[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 146 (Wednesday, December 3, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1721]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING OSAN CITY'S EFFORTS TO HONOR THE U.S. SOLDIERS OF TASK 
                              FORCE SMITH

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 3, 2014

  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize the continuous 
efforts of The City of Osan in South Korea, to honor the men of Task 
Force Smith, the first American unit to engage North Korean troops in 
July of 1950, following the immediate outbreak of the Korean War on 
June 25, 1950. As an artillery operations specialist in the all-black 
503rd Field Artillery Battalion in the 2nd Infantry Division, I arrived 
in Pusan, South Korea, in August of 1950, shortly after Task Force 
Smith valiantly held back the North Korean assault and made it possible 
for my unit to eventually begin moving north as the U.N. Forces 
advanced deep into North Korea.
  The City of Osan, Kyung-gi Province and the Korean Government, with 
the help of former U.S. Congressman Jay Kim, are planning to construct 
a memorial park at the site of the Battle of Osan to honor the troops 
of Task Force Smith and all the other forces from the participating 
U.N. nations that fought to protect South Korea from the communist 
invasion.
  The Task Force Smith Memorial Park will encompass some twelve acres 
along the road where a hastily organized force of 540 Americans dug in 
on July 5, 1950 to slow the advance by a larger, better equipped force 
of North Korean tanks and infantry. Some 181 Task Force members were 
killed, wounded, taken prisoner or counted missing in action, but they 
were able to delay the North Korean advance while other U.S. and Korean 
units prepared defensive positions. The Memorial Park will include 
walking paths, historical markers, statues, pavilions and 540 pine 
trees, one planted for each of the soldiers of Task Force Smith.
  This past July 3, former Congressman Jay Kim, his wife, Jennifer Ahn, 
along with four Task Force Smith veterans and their family members 
traveled to Korea to participate in the 59th annual ceremony to 
commemorate the U.N. Forces First Battle Memorial. Those in attendance 
were: John H Sanchez (52nd) from Waukesha, WI, William C Coe (B co) 
from Cohoes, NY and daughter Suann M. Ingle, Norman Matthews (C co) 
from Dexter, MN and his wife Lindy Matthews, Charles Fronapfel (MED co, 
POW) from Lakewood, CO and son Lee Charles Fronapfel, and Lisa Gay 
Sholl in honor of her father, Norman Fosness (B co) of Fargo, ND.
  According to Osan City, the museum was built in 2013 to remember and 
honor the brave soldiers of Task Force Smith. Now they want to expand 
and include a memorial park to provide a place for Korean children to 
learn and carry forward this special memory and a special appreciation 
of the friendship between the United States and the Republic of Korea.
  Osan is an especially important place to remember the sacrifice and 
dedication of our American troops. At this site some 540 young 
Americans, ill-prepared and ill-equipped, were thrown into battle 
against tremendous odds on behalf of a people and a nation they barely 
knew.
  The relationship between our two countries is a precious one that 
will continue to grow. It is amazing that after all these decades, 
Korea and the Korean people have never stopped thanking us. Korea will 
always have a place in my heart as it does in the hearts of all U.S. 
veterans who have served then and those who serve now.

                          ____________________