George Herbert Walker Bush

“ Veterans of the Korean War can take pride in their legacy. These heroes and their fallen comrades not only helped to restore the freedom of South Korea but also won a decisive victory for the ideals of liberty and self-determination. Today there is hope for peace and reconciliation on the Korean Peninsula, and in just a few months the Republic of Korea will take its rightful place as a member of the United Nations. These promising developments are a monument to each of the brave and selfless Americans and other UN forces who fought in Korea four decades ago for the sake of peace and freedom. ”

“ Victory may be in your hands, but you are winning a greater thing than military victory, for you are vindicating the idea of freedom under international law." By the time a cease-fire was negotiated at Panmunjom on July 27, 1953, more than 54,000 American servicemen had died to defend the lives and liberty of others. ”

“ America's Armed Forces, many of whom had just served during World War II, joined with those of 17 other nations in the ensuing conflict. Forty years before the international effort to liberate Kuwait, these courageous individuals demonstrated the power of collective resolve in the face of lawless aggression. ”