OPINION:
In “Remembering the Korean War” (Citizen Journalism, Thursday), Howard C. Self, national executive director of the Universal Peace Federation-USA, reminded readers of the 1953 armistice in the Korean War. Unfortunately, perhaps in a wrongheaded desire to avoid assigning blame, he attributed that conflict to the reunification efforts of both North Korea and South Korea.
In fact, it was the North that sought a reunification by invading the South and nearly overrunning its entire territory in the process. However, the United States landed forces that valiantly and successfully fought to retain a small foothold in the Pusan Perimeter. The brilliant U.S. troop landing through the treacherous waters of Inchon harbor ultimately restored the full territory of South Korea. A more complete story should include the fact that the Soviet Union gave the nod as well as military supplies to North Korea to conduct the invasion; it even flew fighter aircraft to hold off U.S. carrier-plane attacks against the North.
BERNARD S. GILD
Ashburn, Va.
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