Photo By Master Sgt. Heather Denby | Korean Augmentee to the U.S. Army Pfc. Ho Yeon Lee, community relations specialist...... read more read more
OSAN AIR BASE, South Korea - Sixty five years ago, on June 25, 1950, North Korean Forces attacked south across the 38th Parallel igniting the Korean War. The United States entered the war six days later and the U.S. and ROK militaries have been committed to preserving the freedom of the Republic of Korea ever since. The article you are about to read is part of a six-part series on Korean War veterans living in the Republic of Korea today. Through the eyes of these veterans, we got a glimpse into an important chapter in Korean history. ~35th Air Defense Artillery Public Affairs Officer, Capt. William Leasure
Typhoon rains drenched the Marines of the Republic of Korea as they fought endless waves of communists on the slopes of Dosol Mountain.
As ROK commanders yelled for their troops to advance, a young Marine private answered the call.
“The battle was furious and violent,” said Eung Chae Koh, a member of the “6-25” War veterans association in Osan City. “And the enemy’s attack was unrelenting.”
Koh was an infantryman assigned to 5th Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Regiment ROK Marine Corps. He would fight in the ROK Marine’s first victory of the Korean War that fateful day on Dosol Mountain, but he would not be able to celebrate with his fellow Marines.
A fragmentary grenade exploded beside Koh sending shrapnel flying into his face, forearm and belly. He was treated by U.S. Marines before being transported to a ROK Navy facility for additional care.
But Koh would return to fight, participating in two more prominent battles before another injury from a mortar round would end his service during the war.
This Marine couldn’t walk away from serving his nation that easily though.
After five and a half years of military service, Koh took a job as a communications configuration supervisor for 1st Signal Brigade, Eighth Army in Seoul. He retired from 1st Signal Brigade in 1992 with 27 years of time spent serving the ROK/U.S. alliance.
From the rugged mountains of Dosol to the bustling offices of a U.S. Army signal brigade, Koh said that he has only one regret.
“We should have continued the fight,” he said. “There were so many lives lost in the “6-25” War,” he said.
“We wanted more than just peace, we wanted reunification,” said Koh. “And that was worth fighting for.”
| Date Taken: | 07.07.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 07.14.2015 20:22 |
| Story ID: | 170034 |
| Location: | OSAN AIR BASE, GYEONGGIDO [KYONGGI-DO], KR |
| Hometown: | OSAN, GYEONGGIDO [KYONGGI-DO], KR |
| Web Views: | 93 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Still donning the Globe & Anchor, ROK Marine remembers '6-25' War, by MSG Heather Denby, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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