@Jessica-and-Henry0, The Korean war is the longest in our history and I unfortunately dont see that end in sight yet. I know many vets that served during the active period and after. There are fewer and fewer people that know much about it and our schools don't teach more than 5 minutes in 5 years about it or other more recent wars even. They hear more about Romans/ Greeks and mythical gods 6000 years ago than the wars their grandparents fought and some died for.
I have had friends that have trained with the ROKA and they say South Korea's Service members are the best of the best, bravest of the brave and stronger than strong. They have also told me about the DMZ , (thats the reason your forces and ours serving there must be so exceptional) it should be called a reawakening not a tour. Almost exactly like looking across the Hoff border between Czechoslovakia and W Germany back in 1980, you could tell just by looking the walls, razor ribbon, machine guns, dogs and mines were not there to keep us out (we didn't actually want to go there!!!!), it was to keep them in at any cost including death brought on by their own leaders and followers not ours. People risked their lives and limbs to cross that 1 K zone and that bloody wall in Berlin daily, many lost their lives and even family members back home were persecuted for their attempt to flee or success doing so.
We must never forget, the only thing worse is to not teach the coming generation "Why we Fight", otherwise its just dead patriots on these days of Memorials and BBQ. Thank you so much for bringing up your remembrance's and thoughts. Stay well Jessica, JR