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UPI
a day ago
- Politics
- UPI
U.S. honors 72nd armistice of America's 'forgotten' Korean War
1 of 4 | Statues at the Korean War Memorial are seen a day before Veterans Day on November 10, 2017, in Washington, D.C. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo July 28 (UPI) -- The White House said Monday the United States will "steadfastly" safeguard its interests on the Korean Peninsula with "safety, stability, prosperity and peace" as the endgame. That message was delivered the day in which the nation honors the truce that ended America's involvement in the Korean War more than seven decades ago. It was a day that also served as a catalyst of the current divergent north and south Korean national ideologies. "We pay tribute to every American hero who ventured to unfamiliar lands to face some of the most gruesome combat in the history of our country," U.S. President Donald Trump said in a statement. The armistice agreement signing ended the bloody three-year conflict in northeast Asia in which 36,574 U.S. military service members, according to the U.S. Department of Defense, died out of nearly 2 million who fought in the bid to repel the advancement of communism in the region. "We spent 15 minutes or so honoring all those men and women who fought and died in Korea," Master of Ceremonies Bob Fugit said Monday in Wichita as locals gathered at Veterans Memorial Park for events to commemorate what some say is America's "Forgotten War." "That's been a war that everybody wants to forget, even more than Vietnam," Fugit told KAKE in Kansas. Though most might want to forget, there still have been some efforts to remember. In July 2022, the nation's capital saw the Korean War Veterans Memorial unveil its new addition along with a total renovation to coincide with that year's Armistice Day festivities in Washington. A DOD web portal for the Korean conflict lists volumes of stories in a live-running historic archive of events related to the conflict. "Today, we pause to remember the courage and sacrifice of the heroes who served during the Korean War," the department posted Sunday morning on X, adding that the "legacy of their resilience lives on." In June 1950, then-President Harry S. Truman said that those responsible for "unprovoked aggression" against South Korea during the so-called "forgotten" war "must realize how seriously the government of the United States views such threats to the peace of the world." In a UPI article on July 27, 1953, the day it was penned seven months after war hero general and eventual GOP icon Dwight D. Eisenhower assumed the presidency, it read in part: "The armistice documents ending the bitter, stalemated efforts of the Communists to seize all Korea by force were signed at 10:01 a.m. today in the truce village of Panmunjom." On Monday, the 33rd president's oldest grandson said he believes Korea is collectively labeled by historians as the "Forgotten War" primarily because of public sentiment at the time. "I think that has to do with fact that, although Americans were firmly behind my grandfather when he moved quickly to aid a beleaguered South Korea," Clifton Truman Daniel told UPI via email, "they quickly tired of a conflict that was perceived as being not our fight." Daniel, the son of acclaimed author Margaret Truman Daniel, is honorary chair at the Harry S. Truman Library Institute, a partner of the 33rd president's library and museum in Independence, Mo. It was "a war on top of a war, if you will," Daniel, 68, said of the times. "And it came with objectives that were new, in terms of warfare," he said, adding that it was "hard to define" at that point. Outside efforts have lingered on with hopes to one day reunite the two Koreas even as the north rejects any such idea. Meanwhile, officials pointed to Trump's visit in June 2019 as the first sitting U.S. president to walk next to communist North Korea's demilitarized zone. On Monday, the president said that in observing the day "we renew our resolve that forces of freedom will always prevail over tyranny and oppression." In its statement, the White House reiterated that South Korean and U.S forces remained "united" in an "ironclad" military alliance as the region circles around aggression by North Korean communist dictator Kim Jong-Un, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin. "We honor the patriots who fought and died in Korea so that freedom might endure both on our land and beyond our shores," the president continued, vowing to "rebuild" the U.S. military, support veterans "and stand strong against forces of tyranny." In North Korea, its "Victory Day" is celebrated with great fanfare, and it is not uncommon to see large-scale military parade processions in the north's capital city Pyongyang, much like Trump's in June that rolled through the streets of Washington, D.C. But Trump said that, above all, "we proudly remember every American hero who shed their blood to defend our home, our heritage and our glorious way of life." "Their valiant legacy will never be forgotten," he said.
American Press
3 days ago
- American Press
Traveling tribute to Vietnam veterans coming to Allen Parish
A traveling tribute to Vietnam veterans is coming to Allen Parish just before Veterans Day. The American Veterans Traveling Tribute, a powerful replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., will be on display from Nov. 3-7 next to the Inn at Coushatta on U.S. 165 in Kinder. The 8-foot-high, 360-foot-long replica wall serves as a moving tribute to those who served in the Vietnam War, offering visitors a chance to honor the fallen and reflect on their sacrifices. The wall features over 58,000 names of those who died or are missing in action. Six Allen Parish veterans are among the names listed on the wall. 'The goal is to educate our children about the Vietnam War and remember those who didn't return home,' Allen Parish Tourist Director Adagria Haddock said. The memorial also aims to support veterans and their families, especially those unable to visit the D.C. memorial. 'I look forward to being able to educate people, honor our veterans and have people see that freedom is not free,' she said. 'These people gave their lives for us to be able to do what we do in America.' This marks the third time a replica of the wall has visited Allen Parish. Preparations for the wall's visit have been ongoing since February, and the community is invited to participate through various sponsorship and volunteer opportunities. Volunteers are especially needed to guide and escort visitors, including school groups, who are encouraged to visit the wall as an educational experience. Schoolchildren will have the opportunity to select a Louisiana soldier's name from the wall online, print their picture and information, and then write a card to be placed with a silk rose below the soldier's name on the wall. They can also create rubbings of the names. In addition to the main memorial wall, the display will include a 'Cost of Freedom Wall,' a 72-panel exhibit listing all wars, including the 9/11 attack, and the names of fallen soldiers. A Vietnam War museum featuring information and memorabilia will also be on display. Veterans resource service personnel will also be available to assist veterans with medical help, benefits, disability claims, education opportunities, mental health, VA eligibility, and other healthcare needs. The tribute wall will be set up on Saturday, Nov. 1, and will be open to the public 24 hours a day from 10 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 3, through Friday, Nov. 7. On Sunday, Nov. 2, a parade featuring motorcycles and antique cars will travel north along U.S. 165 to the site, followed by a brief ceremony. Former Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs secretary Joey Strickland, (retired U.S. Air Force colonel) will be the keynote speaker during an opening ceremony at 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 3. A candlelight vigil honoring Louisiana soldiers whose names are on the wall will be held at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 4. Retired Colonel Charlton Meginley, secretary of the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs, will be guest speaker. Wednesday, Nov. 5 will be Agent Orange Awareness Day. Agent orange medals will be awarded to those veterans affected by Agent Order. 'If a veteran in Vietnam was affected by Agent Orange, they need to call us and fill out an application with their name, address, and the way they were affected,' Haddock said. Thursday, Nov. 6 will be Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Awareness Day and Florence Nightingale Day, honoring the eight nurses' whose names appear on the wall. Katrina Lloyd, the state surgeon for the Louisiana National Guard, will be the guest speaker. A closing ceremony titled 'Let Freedom Ring' will conclude the wall's visit at 3 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 7. The visit is sponsored by the Louisiana Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 215 and the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana and Allen Parish Tourism Commission. All events are free and open to the public. Schools interested in planning visits can contact Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 215 President Mike Breaux at 337-523-1593. For those wishing to volunteer or apply for an Agent Orange medal, contact Haddock at 337-401-1315 or the Allen Parish Tourism Commission at 337-639-4868.
New York Post
4 days ago
- Politics
- New York Post
I'm a proud American who wanted to stay on the frontlines in Ukraine rather than come home to Columbia University
United States Air Force drone pilot Sam Nahins just returned to NYC after three weeks volunteering on the frontlines in Ukraine. Nahins, 32, — a Jewish graduate student in fine arts at Columbia University was among those trapped inside Butler Library in May when it was taken over by anti-Israel protesters — tells The Post's Doree Lewak about his anxious homecoming. I'm a proud American patriot — I love this country to death. That's why I enlisted in the US Air Force for six years as soon as I graduated high school in North Carolina. I spent three weeks this summer volunteering on the frontlines in Ukraine with the relief group Help is on the WayUA, providing supplies to the frontlines. Advertisement We survived getting shelled, being attacked by drones and skirted artery fire 24/7. 4 US Air Force veteran Sam Nahins just returned from three weeks of volunteering in Ukraine. Courtesy of Sam Nahins But when it was over, my feeling was, 'I don't want to come home.' Advertisement Just look at my school's recent history. Last month, the notorious group Unity of Fields — the same group which took over Columbia's Butler Library — posted on X an image of mass veterans coffins draped in American flags accompanied by a heart emoji and caption reading, 'soon inshallah.' It means 'G-d willing.' That's who I'm going to school with. Of course I'm not going to feel welcome. Veterans aren't looking for a thank you. We just don't want to be called baby killers anymore. We don't want to be threatened and disrespected like this. Advertisement 4 Nahins says he was trapped inside Butler Hall when a mob of anti-Israel protesters invaded. REUTERS My friend, fellow veteran and Columbia classmate, Brandon Christie, stopped attending classes in the weeks following Oct. 7, 2023 – and ultimately took his own life. So when Columbia sits by as Veterans Day is hijacked for Martyrs Day and laud groups like Unity of Fields, you start to get the picture. My motivation for going to Ukraine was simple: I've flown drones for the US Air Force, flying a plane remotely somewhere in the Middle East fighting ISIS and al Qaeda. Advertisement 4 Nahins, a Columbia student, said he felt more at ease in Ukraine than New York. Courtesy of Sam Nahins I served overseas in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen. But I'd never actually been to a warzone. I needed that perspective. I was getting shelled and attacked by drones while embedded with Ukraine's 25th battalion. But I was in good hands. No one was trying to stab me in the back — at least I knew what the enemy was. Turns out, I felt more at ease in Ukraine than I do in New York. As a grad student at Columbia, where 20-year-olds who have never seen a war in their lives call me 'baby killer,' 'murderer' and 'colonizer,' I feel like my own school and city don't have my back. In Ukraine, people proudly wave American flags. By contrast, at Columbia, we had Martyrs Day on Veterans Day. It's crazy. Advertisement Here in New York, it feels like everyone hates each other. In Ukraine you have a full spectrum of individuals and yet somehow they're all united. We need a lot more of that. In America, we have this feeling of 'Oppression Olympics,' but the Ukrainians in no way want to be pitied. Sure, the people want and need support, but they're not playing the victim game. 4 Nahins alleges he was called a 'baby killer' by fellow students. Courtesy of Sam Nahins Advertisement My experience felt sobering: Ukrainians love America more than Americans. They joke, 'Where is your Iraqi scarf?' They know how ridiculous Columbia is. I'm not giving up on my school or city – and definitely not my country. But I feel very unwanted here. Before I left Ukraine, I put my resume out there, and was offered three jobs for non-military positions. I'm still deciding whether to go back.
Newsweek
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Gen Z History Buff Stunned To Find Wartime Message in Jane Austen Novel
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A 26-year-old history enthusiast's unique find has sparked a wave of online fascination after she showed off the World War I-era message she discovered tucked inside a book. Meg, from the U.K., who would prefer to keep her full name private, had shared the worn edition of the Jane Austen classic Pride and Prejudice to Instagram on November 10, 2024. She flipped open the front page to show two poignant handwritten notes. One was addressed to the recipient of the gift and was signed off, "with love, from Eyre, Christmas 1915." The second, written below in a different hand, adds a somber footnote: "Eyre was reported missing on the Battle of Somme." The short clip, posted under @historywithmegs, has been liked almost 100,000 times to date. The discovery—likely missed by countless hands that handled the book over the decades—has captivated viewers, many commenting in awe at the glimpse into a personal story from a war now more than a century past. "I was actually shown the copy by one of my colleagues at my old place of work, Bookends bookshop in Carlisle, England," Meg told Newsweek. "The store is run alongside Bookcase, an antiquarian and secondhand bookshop, and we would often marvel at the many treasures held there during quiet times or on our breaks. Meg looks into the camera lens, left, and shares the inside of the book with viewers, right. Meg looks into the camera lens, left, and shares the inside of the book with viewers, right. @historywithmegs "I believe it had come into the store either through a donated collection, or as stock bought at an estate sale or auction," Meg said. Her video struck a chord with her audience, many of whom expressed admiration for the simple act of love preserved in the fragile pages of the book. In her caption, Meg wrote: "Lest we forget … This amazing little piece of social history has survived over 100 years and two world wars and continues to speak of kindness and humanity in its legacy … Today is an important time to reflect, remember and commemorate." Meg's caption, paired with the emotional nature of the find, helped the video resonate widely, turning the artifact into a symbol of remembrance ahead of Veterans Day. "It has been amazing to see the way that people online have connected with the post and the story behind the book," Meg said. "I think it is wonderful that this simple act of kindness, the Christmas gift of a book, is still inspiring people and touching lives over a hundred years later." Meg poses inside two British historical attractions. Meg poses inside two British historical attractions. @historywithmegs For Meg, the find is more than a moment of historical curiosity—it is a personal tribute to the humanity behind the war and the young lives lost. "Of course, the poignant inscription, referencing the fact that Eyre was declared missing in action at the Battle of the Somme, adds a whole new dimension, too," she said. "I hope that, by sharing the book on social media, I have contributed in some small way to preserving Eyre's legacy of kindness." The Battle of the Somme, which began in July 1916, remains one of the bloodiest campaigns in British military history, with more than 1 million men wounded or killed over the course of the monthslong offensive. The brief message in the book—spared by time and fate—offers a rare and intimate window into the individual stories lost in the scale of war. "As the First World War becomes evermore distant, it is incredibly important that we remember the lives of young people like Eyre who were involved in the conflict," Meg said. "Eyre was not just a soldier; he was a human being, with his own dreams and loves and hopes. "I think that this little book does a beautiful job of reflecting this," the finder added.
Los Angeles Times
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Seal Beach host of ‘Best of California' gets local Emmy nod for WWII episode
Ever since Pat Pattison decided to create for himself a 'second-act career' as an actor and on-air personality at the tender age of 55, things have been taking off. The Seal Beach resident, who spent three decades in merchandising and marketing for toy companies and as vice president of Creative Services at Disney, appeared in a handful of roles before putting on his producer's hat in 2021. That's when he began filming segments for 'Pat Pattison's Best of California,' a series of adventures on a whirlwind road trip captured in 30-minute segments about the state's hidden gems, historical spaces and their human caretakers. Since the endeavor began, Pattison has filmed more than 30 episodes alongside daughter Liza, who works as a producer behind the scenes and occasionally appears on camera. The show airs locally on Sunday mornings at 7:30 a.m. on MeTV station KAZA-TV Los Angeles. The pair have filmed Southern California's haunted hotels, mansions and theme parks, taken viewers into the Petersen Museum's automobile vault and tested the veracity of the claim that the state's best steaks are served up in the city of Nipomo. Oftentimes, the hosts take tips from viewers or announce their travel plans ahead of time and let people weigh in on obscure or must-see stops along the way. But an episode that premiered last Veterans Day, on the region's many ties and contributions to World War II, has been accepted as a nomination for special recognition — an Emmy Award. Pattison nominated the episode for consideration by the Los Angeles chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, in the Culture/History category and got official word last month that he'd been picked as a contender. 'I was sitting in my car in Seal Beach when ['Best of California'] former Executive Producer Shirley Neal texted me, 'Congrats on the Emmy nod,'' Pattison recalled Tuesday. 'That was my first clue.' One thing that sets 'Our World War II: California, Part 1' apart from other installments of the show is that Pattison shares hosting duties with a special guest visitor. Chris Cangilla is a Chicago-area videographer/producer and co-host (with brother Ken Cangilla) of the podcast 'Our WWII Dad,' which allows the children of veterans to share the histories and highlights of their father's service. The two men met through a mutual friend and instantly hit it off, Pattison being the son of a retired Army captain who fought in Okinawa and Cangill, whose father, despite being of Italian descent, was attached to the Army 99th Infantry Battalion (Separate), a unit composed of Norwegian-speaking Scandinavian Americans. While recording a podcast on the topic, Pattison and Cangilla began discussing Southern California's rich World War II history — from blimp hangars in Tustin that housed dirigibles for use by the Navy at the El Toro Marine Corps base to the Queen Mary's transporting troops across seas to the little known fact that the only land attack on the continental U.S. by the Japanese happened in Goleta. 'Pat said, 'You know what, Chris? You need to come out here to Southern California,' Cangilla recalled in a call Wednesday. 'I didn't know anything about these areas. Southern California has such an interesting World War II history that not many people know about.' During a trip last August, Cangilla got an up-close look at the one remaining blimp hangar and filmed a segment with Pattison on Goleta's former Ellwood Oil Field where, on the night of Feb. 23, 1942, a Japanese submarine shelled 25 5-inch rounds, destroying an oil derrick and pumphouse while President Franklin Roosevelt was delivering one of his famed fireside chats. 'This was just months after Pearl Harbor, so everyone was on high alert, and everyone assumed the Japanese were going to come,' Pattison said. In the episode, the pair order a meal at the city's Timbers Roadhouse, where scorched beams from the attack have been incorporated into the restaurant's building, before moving on to the Commemorative Air Force SoCal Wing's aviation museum in Camarillo. Awaiting them there was uniform historian Jack Luder, who inspects the many insignias, patches and decorations on the uniforms worn by Cangilla and Pattison's fathers to learn more details about their military service. 'He looked at my dad's uniform and told me things I'd never heard about my father,' Pattison said, recalling how he learned his father had participated in an amphibious assault. 'It was like discovering the Rosetta Stone.' The co-hosts were so enthusiastic about their subject that they filmed enough for a second episode, which aired Feb. 23. It includes an interview with the daughter of Bob Clampett, a Warner Bros. animator who created Porky Pig and penned patriotic Bugs Bunny clips during World War II, and a trip to Lake Norconian, a former luxury resort once transformed into a Naval hospital after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Although a local Emmy Award would not be Cangilla's first — he's won two Chicago-area awards for previous production work — the podcaster acknowledged a win would be a fitting way to memorialize a rewarding collaboration and a personal learning experience. 'I can't thank Pat enough for connecting me with California's history. It just really worked out and was really cool that we were able to put that together,' he said. 'Winning this Emmy would mean a great deal, because of the connection we share with our World War II dads and honoring them. I'm hopeful — we'll see what happens.' The Local Los Angeles Emmy Awards ceremony, presented by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, takes place July 26. For more on Pattison's road trips, visit To watch 'Our WWII Dads,' visit
