Remembering the Forgotten War

In June 1950, some 135,000 North Korean troops attacked South Korea, sparking a bitter struggle that many have called the Forgotten War. While it may have been forgotten by some, it certainly was not by the soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, and coastguardsmen who served in that remote theater. Today, more than fifty years later, we should reflect on the courage, sacrifice, and devotion of the men and women who served during the conflict. Indeed, I hope that every American is exposed to their story over the course of the ongoing commemoration. It is equally important that those of us in uniform today consider the hard lessons of Korea in developing the strategy and force structure to meet the challenges of the 21st century.