[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 122 (Wednesday, July 26, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10712-S10713]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE KOREAN WAR

  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, the 40th anniversary of the Korean war 
will 

[[Page S10713]]
be celebrated in the Nation's capital, indeed in Korea, and in many 
other places this week. I was privileged to have a small and modest 
participation in that war as a member of the U.S. Marine Corps. I 
volunteered for a second period of active military service, having 
served briefly at the end of World War II.
   The three of us in the Senate--as far as I know, there are only 
three who served in the Marines in Korea--are going to address the 
Senate in sequence over the next 3 days. It is my privilege to make 
brief remarks today. My understanding is that the distinguished Senator 
from Ohio, Mr. Glenn, who was in Marine Corps aviation, will speak 
tomorrow, and on the third day our distinguished colleague from Rhode 
Island, Senator Chafee.
  Mr. President, it is most fitting at this time to pause to reflect on 
the service and sacrifice of America's 5.7 million Korean war veterans 
and those from 21 other nations which made up a multinational force 
that responded to the call of freedom with the invasion by North Korea 
into the South Korean province.
  I take great pride in having had the opportunity to have served in 
the U.S. Marine Corps. I entered service on October 3, having 
volunteered during the summer of 1950. I went to Quantico with a group 
of officers, most of whom had, like me, served for a brief period in 
World War II. And then eventually most of us saw service in Korea.
  To go back historically, on June 25, 1950, the North Korean People's 
Army had invaded the Republic of Korea in a forceable effort allegedly 
to unify that landmass into a Communist state. The North Koreans swept 
over the 38th parallel and occupied Seoul, South Korea's capital, in a 
very short period of time.
  The U.N. Security Council immediately called upon the free world to 
render assistance to the struggling South Korean Government. President 
Harry S. Truman, a very courageous President and one who was a strong 
foe of communism, saw this as an effort of communism to spread in the 
world, and immediately he responded to the U.N. call for assistance and 
ordered the 7th Fleet and the Far Eastern air units to support the 
South Korean military forces.
  Truman's Far Eastern Commander, Gen. Douglas MacArthur, made it clear 
that only American ground forces could prevent the complete collapse of 
the Republic of Korea.
 The President agreed. And in early July American forces joined the 
South Korean military forces on land, sea and air, and in operations 
against the North Korean's People's Army. At the outbreak of the Korean 
war the U.S. Marine Corps was in the condition of less than full 
readiness.

  Recalling that period of history very vividly, because having served 
for approximately 2 years in the Marine Corps Reserve prior to this, I 
was well aware, as were all other marines, that our funds had been cut 
back severely in that period of time, and the readiness was at less 
than full state. That was because of 5 years of declining budgets. The 
Marine Corps' strength had dropped from nearly half-million men and 
women in 1945 to only 75,000 men and women in June 1950.
  Nevertheless, Gen. Clifton B. Case, then Commandant of the Marine 
Corps, felt that the marines, many of whom were seasoned veterans of 
World War II, could effectively meet the challenge of battle. He 
therefore, together with the Chief of Naval Operations, Adm. Forrest D. 
Sherman, advised MacArthur that the 1st Marine Division would be ready 
for action whenever called.
  General Case foresaw MacArthur's response and put his marines 
worldwide on alert. He recommended additionally a recall of Reserves in 
an effort to bring the Marine Corps' strength up. And how well I recall 
the first basic class of which I was a member in October 1950. They 
were all Reserves recalled to active duty, as I said, many having 
served for periods during World War II. Within a very brief period, the 
marines once again would be sailing across the Pacific to answer their 
Nation's call to arms to defend freedom.
  Mr. President, as I rise to make these brief remarks today, I am 
reminded of those with whom I was privileged to serve who gave their 
full measure, who gave their life in the cause of freedom in that 
conflict.
  I was, for a brief period, with a squadron in the 3rd Marine Air 
Wing, and eventually with an air group, Marine Air Group 33. And each 
day sorties were flown. And, regrettably, periodically a number did not 
return.
  I shall recall one individual very well. His name was Captain Cole. 
Captain Cole had been a member of VMF 321, a marine squadron operating 
out of Anacostia, prior to its transformation to a helicopter base. We 
had been very close friends, as I likewise was a member of the Reserves 
in that squadron. Captain Cole was a school teacher. He had served in 
World War II but when his squadron, VMF 321 was called to active duty, 
he unhesitatingly responded and joined.
  On November 11, 1951, by chance the airplane in which I was then an 
observer landed at an airfield where Captain Cole was stationed. And 
that was the last time I saw him. Four weeks later he was killed in the 
line of duty in Korea. And I am everlastingly grateful that his family 
has allowed me to hang in my office a picture of my dear friend, 
Captain Cole. I mention him only because there were many others, but he 
was an example of an American having come back from World War II, 
remaining in the Reserves so this country could be strong. Dedicating 
his life to teaching children. And unhesitatingly responding to the 
call of battle. I recently had the opportunity to meet with his son who 
was a very young person at the time of his death. So that I could 
convey to him some of my recollections about his father.
  Mr. President, I am privileged to join here in these remarks. And I 
look forward to hearing the remarks of two other veterans of that 
conflict, Senators Glenn and Chafee, who were far more active in the 
combat role than I. And who deserve the great respect for having made 
their contribution in this conflict in the cause of freedom.
  I yield the floor. And I thank very much my colleagues for allowing 
me to make these brief remarks.

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