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Hello my new friends:

To celebrate te 60th anniversary of the Korean War I suggest that there be organized a bike ride from Incheon to Seoul and from Seoul to the DMZ.

Many of us who fought in the Korean War still ride our bikes and could handle the distance. I have lots of ideas of how to find such hearty octogenerians. We should be able to get at least two riders from each nation that was involved in the Korean War, possibly more… let us imagine we could get 100, all over 80 years old, wearing a jersey with UN colors and the flag of their nation. Now THAT would get the TV cameras rolling. (My God! Can you envision 100 80-year-old men chasing each other up the highway in Spandex? WOW. More damn fun!)

But let us not stop there. Let us invite representatives from the Chinese People's Liberation Army, the old Soviet forces and, (heaven forbid) the North Koreans! Let us ride together in a ride in the name of PEACE, FELLOWSHIP AND RECONCILIATION. I discussed this idea with a general of the PLA in Beijing several years ago and was (informally) told that there would be a lot of interest in the PLA to participate. Whether that is true or not it would not hurt to ask.

Keep going. Now let us invite all UN forces who have EVER served in Korea to join the ride, including those currently in Korea, guys and gals, Pfcs and Generals. But, for the non-Korean War era Veterans, there should be an entry fee and a commitment to bring in at least $200 of sponsored miles for the rider. The income would be divided equally between the orphanages of North and South Korea. The Korea Welfare Foundation (Dr. Kim Suc San, President) located in Seoul could handle the money. During the Korean War that organization (then known as the Christian Children's Fund) helped sustain children in over 100 orphanages. The first CCF Korea Director, Bill Asbury, lives here in Washington State and wrote the introduction to my little book "GIs and the Kids – A Love Story." It is he who called our forces in Korea at that time "an army of compassion."

Is any body out there in cyberspace interested in joining issue with this post and throw in ideas, energy, letters to 'important' people, etc. Let me hear from you.

George F. Drake

I would like to share with you information on my campaign to construct a memorial in Seoul, South Korea, dedicated to the FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND children who died in that war and honoring those who attempted to save their lives.

The great Mexican sculptor SEBASTIAN (recently given a medal by the Pope for his artistic creativity) is donating a painted (white) steel sculpture called Las Palomas (the doves) which, on its base, will be about 24 ft. tall to serve as the Korean War Children's Memorial.

A year ago I discussed this project with US Ambassador to Korea Kathleen Stephens and she suggested that rather than have it dedicated to the US/UN forces who saved the lives of over 10,000 children that I expand the meaning to encompas a wider constituency. She and the Mexican Ambassador both agreed to attend the dedication ceremony if they are in the country at the time of the dedication. Frankly, I want President Lee Myung Bak there as keynote speaker. Never, in the 60 years since the beginning of the Korean War has any high ranking Korean official formally thanked the US forces for their humanitarian aid to the children of Korea.

In my research I have documented that we who served in that 'conflict' saved the lives of over 10,000 children. We also helped sustain over 54,000 children in more than 400 orphanages that we servicemen repaired or built while in Korea. From our meager pay we donated over 2 million dollars and wrote home for help from parents, friends, neighbors and former work mates and received thousands upon thousands of TONS of packages of aid for the children and their care givers.

In one rescue operation, the Kiddy Car Airlift of 20 December 1950 Chaplain Blaisdell and his assistant, SSgt. Strang saved the lives of over 950 orphans and 100 orphanage staff. Their reward? Blaisdell was ordered to prepare for a courts martial for the mis-use of air force property (the planes) as the welfare of the civilian population rested with the 8th army. Strang never got anything, not even a piece of paper with a note of thanks until, 53 years later I was able finally to get him a posthumous bronze star (he had died in 1998). With my information both Blaisdell and Strang were given the 'Four Chaplain's Award' of the US Airforce.

I feel it is time for the compassion and humanitarian aid rendered the children of Korea by our servicemen and women under the most dire circumstances be recognized and publicized. You have to teach our young men to aim a gun at another human being and shoot to kill. You do not have to teach them to try to solace a crying child, feed the hungry child, take the injured child to a medic or find shelter for the homeless child. That is part of our American ethic. We took that compassion with us to Korea and to all posts where we served and are serving.

A letter sent several weeks ago to Minister Yang Kim of the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs regarding this suggested memorial has not yet generated a response. So now I am spreading the word wider. The memorial is valued at well over five hundred thousand dollars. The sponsoring institution will only have to pay the transport, installation and dedication costs…estimated at well under $20,000. You watch, the Generals will spend that much on memorial coctail parties and not have any money for the memorial.

Question: How do I generate wide public support for this memorial?