buildings and many of the young students had to study in tent classrooms. The 40th Infantry Division guarded and defended the town as it was strategically located on Seoul’s eastern flank.
Choi, a former Korean Army Captain, who immigrated to the USA in 1999, told attendees that without the firm commitment from the U.S. Armed Forces, it is quite realistic to think that South Korea would not have been able to hold off the onslaught from communist North Korea.
On Saturday, Choi confirmed that the group will host again next year with an even more spectacu