Dongmyeong University Donates Generously to Statue Fund of the 'Father of War Orphans' Who Loved Korea

President Jeon Ho-hwan and 1,600 Faculty and Students Participate

16 Million Won Donated to 'Witcom Statue' Promotion Committee

70th Anniversary of Armistice UN Peace Road Walking Event Also Held

Do you know General Witcomb, the "Father of War Orphans"?

Dongmyung University (President Jeon Ho-hwan) students, faculty, staff, and AMP, totaling over 1,600 people, generously donated 16 million won to establish a statue of General Witcomb, who loved Korea.

The UN Peace Memorial Hall and the Busan Regional Veterans Office held a UN Peace Road walking event on the 17th at the Coexistence Square of the UN Peace Memorial Hall.

About 800 veterans' organizations and citizens walked 2.2 km around the UN Peace Culture Special Zone, remembering the 22 countries that participated in the Korean War.

On this day, a donation ceremony for the Witcomb statue was held with the attendance of Jeon Ho-hwan, President of Dongmyung University and Chairman of the Witcomb General Memorial Sculpture Establishment Promotion Committee.

1,600 Dongmyung University students, faculty, staff, and AMP members donated 16 million won raised for the statue construction fund. A photo exhibition of General Witcomb and a donation booth for the sculpture were operated, along with a Taekkyeon performance.

Jeon Ho-hwan, president of Dongmyung University, along with Dongmyung University faculty, staff, and students, are donating funds for the construction of a statue.

General Witcomb (1894?1982) was known as the "Father of War Orphans" for his dedication to helping displaced persons during the war and his commitment to Korea's reconstruction, earning the reputation of "loving Korea more than Koreans themselves."

During the great fire at Busan Station in 1953, as commander of the US Army 2nd Logistics Command, he inspected the site and, even breaking military law, diverted military supplies without authorization to distribute them to displaced persons.

Although summoned to a US congressional hearing at the time, he persuaded them by saying, "War is not only fought with guns and swords. True victory is for the people of that country," and ultimately secured more relief funds to bring back to Busan.

To secure insufficient medical facilities for refugees, he initiated a fund-raising campaign collecting 1% of US soldiers' salaries, personally conducted street fundraising dressed in traditional Korean gat and dapo attire, was featured in the American magazine Life, and contributed to the establishment of Busan Maryknoll Hospital.

After retiring in 1954, he remained in Korea, married Mrs. Han Myo-sook, who was also active in helping war orphans, and devoted the rest of his life to aiding war orphans and recovering US military remains, earning the title "Father of War Orphans."

In July 1982, he left a will requesting to be buried in Korea and was interred at the UN Memorial Cemetery. He is the only general buried there.

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