HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R. NO.

30

TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2014

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 


HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

 

recognizing the korean war veterans in observance of the 60th anniversary of the conclusion of the korean war.

 

 

 


     WHEREAS, the people of the State of Hawaii are proud to recognize those special individuals whose initiative, professionalism, and dedication to the United States Armed Forces have strongly influenced the lives of those they touch with courage, bravery, and brotherhood; and

 

     WHEREAS, on June 25, 1950, the Korean War began; a civil conflict between North Korea and South Korea divided the country after the conclusion of World War II; soldiers from the North Korean Communist army invaded South Korea by pouring across the 38th parallel, becoming the first military action of the Cold War; the Korean peninsula was divided along the 38th parallel due to the 1945 Allied victory in World War II, ending the Empire of Japan’s 35-year colonial rule of Korea; the United States and the Soviet Union agreed to temporarily occupy Korea as a trusteeship with the zone of control along the 38th parallel in order to establish a Korean provisional government which would become free and independent in due course; and

 

WHEREAS, shortly after the invasion, United States President Harry Truman, with the support of the United Nations (UN) Security Council, ordered United States Army General Douglas MacArthur to use whatever force was necessary to aid the South Koreans; this marked the first time in the UN's short history that the use of force in answer to another country's aggression was authorized; the ensuing struggle produced many memorable moments, including MacArthur's Inchon landings; and

     WHEREAS, during the three-year period of the Korean War, over five million Americans served in the United States Armed Services, risking their lives to fight one of the most hard-fought wars in history; in 1953, an armistice was signed between the United States, China, and North Korea; however, South Korea refused to sign it, leaving the two Koreas separate to this day; and

 

     WHEREAS, since the conclusion of the Korean War, several organizations have been established to provide support to veterans of the Korean War in Hawaii, including the KOREAN WAR VETERANS ASSOCIATION, HAWAII CHAPTER 1; KOREAN WAR VETERANS – 5TH REGIMENTAL COMBAT TEAM; KOREAN WAR VETERANS – MILITARY ORDER OF THE PURPLE HEART; AND KOREAN WAR VETERANS ASSOCIATION, ALOHA CHAPTER; and

 

     WHEREAS, the KOREAN WAR VETERANS ASSOCIATION, HAWAII CHAPTER 1 was formed in August 1994 as the 20th chapter of the Korean War Veterans Association; since 1996, Hawaii Chapter 1 has furthered the expansion of nationally chartered Korean War Veterans chapters on all islands, including the Big Island Chapter, West Hawaii Chapter, Maui No Ka Oi Chapter, Kauai Chapter, and the Aloha Chapter in Honolulu; Hawaii Chapter 1 has taken the leadership role in all of the Korean War Veterans events in Hawaii and has been recognized by Honolulu's Korean community as the key Korean War Veterans organization in the State; and

 

WHEREAS, the 5th REGIMENTAL COMBAT TEAM was assigned to the 25th Infantry Division but as a "regimental combat team" instead of as a regular regiment; the 5th REGIMENTAL COMBAT TEAM also left Korea effective June 31, 1949, and was transferred to Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, where it was stationed when the Korean War began; it deployed to Korea on July 25, 1950, and was assigned to the 25th Infantry Division but as a "regimental combat team" instead of as a regular regiment; the following month, in August of 1950, the 5th REGIMENTAL COMBAT TEAM was reassigned to the 1st Cavalry Division and during the next month, September of 1950, it was reassigned to the 24th Infantry Division where it replaced the division's 34th Infantry Regiment; it remained with the 24th Infantry Division until January of 1952, when it officially became a separate regimental combat team again and was assigned to IX-Corps; the 5th REGIMENTAL COMBAT TEAM consisted of the 5th Infantry Regiment 555 Field Artillery Battalion (105mm) (Known as The Triple-Nickel), and the 72nd Engineer Company; and

 

WHEREAS, begun in 1932 and chartered by Congress in 1958, the MILITARY ORDER OF THE PURPLE HEART is composed of military men and women who have received the Purple Heart Medal for wounds suffered in combat; the MILITARY ORDER OF THE PURPLE HEART has a long heritage that began with General Washington giving three of his soldiers a Badge of Military Merit, a cloth purple heart, during the Revolutionary War, and continues to this day to recognize, honor, and support all veterans from each of America’s wars, including veterans of the Korean War; the mission of the MILITARY ORDER OF THE PURPLE HEART is to foster an environment of goodwill and camaraderie among combat-wounded veterans, promote patriotism, support necessary legislative initiatives, and most importantly, provide service to all veterans and their families; and

 

WHEREAS, formed in 1996, the KOREAN WAR VETERANS ASSOCIATION, ALOHA CHAPTER has over 60 members, all of whom were part of the Republic of Korea's Army, Navy, or Marines; during the 1950s, these Korean soldiers were used to fill in and bring United States forces up to par; these veterans immigrated to Hawaii in the 1970s and 1980s, and most have become American citizens; since 2004, the Aloha Chapter has conducted the Korean War Anniversary ceremony on June 25 at the Punchbowl National Cemetery of the Pacific; and

 

WHEREAS, these four organizations foster camaraderie among veterans, promote patriotism, and provide support services to Korean War veterans and their families; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-seventh Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2014, that this body hereby recognizes the KOREAN WAR VETERANS – MILITARY ORDER OF THE PURPLE HEART; KOREAN WAR VETERANS – 5TH REGIMENTAL COMBAT TEAM; KOREAN WAR VETERANS ASSOCIATION, HAWAII CHAPTER 1; AND KOREAN WAR VETERANS ASSOCIATION, ALOHA CHAPTER in observance of the 60th Anniversary of the conclusion of the Korean War, and expresses its deep appreciation to all Korean War Veterans for their dedicated service to our nation.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

Korean War Veterans Associations; 60th Anniversary