September's 6.25 War Hero is Lieutenant General Almond

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] The September Heroes of the Korean War include Lieutenant General Edward Almond of the U.S. Army and independence activist Chae Won-gae.

On the 31st, the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs announced that Lieutenant General Edward Almond (1892.12.12?1979.6.11, photo), who commanded the landing forces during the Incheon Landing Operation and led the Hungnam Evacuation Operation, was selected as the "September Hero of the Korean War."

Born in Luray, Virginia, Almond graduated from the Virginia Military Institute in 1915 and was commissioned as an infantry officer in the U.S. Army, serving in both World War I and World War II. During the Korean War, as commander of the U.S. X Corps, Lieutenant General Almond led the landing forces in the Incheon Landing and Wonsan Landing Operations, advancing near the Yalu and Tumen Rivers. When the situation worsened due to the intervention of Chinese Communist forces, Almond conducted the evacuation operation at Hungnam, Hamgyongnam-do.

The Hungnam Evacuation Operation, conducted from December 14 to December 24, 1950, was a humanitarian mission that evacuated over 105,000 soldiers from the Republic of Korea’s 1st Corps and the U.S. X Corps, along with approximately 100,000 refugees, to the southern region. The success of the Hungnam Evacuation preserved the combat strength of the ROK 1st Corps and U.S. X Corps, enabling their participation in the UN forces' counteroffensive starting in January 1951.

Chae Won-gae (1895.3?1974.2), selected as the "September Independence Activist," was born in Yeongwon, Pyeongannam-do. He graduated from the Protestant-affiliated Uimyung Elementary School and began his lifelong military career by enlisting in the Joseon Infantry at age 21.

In 1920, as the commander of the Tongimangu district of the Korean Independence Corps, he fought against Japanese forces conducting large-scale suppression of independence fighters and was wounded by a gunshot. The following year, he was dispatched to Shanghai as a representative of the Tonguiboo and attended the National Representative Conference, later participating in activities of the Shanghai Provisional Government. In June 1923, he entered the cavalry department of the Luoyang Military Academy, where he received systematic military education and gained practical combat experience by participating in Chinese warlord civil wars. In 1925, he was appointed Chief of Military Affairs of the Provisional Government’s Army Advisory Department and crossed into Manchuria to mediate and resolve conflicts between the Jeonguibu and the Advisory Department by meeting with leaders.

In 1927, he served as an instructor at the Huangpu Military Academy, providing systematic military training to Koreans who had been conducting armed struggle without proper military training institutions. While serving in the Chinese army stationed in Guangdong in 1934, he joined the Korean Independence Party’s Guangdong branch and engaged in independence activities. He contributed to supporting the Provisional Government by providing the Dongshan Baiyuan in Guangzhou as a temporary government office and using the Asia Hotel as lodging for government officials and their families.

In 1940, he joined the Liberation Army, serving as Chief of Staff and, in 1943, as Chief of General Affairs, supporting activities from the rear. In 1944, he took command of the Liberation Army’s 1st Division and led the army on the front lines.

After liberation, he attempted to return to Korea leading the Liberation Army’s 1st Division, but the U.S. military government refused the entry of the Liberation Army and only allowed him to enter as an individual. He disbanded the unit and sent his subordinates home first, returning the following year. After completing training at the Korea Military Academy, he was assigned as operations staff officer of the 3rd Regiment, later serving as commander of the 3rd Brigade and the 2nd Division, retiring as a brigadier general in 1949.

In recognition of his contributions, the government awarded him the Order of Independence Merit in 1968.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.