Korean War Veterans Recognition Act
KOREAN WAR VETERANS RECOGNITION ACT -- (House of Representatives - July 20, 2009)
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Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2632, the Korean War Veterans Recognition Act, would amend the Flag Code to include Korean War Veterans Day among the times and occasions for display.
Section 6(d) of title IV, the United States Code, states that the flag should be displayed on all days, but singles out a number of days for special recognition. Among those days are the birthdays of President Washington, President Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, and Veterans Day, to name a few.
It is more than appropriate that we add to this list Korean War Veterans Day. Doing so will provide a fitting reminder for all of us to remember and to honor the men and women who served so honorably in the Korean war.
The Korean war has been referred to as America's ``forgotten war'' because it came on the heels of World War II and was later overshadowed by Vietnam, but although fighting between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Republic of Korea lasted a mere 3 years, from June 1950 until July 1953, it was ferocious. At least 2.5 million people lost their lives.
The war brought the United States into battle with the Soviet Union and the People's Republic of China. And with the Soviet Union having recently joined the United States in developing nuclear weapons, there was a very real concern that the war it might escalate into would be a nuclear conflict.
The Korean war cost more than 54,000 American lives in that 3-year period, almost as many as who died in the 16 years of the Vietnam war. In addition, more than 103,000 American soldiers were wounded in Korea.
It's more than fitting that this Nation remember and honor the service of our Korean war veterans, and this legislation will provide a poignant reminder of that service.
I especially want to commend my colleague, the gentleman from New York, the Honorable Charles Rangel, for introducing this legislation. He is, himself, a veteran of the Korean conflict, having served in the Army from 1948 through 1952, and also the United States Civil War, which ended back in 1865. He served in that war as well.
And I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time. And I believe that my humor has gone over the heads of those who occupy the Chamber at this particular time.
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Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. I would yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my dear colleagues, Chairman Rangel and Judge Poe out of Houston, Texas, and also my friend from Georgia, Dr. Broun--or Bron. I call him ``Congressman,'' but we have a great relationship, and I enjoy his fellowship. I wish to associate myself with the comments of all three of these gentlemen.
It's rather ironic that 56 years after the Korean War ended we are on the verge of, perhaps, another Korean war, and I don't think that the times could be more tense in South Korea than they are now. I had the opportunity to visit about 6 months ago, and the mood and the heavy feeling of impending war will remain heavily etched on my heart. I am hopeful that this administration can lead us and can lead the world out of this conflict.
This is just one of many, but I will tell you my personal experience as a young boy. I didn't get challenged too much, but whenever anyone did step to me, I would have to take defensive action. If I had my hands tied behind me, that would not be a fair fight, and if I had not been working out a little bit and if my muscles had not been in shape, I would not have been able to handle the conflict or deter it.
Mr. Speaker, I will report to you that I only had about 10 fights and lost only one, and I'll tell you that those were the things that helped me to ward off any future belligerence.
Certainly, in this country and in this world, we would be remiss as a Congress, as a legislative branch, if we did not prepare for the worst. With respect to our defense, it means that we have got to have a strong military and one that is well equipped to meet whatever the challenge may be. We cannot assume that there will not be another Cold War, because you could not assume, at the end of World War II, that the Chinese and the Russians would get together and gang up. I did not know that for sure, and then, boom, it happened.
Things are unexpected. It seems like, every 50 years, there is something big that happens, and we're at 56 years now. We simply cannot afford, as a Nation, to be caught without our defenses as tight as they can be. That means our firepower, our sea power, our power in outer space, our cyberspace, and our infantry. All of these aspects of our defense have to be up to par, so I am happy to serve on the Armed Services Committee where I can be a spokesperson and a proponent of making sure that this country remains strong.
I want to thank all of the veterans. My dad served in World War II, and today, he is 86 years old and is not doing too well, but I am proud of him serving his country, and I am proud of every other serviceman and -woman who has served this country. I look forward to a peaceful world; but if not, we have to do what we have to do.
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