Almost 40,000 Americans died during combat in Korea, and more than 100,000 were wounded. | Canva
Almost 40,000 Americans died during combat in Korea, and more than 100,000 were wounded. | Canva
Although Nov. 11 is widely known as Armistice Day, July 27 is also Korean War Veterans Armistice Day.
Not many people are familiar with the day of recognition, which is exactly why U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pennsylvania) is trying to bring attention to the holiday.
In a July 27 Tweet, Toomey said, “Too often, Korean War veterans were not given the thanks and gratitude they deserved upon returning home. Today we recognize every American who served in Korea, and thank them for their service and sacrifice. #KoreanWarVeteransArmisticeDay."
U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey
| Wikimedia Commons
The Korean war lasted three years and was notorious for its brutal fighting conditions. The armistice that ended the war was signed on July 27, 1953, according to OurDocuments.gov. Each year, that day is recognized as Korean War Veterans Armistice Day to honor the soldiers who fought in the war.
According to Encyclopedia Britannica, during the Korean War, North Korea had the support of Russia and China against South Korea, which had the backing of the U.S. and the United Nations. This was seen as a sort of proxy war against communism. The war is largely viewed as a stalemate, or even a loss for the U.S. During the war, there were more than 1 million combat casualties and neither side surrendered. North and South Korea were no longer in open conflict, but they weren't united either -- and still aren't, to this day.
Korean War veterans have been treated poorly ever since they arrived back in the U.S., largely due to the very unfavorable opinion that U.S. citizens had of the Korean War and the U.S.'s motives for being there. Toomey and others are attempting to give Korean War veterans the recognition that they deserve but have never really received.
Alerts Sign-up