50 Visitors Including a 93-Year-Old 6·25 War Veteran Visit Korea

On the 24th, a day before the 71st anniversary of the Korean War, a large banner with the phrase "We will remember every last one" was hung on the outer wall of the Seoul Library in Jung-gu, Seoul. The banner listed the names of veterans who participated in the Korean War, the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong, the Cheonan ship sinking, and the Yeonpyeong Island shelling incident. It is meant to remember and express gratitude to all those who worked hard to protect peace on this land. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] Charlie Usher, a 93-year-old Canadian veteran who fought to protect the freedom of the Republic of Korea during the Korean War, will visit Korea.

According to the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs on the 23rd, 50 people including Charlie Usher and veterans and families from UN participating countries will visit Korea on the 26th.

The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs' program for the return visit of veterans invited 8 veterans from 5 UN participating countries including the United States, Canada, T?rkiye, Thailand, and New Zealand, as well as 42 family members of missing soldiers. Two members of the Georgia State Legislature, who have worked to honor and respect Korean War veterans, were also specially invited.

The eldest among the invitees for the return visit is 93-year-old Canadian veteran Charlie Usher. He served as a communications soldier in the 25th Canadian Brigade from April 1953 to May of the following year. Paul Henry Cunningham, a 92-year-old American veteran, served as a US Air Force mechanic from September 1950 to February 1952, and after discharge, he served as president of the Korean War Veterans Association, dedicating himself to veterans.

Robert Moore (71), son of Sergeant James Johnston of the US 7th Division who went missing in Hagalluri, a key transportation point during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir in December 1950, will also visit Korea this time. Along with him, Doris Burnett (76), sister of Private James Roy Newberry of the US 40th Division who went missing near Seohuiryeong during the Punchbowl Battle in Yanggu, Gangwon Province in December 1952, will also visit Korea.

Specially invited Georgia State Senator Eddie Harvison and State Representative William Hitchins Jr. were key figures in passing legislation in Georgia that grants Korean War veterans a 'veteran' designation on their driver's licenses and vehicle license plates.

The returning veterans and families will begin their schedule on the 27th with a visit to Panmunjom, followed by paying respects at the National Seoul National Cemetery and attending a briefing by the Ministry of National Defense's Remains Recovery and Identification Team. They will visit the War Memorial of Korea, the National Museum of Korea, and Changdeokgung Palace, and on the 30th, attend a gratitude dinner hosted by Park Min-sik, head of the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, before departing on the 1st of next month. The UN veterans' return visit program began in 1975, and so far, 33,445 people from 22 countries have visited Korea.

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