Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

War veterans of the U.S. 40th Division attended Gapyong High School’s graduation ceremony

Established the school with their pennies during the war

School students also felt pride of these founders they had previously only heard of 

 

 

Students started playing the trumpet. Two national flags were run up the flagpole together, the Korean and American flags. Old soldiers’ eyes were full of pride watching the national flags. A country ruined by war 60 years ago, but now they were at the very school they founded during the war and attending the graduation ceremony, fighting back tears inside.

There was an event that symbolized the friendship between Korea and the U.S. held at Gapyong High School, Gyeonggi-do, on February 6. Around 10 attendees, including war veterans of the U.S. 40th Division and their descendants, and assistant division commander of the 40th Division, celebrated a fresh start for the students.

It is an annual ceremony, yet this year it had a special meaning. Alan Hackler, the son of the late Norman Hackler, a war veteran, visited Korea and searched for traces that his father left. Steven Kuenzli, a second-generation war veteran, also attended the school ceremony with his own father, Robert Kuenzli, and saw his father’s greatest legacy in the flesh. “I’ve come visit Korea to make a mental note to continue what our parents left for us and the students as well as to feel pride in them,” said Mr. Hackler.

After the flag raising ceremony, war veterans were lost in memories, looking at photos of the relationship between Gapyong school and 40th U.S. Division, displayed at the central entrance. 

In front of the Tower of Hope, they gave themselves up to deep emotion. In front of the tower are copper plate-carved faces of Staff Sergeant Kenneth Kaiser Jr., who died at the age of 19 during the 6·25 Korean War, and divisional commander Joseph Cleland, who founded the school to honor Kaiser. War veterans celebrated a step into the new world for graduates, blessing their future and delivering a scholarship. 

Other than American war veterans, there were many other figures  who graced the occasion. Navy Admiral Choi Myung-Han, assistant chief of staff for personnel, ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command, and Regimental Commander Kim Kwang-Juk, the artillery regiment of the 66th Division, who set up a sisterhood relationship with Gapyong school, also attended the graduation ceremony. The president of Damje Veterans Memorial Association, Shim Ho-Myeong, who has a particular interest in veterans of foreign wars and visits them at his own expense every year, delivered a scholarship to students. He said, “I am extremely thankful to the American war veterans for founding this school in the ruined country 60 years ago and showing interest in and affection for the students.”

Their visit had a special meaning for the graduates and enrolled students as well. As they met the veterans face to face, the very people they learned about during class, they could feel pride in their own school again. “I felt honored to guide them myself. I was worried at first, but soon tried to express my gratitude as best as I could,” said Kang In-Jeong, 17, a student of Gapyong High School, who acted as a guide for the war veterans on the day.

Meanwhile, the war veterans who visited Korea on February 3 traveled to the DMZ and attended the graduation ceremony of Kwanin Middle and High School in Pocheon that the 40th U.S. Division had established as a part of reconstruction. They returned home on 7th day of this month.

By Yeong-Sun, Lee <vs119@dema.mil.kr>

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