LAKE ARIEL— On a night like any other night in Gunsan, a small city in South Korea bordering the Yellow Sea, you hail a cab, extending your right arm and holding it up with your left, waving your right hand as if you have noticed someone you know in a crowd. This is the tradition.

The car approaches, and you get in, and say, “Chinay, ka joo-say-yo”.  He doesn’t understand your pronunciation, so you say it again, and, smiling, he says, “Ah...Ok,” ‘Ok’ being one of the two most understood phrases in the world, the other being “Coca-cola”, which you are drinking.

After a short ride, you arrive at chinay, or “downtown” in Hangul, South Korea’s official language, and this small street, what might be considered a sidestreet or alley in many American cities, is lit up like Las Vegas, and exiting the cab, as an American, the sight of a “Cheers” bar is comforting, as is the Australian accent of the English-speaking Korean bartender.  Standing outside, one can hear Nelly’s “It’s Getting Hot in Here” play on the jukebox, and a friend calls you on your LG phone, which was made in Korea, asking you where you are.

Remarkably, this is Korea today, well, at least a few months ago, but 55 years ago this was not the case, as the villagistic, rural countryside was decimated by monstrosity and war.

Ninety-four year old Wayne County resident Carl Racine remembers what is was like, and can attest to the country’s progress.  In 1950, after having served in World War II, Racine was stationed in Korea as part of the Army’s infantry with the 15th division, 205th regiment.  Racine was on the lines when UN forces marched past Seoul, past the 41st parallel where the demilitarized zone stands today, all the way up to the 38th parallel—and then back again when the Chinese intervened and began pushing forces back.

“They used to come in droves,” Racine said.  “We dug in, held our ground, and then we would pick up and run.”  He went on to say, “Truman said we shouldn’t go, but MacArthur wanted to.”  And with a gleeful tear in his eye, “Boy, we loved MacArthur.”

He recalls the treachery of the retreat, “climbing mountains through monsoon, eating soup, and fighting the Chinese.  We marched up and down mountains, and then marched right back,” and how the Chinese slaughtered the Korean P.O.W.’s, “They had no sympathy, no love,” he said.
 

“[The Koreans] were friendly people, and we loved them and treated them right.”  He loves to tell of the Korean R.O.K. soldier that was stationed in his foxhole, “He was good, and we used to teach him.”

In August 1952, Racine left Korea, to return home to America.  However, his girlfriend left him during his brief return, and he made his way right back to Korea to witness the stalemate that ultimately led to the armistice. 

When he finally returned home for good, “I was glad to be home.  It was good, but I love America. I still salute the flag on my own from time to time.”

Today, Racine thinks of our soldiers and says, “I love our fighting soldiers.  I pray for them everyday.  We need to lay down our arms and embrace forgive and forget, but don’t give up.  We need to bring this war to a peaceful end.”

After wiping the tear from his eye with his “Freedom is not free” blanket, and readjusting his veteran’s hat with his rank stripes, he says it, “God Bless America” and salutes, as serious as if the Yellow River were just outside the window.

TELL US YOUR STORY
The Wayne Independent hopes to interview as many area Korean War veterans as possible, to publish their stories. Veterans are asked to contact Managing Editor Peter Becker at 253-3055 or e-mail pbecker@wayneindependent.com to schedule an interview.

Memorial registration
If you are a resident of Wayne County, a veteran of the Korean War, and would like to take part in this October’s public recognition of your service, please contact the Tour of Honor committee by e-mailing tourofhonor@gmail.com, calling State Representative Pfeifer at 253-5533, or mailing your information to:

Tour of Honor
32 Commercial Street
Suite 200
Honesdale, Pa 18431

Be sure to include your name, address, phone number(s), branch, and dates of service, rank, and any special awards and/or medals your received.