Heroism for others: The North Korean War, 1950-1955

The extreme bravery of the Filipino soldiers who gallantly fought to save democracy in Korea must be forever remembered. Their heroism helped save today’s South Korea.
The extreme horrors and devastations of World War II in the Pacific have just ended few years back. Manila was still in ruins. Buildings were flattened. Homes were obliterated. Countless lives were lost. And life, or whatever was left of it, was just starting to spring when our soldiers were again called to task — assist in repelling the aggressions of communism.
In June 25, 1950, about 135,000 communist soldiers crossed the 38^th parallel and in just 2 days, captured Seoul.
About 7,420 weary Filipinos volunteered to join their comrades in the fledgling United Nations Forces in the Korean peninsula. Yes, they volunteered. They were barely prepared for the mission though. Their basic provisions were not adequate to join the winter battles in the cold fronts. But the brave sons of the orient, whose spirit would never waver, ignored the physical exhaustion of the freezing and hostile battleground.
BUSAN TO SARIWON: DEFENSE LINES BREACHED
When the Philippine Expeditionary Forces (PEFTOK) landed in Korea, about 80% of the country was already occupied by the invading forces. The allied forces were holding on to about only 20% of the territory. The situation was terribly lopsided.
The main lines on the way to Sariwon from Busan were to be defended by a combined military forces from allied nations. In one battlefront, at the right were the army from Turkey. On the left were the contingent from Puerto Rico. And at the center was the 20^th Battalion Combat Team (BCT) led by Colonel Salvador Abcede.
The North Korean and Chinese troops, thousands more than the combined allied forces, relentlessly attacked the defensive positions. They seemed to be more than the bullets available to repel them. The ratio was estimated to be 10 to one favoring the aggressors. The sheer superiority in numbers proved to be fatal.
The left and right flanks collapsed. This made the central position being held by the Filipino forces practically surrounded.
CLOSE QUARTER BATTLE
The Filipino soldiers stood their ground. Surrendering was not an option. Giving up and embarrassing our flag was neither an alternative. The fighting was fought to save and take the ground inch for inch. Bayonets were fixed and parried against the enemy soldiers about a meter away. Shouts were part of the available munitions to possibly scare of the enemies who also had a single mindset — kill or be killed.
Timely air support by the American Air-Force and Army Artillery barrage were crucial in reversing the momentum of the ongoing hand-to-hand combat. Accurately guiding the Americans were the signal units who gave the coordinates on where to drop the bombs and cannon shells. Famous was LCDR Emilio Liwanag of the 105^th Howitzers Battery. The tanks also effectively paralyzed the endless onslaught of the invading armies of North Vietnam and China.
The gallantry of our soldiers paid off. The area was successfully defended though the battle took the lives of Cap. Conrado Yap and Lt. Jose Artiaga. And with the other fighters from the United Nations, the Korean War was won.
The same bravery was seen in the battles of Eerie Hill and Christmas Hill where the much outnumbered Filipinos would not yield an inch of the ground against the successive attacks of thousands of enemy soldiers.
38^TH PARALLEL LINE
The defense of South Korea was secured. The victory was a combination of raw muscle, high resolve to fight, and skills that were galvanized by years of war from Europe, to Africa, and up to Asia. And to ensure that the north will not again encroach, the 38^th parallel was again drawn as a permanent demarcation line that shall divide the wounded country where relatives and friends would be physically separated as enemies for decades until today.
HEROES, LEADERS AND HISTORY
They were no ordinary soldiers. The Filipinos who crossed the seas just to risk their lives for a war in another land for a beleaguered fellow Asians were selfless warriors. Many of them died. Some continued to become leaders of our country such as Gen. Fidel V. Ramos who became our President. Gen. Gregorio Vigilar became the Secretary of Public Works and Highways. Colonel Jose T. Reyes became a famed pilot of the Philippine Air Force who helped penetrate the Dutch Blockade in Indonesia and later became one of the organizers of the Oplan Takip Silim against Marcos. And we must also recall the patriotism of then President Elpidio Quirino who, after having lost his wife and 3 sons in the Liberation of Manila in 1945, sent his son Lt. Tommy Aquino and his son-in-law, Lt. Luis Gonzalez to the Korean War along with our soldiers.
There were others who fought and perished in the 20^th, 19^th, 14^th, 10^th, and 2^nd, Batallion Combat Teams (BCT’s). And most of them are no longer with us today. The least we can do to honor all of them is to simply remember their deeds in the international campaign to fight for our common way of life, shared values, and cherished freedom.
The Korean War must not be a forgotten war. Our men fought there. Filipino blood spilled in Korea. The chronicles recorded that Filipinos joined the loud call to defend democracy. They fought well. We are proud of them.
History does not make heroes. Heroes make history. And we have at least 7,420 of them that day.
 
Ariel F. Nepomuceno is a management consultant on strategy and investment.