Being an American citizen carries with it any number of connotations. Even in our most difficult times we are vaunted as a nation dedicated to life, freedom and opportunity for those that call our nation home. The United States is viewed tenacious and often stubborn – a reputation that has been rightfully earned. For a nation that has officially existed for less than three hundred years, we have found ourselves drawn into military conflict (both abroad and at home) almost as a matter of course. These have often been battles that changed not just our history, but the entire world culture. On this note, we are compelled to mention the Korean War – a war that was never officially declared a war, but that changed the lives of millions. For those who know a family member or veteran who fought bravely in this conflict, or simply wondered how the event fits into American history, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best Korean War memorial sites on the web.
KoreanWar.org
Honoring all those that served.
Veterans’ memorials are located all over the country, but the internet has now provided us with a new medium for honoring our brave military. This website (dedicated to the Korean War Project) is devoted to chronicling and honoring those brave soldiers of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines that fought valiantly over the course of this conflict. KoreanWar.org includes a vast number of databases and reference materials for finding information about everything from KIA/MIA lists to medals and honors. It also provides veterans and their families to connect with others who were affected by the Korean War.
>>KoreanWar.org – koreanwar.org
ChosinReservoir.com
Remembering the Battle at Chosin Reservoir.
This memorial website is dedicated to the veterans and fallen heroes that experienced perhaps the bloodiest and most trying battle of the Korean Conflict – the battle at Chosin Reservoir. This particular encounter took place in the frigid winter of 1950, and is remembered as both devastating and monumental. This site, created by marines in honor of Chosin veterans, includes reference materials, interviews and links to other ongoing Chosin projects.
>> ChosinReservoir.com – chosinreservoir.com
Mills County Veterans
The impact of war on a small town.
This website, while small, offers links to a number of very touching personal Korean War sites, including individual accounts and dedication pages. Associated with the Mills County Veterans Page (from Mills County, Texas), this memorial site also includes a listing of Korean veteran burial sites in the local area, as well as a photo album created by an actual Korean War survivor.
>> Mills County Veterans – centex.net/~weldon/korea.html
The Forgotten War
Some history should never be lost.
This memorial website justifiably refers to the Korean War as “forgotten”. It also serves as a very comprehensive summary of the history and details of the war- noting special dates and making reference to the involvement of the United Nations allies that served alongside US military. While this site was created by an individual, it is incredibly thorough (as far as summaries go) and would serve as an excellent resource for anyone looking to expand their knowledge of this nearly-forgotten campaign.
>> The Forgotten War – home.earthlink.net/~woll/Bills-Page.htm
DTIC.mil
Helping find and identify POW/MIA.
Sadly, war begets tragedy, and the fate of POWs and MIAs in combat are a symptom of that tragedy. There are several holidays designed to highlight this such as Veterans’ Day and Memorial Day. This website is dedicated to providing information and resources to help promote and advance the identification of soldiers that were lost or captured during the Korean War. Created by the Defense Prisoner of War Missing Personnel Office, this website includes news, resources and links to other government organizations that share a similar purpose.
>> DTIC.mil– dtic.mil
KoreanChildren.org
Remembering those we could not save.
In the course of war, it is often the innocent that suffer. This site is dedicated to the Korean War Children’s Memorial in Bellingham, WA. KoreanChildren.org includes thousands of true-life stories and images of the military personnel and the children they worked to save during the course of the war. It also offers links to sites regarding Korean adoption and further information about the war itself.
>>KoreanChildren.org – koreanchildren.org
Legacy.com
An ongoing effort to pay homage to our heroes.
This website serves as an active, ongoing memorial to those brave souls that fought so courageously during the course of the Korean War. There are well over 1,000 memorials and dedications listed on the site for those that lost their lives during the conflict, as well as the survivors that passed on later in life. The Korean War saw over 37,000 soldiers either killed or missing in action. This site is dedicated to acknowledging and honoring those that survived and those that made the ultimate sacrifice.
>>Legacy.com – legacy.com