October 21, 2014

Fall is in the air, even here in Texas. Fortunately, this summer has been one of the milder ones for this part of the country. Our weather people are saying it is the best in at least a decade for Texas mild temperatures. We are still way behind on rainfall, however, and much of the state is still in a drought.

I am sure most of you remember my concerns in previous letters about trying to get our planning together for the July event this year. We were a little later than is comfortable getting plans in place for such an event, but it actually turned out to be among the better ones we have had in the last few years. I must give great appreciation and credit to the few people who worked so hard and managed to get everything put together in a very short time. Warren Wiedhahn, Jim Fisher, Ric Dean and “Tiger” Kang put in some long hours to get everything in order for a successful program.

With the U.S. Postal Service involved and their unveiling of the new Korean War Medal of Honor postage stamp, we had a lot of additional coordination that was required. But, I thought that particular ceremony added a great deal to a very good day.

The ROK Embassy hosted a great luncheon at the Sheraton Hotel and provided transportation for several of the chapters in the nearby areas to bring the attendance to around 300 veterans and families. Thanks to our friends at the Embassy for that support.

We have already started on the planning for the big events in July, 2015 in Washington, D.C., when we will have our annual Board and Membership Meeting and also celebrate the 30th anniversary of the founding of the KWVA and the 20th Anniversary of our Memorial. Mark it on your calendars as a significant event for all Korean veterans. We would like to see as many there as possible.

At the same time we were there in July, Dr. Jongwoo Han was holding his 2nd Convention of the KWV Youth Corps. The Youth Group consisted of around seventy of our descendants from the United Nation countries around the world who were there to find out more about Dr. Han’s program and to learn interviewing techniques to enable them to interview Korean War veterans back in their countries. Several of us took the time to sit in with the young people to get acquainted and help them practice their interview skills.

Several high school history teachers were also involved this year and came away very enthused about the process and what they can do in helping their own students find out more about the Korean War. I am very proud of Dr. Han and what he is doing for Korean veterans. His program is going to be a strong force in helping us maintain our legacy.

Also in attendance at these meetings were former National Assembly Chairman Kim, Jung Hoon and MPVA Vice Minister Choi, Wan Keun. It was my pleasure to have an opportunity to speak with both of them at length. Chairman Kim presented six scholarships of $1,000 each to members of the Youth Corps during the luncheon on Saturday. This is something he plans to continue when he gets his Foundation in place.

Through this Foundation, which is funded by several large companies in Korea, Chairman Kim feels he can be of great assistance to American Korean War veterans, their families, and descendants. Several of us had an opportunity to meet with him while he was here and discuss some of the details on how the KWVA can help him. We made progress, but we have much work to do in the future to make this project a reality.

We had a third program on that Saturday evening on the steps near the Lincoln Memorial. Many of you are familiar with Hannah Kim, the young Korean lady who has conducted a candle light ceremony every year to “Remember 727.” This year she had an extensive program of speakers and performers with approximately 300 people in attendance. (See the story and pictures on p. 50.) Col. Bill Weber and I were included in the list of speakers as representatives of the KWVA to tell about the importance of remembering the date.

The program concluded with a candle light wreath laying ceremony at our Memorial. Albert McCarthy, Sal Scarlato and Norm Champagne were there as part of the Youth Corps Convention and Roy Aldridge, National Tell America Chairman, and Frank Cohee, National Secretary, as Board representatives.

It is sad that on August 20th we lost another of our former KWVA Directors, James Fountain. Jim was a National Director for the KWVA 2006-2013 and a very strong supporter of Korean veterans. He and Frank Williams, who is still very active, have provided invaluable leadership to the National Board and in Missouri. We will miss Jim and his friendship and congeniality.

Another of our beloved members, National Chaplain Emeritus Father Leonard Stegman, Silver Star recipient during the Korean War, passed away on August 12th in San Antonio. He served as National Chaplain during President Lou Dechert’s term of office 2005-2007 and has been Chaplain Emeritus since that time.

Past Presidents Bill Mac Swain and Lou Dechert and I attended his funeral at the Ft. Sam Houston Cemetery on August 21st. His support and guidance over the years have been very meaningful to many of us. His presence, too, will be sorely missed.

By the time you read this, the 2014 Annual Membership meeting in Rochester, Minnesota will have concluded. Hopefully, several new initiatives for the KWVA will be in effect. I am looking forward to our future and the good things we can accomplish.

Mark your calendars for July 2015 for another big program in Washington D.C. for the Remembrance of the 62nd Anniversary of the cease fire and the significant anniversaries of the founding of the KWVA and the dedication of the Korean War Memorial on the mall.

When you get a chance, Tell America about the “Forgotten Victory.”

Note: Elsewhere in this issue, Secretary Frank Cohee provides detail on the umbrella tax exemption letter for KWVA chapters that has just been issued by the IRS. After requests from several of our chapters, we applied for this determination letter in December 2013 and received it in September 2014. Our thanks to member Elmer Austermann of Missouri Chapter 186 for his expert advice and assistance in making this possible.

Larry Kinard, President
Korean War Veterans Association, Inc. (KWVA/US)