I want to remind all of our members that September 18, 2010 will arrive shortly and that date is POW/MIA
Recognition Day. We must remember all those who are still unaccounted for and pray for the day when they might
be looked for in North Korea. Many of us have buddies who are still missing, 60 years after the Korean War
begun, and many families have never learned what happened to their loved ones. So place this date on your
calendar or in your mind and be sure to remember all POW/MIA's.
I want to "thank" all who ran for a position in this last election for we continue to need people to fill
committees and work to keep a viable group for all the membership. If you have a desire to work on a committee
or you have some expertise such as a lawyer or you are VA Approved as a Veterans Service Officer and would like
to help us serve Korean War Veterans, let me know.
I also would like to "thank" all of you who voted for me for a second term as President and I also thank
those who did not vote for me for at least voting. I have hopes of doing some additional work on solving a
problem with the consideration of the Internal Revenue Service on the definition of a Korean War Veteran to also
include those who served after January 31, 1955 in Korea. Most of us realize the war is not really over and a
threat still exists for South Korea from North Korea. It is still necessary for the United States to maintain
Armed Forces on the peninsular and that Force has maintained a peace that we won for South Korea during the
Korean War. Many say we did not win the war that it was a draw, but a look at what the South Koreans have done
after the war should convince anyone that South Korea now has the Forces available to withstand an attack and
the desire to maintain its freedom. Plus at this time, they have the Military might and equipment unlike the
1950 ROK Military.
When you receive this edition of The Graybeards the 2010 KWVA Membership Meeting will have occurred and I am
sure it will have been successful. Many venues have been scheduled just recently as everyone wants to take a
part in the 60th Commemorative of the start of the Korean War. Many will have shown their respects by making
sure those who attend are given many thanks for saving their country from communism and the security of our
nation as well. We will have had a Ceremony at our Korean War Monument and at the Tomb of the Unknown and also
the Bench in Washington, DC. These are proud moments for many of our members as they realize how important our
government believes we are and as they see the many dignitaries at the receptions and those Embassy personnel
from UN Nations that also fought with us and on our flanks. I also know that many will be impressed with the
visit to the Marine Museum where we will be especially honored for our service.
I hope all of our members received their Korean Presidents Letter of Appreciation that was sent out by our
Association to all our paid up Members. If you did not receive one you may visit our Website and fill out a form
and e-mail it to the Embassy in Washington, DC and they will send you one.
I visited Korea on the revisit program and spoke at a number of events which included the unveiling of a new
statue of General Walton H Walker at the 8th US Army Headquarters at Yongsan Main Post that was made possible by
the ROK-US Alliance Friendship Society and a number of the large Companies in Korea. I attended a pass in review
of the 8th Army Military personnel, and I also reviewed the Troops of the 2nd ROK Army Command Group, with
General Lee the Commanding General in the Taegu area. I represented the UN Countries of Netherland, Luxemburg,
Greece. Ethiopia, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom and the United States at the Welcoming Banquet
and gave a short speech of gratitude to the host Prime Minister H. E. Chung Un-Chan, Minister of Patriots and
Veterans Affairs the Honorable Kim Yang and KVA Chairman General (Ret) Park Se-Hawn and other Korean Government
officials. Two other speeches where given during this visit also. I also met many of our KWVA members who
attended this revisit trip, including Medal of Honor recipients' Hiroshi H. Miyamura and Rodolfo P. Hernandez.
It was indeed an honor to represent the United States Veterans at the major 60th Commemorative Ceremony at the
Olympic Stadium where the President of Korea gave a speech and then honored those veteran representatives, from
each UN Nation visiting that day, with a large plaque while seated on the main stage. Every veteran in
attendance at this ceremony also received a smaller version of the plaque.
William F. Mac Swain
National President, KWVA/US