The "Truce" as it is called is just that, a truce, a cease-fire, a stoppage of ALL hostilities!  This supposedly happened in 1953, at least the signing happened, but not the stoppage of the hostilities!  The North Korean Peoples Army (NKPA) have continually ignored the documents that they signed!  There are over 40,000 reported breaches of the cease-fire, with over 1500* U.S. killed in action (KIA)!  

          North Korea continues to test our defenses and build up their forces for another foray into the South.  "The Forgotten War" is NOT over!  It continues today!  Those that served since 1954 are "The Forgotten Soldiers" of this, "The Forgotten War"!  As we all now know, North Korea has finally admitted they have a nuclear program in the works.  As always, getting the truth out of North Korea is like trying to pull the teeth of a great white shark, something not easily done, if at all!  This is the kind of crap that our troops in Korea have been facing since 1954.

     When I was there in 1959 - 1960 it was "Hot" then. There were (and still are) incidents that not many know about.  Until recently, the news media always had more important things to report than an incident in a forgotten place that is so seldom otherwise in the news, if they were even informed of the incidents in the first place?!  As it turns out, there were MANY incidents that did not get reported!  At least they do not show up in today's records and as such, those KIA', WIA and POW figures may not reflect anywhere near the actual numbers, they may never be known.  Some KIA's came home with a toe tag that said "Died in a training accident".  Yea, right!  Believe that, and I have some waterfront property and a few bridges that I would like to sell you!!

     With my links, I will "try" to point you to more complete information than what I provide here.  I do have information, stories and pictures on site, more stories have been left by visitors when they signed the guest book, don't overlook them or the "DMZ Incidents" page!  The guest book is back on the first page.  You are welcome to sign the guest book whether you leave a story or not, just tell us who you are, and if you served, where and when.  If you have a story to tell, please check out the "DMZ Incidents" page!  I prefer that you send your stories to me rather than leave them in the guest book, if the guest book crashes (and they do), it will be lost, but not if you send (email) the story to me.  Either way, if you have something to say, say it!

     Do you know that those that served (and those even today) in Korea since the "Truce" was signed received a "slap in the face" by our government - by not recognizing their service with medals or awards?  

     Unlike Bosnia , Grenada , Somalia and other recent hot spots, Korean service since 27 July 1954 is not recognized by ANY service award (Medal). The bullets were real back then and they still are today!  The awards have been earned by all that served there and those that continue to serve in South Korea !  Other UN partners in South Korea still give appropriate awards, why not our military?!?     

      In 1962 I was laughed out of the local VFW (building) because "I only served in Korea " (after 1954) and did not have the Korea Service Medal, shown the door and told "Don't let it hit you in the f------ ass".  Needless to say, that was one Hell of a shock!  It embarrassed the Hell out of me and in front of two of my friends and several strangers (VFW Members)!  How many others got this treatment over the years???  Totally unacceptable and completely asinine.

      Veterans with Korea service (after 1954) are the only ones that are NOW eligible to join the VFW that do not have the service medals that they earned and deserve! That eligibility only happened in 1995.

     There have been over 1,500 KIA's in Korea since 1954.  How  many troops deployed to Korea since 1954 that were not killed by hostile action but were killed or died by other means??  I sure don't have a count on that, but the question remains,  "How many of them would be alive today if they had not been sent to Korea in the first place?".   "If 'he' had not been in Korea , 'he' would not have been in 'that bar' and stabbed to death in 'that' bar fight!".  If Korea was not a hot spot, a potential flash point, 'he' would not have been sent there in the first place!  You get the idea..  Their survivors are now eligible for the KDSM and should have something other than a telegram and their personal items!  The medal that the KDVA fought for is not only for us, the living, but for all of our fallen brothers that no longer have a voice.  Let's see to it that the survivors are not only given their loved ones KDSM, but an apology that for some comes 50 years late!  Help get the word out to the families of the fallen that the KDSM is available to them (with proof of eligibility).

         The KDVA leadership team, its members and supporters are all due a big round of applause for a job well done!