Wow, it tears at my heart. I have a photo of my dad from the Korean War, but know very little of his time there. These are the stories that need to be told. Thank you.
Until writing this story I knew very little about the Korean War in general. The book I referenced was an amazing resource and one that I would highly recommend.
David Halberstam, The Coldest Winter: America and the Korean War (New York, New York. Hyperion. 2007),
My memories of Uncle Ed are a man always ready with a kind word and a smile. I knew he was a brave man, a true patriot. He loved Aunt Joyce, and I recall how affectionate they were to each other. A powerful story, well presented by Niece Kirsi. You are an amazing author.
Thank you! I desperately wanted to include the super sweet detail you shared with me about catching Eddie and Joyce sneaking kisses and him tossing you a quarter to keep you quiet while winking at you and saying he liked your style. It's a great memory!
Jennifer, your perspective on military experiences has inspired me to approach my stories of military ancestors differently than I had before. This story is my first that connects the experiences of war with a post-war way of life. Thank you for that motivation.
What a story. And what a brave and compassionate person. I think the Korean War has receded from our collective memory. I had an elderly friend who served in Korea. He said he was in one battle, and, at the age of 73, he told me he still had nightmares about it.
I can only imagine. From all that I've read, I'd be surprised if any surviving soldier didn't have nightmares -- though that may be true with all combat soldiers. And I think you're right, we don't hear much about the Korean War. I found this statement from author David Halberstam during my research that I thought was absolutely spot-on: "Korea would not prove a great national war of unifying singular purpose, as WW2 had been, nor would it, like Vietnam a generation later, divide and thus haunt the nation. It was simply a puzzling, gray, very distant conflict, a war that went on and on and on, seemingly without hope or resolution, about which most Americans, save the men who fought there and their immediate families, preferred to know as little as possible."
Wow, it tears at my heart. I have a photo of my dad from the Korean War, but know very little of his time there. These are the stories that need to be told. Thank you.
Until writing this story I knew very little about the Korean War in general. The book I referenced was an amazing resource and one that I would highly recommend.
David Halberstam, The Coldest Winter: America and the Korean War (New York, New York. Hyperion. 2007),
Very nicely said.
My memories of Uncle Ed are a man always ready with a kind word and a smile. I knew he was a brave man, a true patriot. He loved Aunt Joyce, and I recall how affectionate they were to each other. A powerful story, well presented by Niece Kirsi. You are an amazing author.
Thank you! I desperately wanted to include the super sweet detail you shared with me about catching Eddie and Joyce sneaking kisses and him tossing you a quarter to keep you quiet while winking at you and saying he liked your style. It's a great memory!
Powerful story! Thanks for sharing this!
Jennifer, your perspective on military experiences has inspired me to approach my stories of military ancestors differently than I had before. This story is my first that connects the experiences of war with a post-war way of life. Thank you for that motivation.
You're welcome! Thank you for sharing that my stories and experience make an impact. I appreciate that.
This is a beautiful story.
Thank you. I can't say that I have any memories of Eddie myself, but I sure wish I did, given all the wonderful things others have said.
What a story. And what a brave and compassionate person. I think the Korean War has receded from our collective memory. I had an elderly friend who served in Korea. He said he was in one battle, and, at the age of 73, he told me he still had nightmares about it.
I can only imagine. From all that I've read, I'd be surprised if any surviving soldier didn't have nightmares -- though that may be true with all combat soldiers. And I think you're right, we don't hear much about the Korean War. I found this statement from author David Halberstam during my research that I thought was absolutely spot-on: "Korea would not prove a great national war of unifying singular purpose, as WW2 had been, nor would it, like Vietnam a generation later, divide and thus haunt the nation. It was simply a puzzling, gray, very distant conflict, a war that went on and on and on, seemingly without hope or resolution, about which most Americans, save the men who fought there and their immediate families, preferred to know as little as possible."
Thank you for reading and commenting.