DFA: Forgotten Filipino soldiers in Korean war remembered

After years of being forgotten, Filipino soldiers who died in the Korean War near the border between North and South Korea were finally remembered this year. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) cited on Wednesday a report from the Philippine Embassy in Seoul that a Filipina missionary led some 20 Filipinos to the site to pray. "Sister Luz Olalia, a long-time missionary in South Korea, led a group of some 20 Filipinos in prayer in front of the Philippine monuments in Yultong last February 4 as she recited the exploits of Filipino soldiers who fought during the Korean War," the DFA said in a news release on its website. Yultong was the site of a fierce battle in 1951 where the 10th Battalion Combat Team of the Philippine Expeditionary Force to Korea (PEFTOK) suffered heavy casualty while defending South Korea from the invasion of the communist North. Near the battle site, two monuments dedicated to Filipino soldiers were later erected by the Korean and the United States governments. The monuments serve as a tribute to the conviction and courage of Filipino soldiers to continue securing the front lines despite aggressive attack from enemy forces. "This monument commemorates the most brilliant victory of Filipino soldiers over Red Chinese forces in the battle for Yultong," read the bigger monument. The DFA said the monuments were largely unknown because of their distance from Seoul and their precarious proximity to the border with North Korea. The monuments in Yultong were partly covered in snow when the Filipinos from Kasan, led by Olalia, paid their tribute to the forgotten soldiers, the DFA said. A smaller monument, worn and unreadable in some parts, read: "In memory of the gallant officers and men...who on this spot paid the supreme sacrifice in the cause of freedom under the banner of the United Nations." The marker is "dedicated to the heroes of Yultong by their comrades in arms of the 20th Battalion Combat Team," which replaced the contingent that fought in Yultong. The people of Yeoncheon County erected the meter-high monument and unveiled on April 22, 1966 in a ceremony attended by high-ranking Korean and Filipino officials. "For almost four decades since they were erected, the monuments were with few visitors ... Except for her, none of the other Filipinos were aware of the participation of Philippine troops in the Korean War, much less the existence of monuments dedicated to their heroism," the DFA noted. Access to the site was difficult and their proximity to the border meant that the movement of vehicles and people in the area was restricted during volatile times. Olalia, a long-time missionary in South Korea and a recipient of the 2010 Presidential Awards for Filipino Individuals Overseas, said stories about the Filipino veterans inspired her to involve her community in knowing more about the first Filipinos in South Korea. "Iba ang pakiramdam kapag nakita mo ang bandera ng Pilipinas sa ibang bansa (It is a different feeling when you see the Philippine flag abroad)," she said. Embassy to address lack of awareness Philippine Ambassador Luis Cruz said the Embassy is aiming to change this lack of awareness about the existence of the monuments. He noted the 60th anniversary of the Battle of Yultong approaches on April 22. Cruz expressed hope that more Filipinos would undertake activities similar to the one spearheaded by Sister Olalia. "It is important for us to learn the role of Filipino soldiers in safeguarding the freedom of South Korea and to understand the strong ties that bind our histories," he said. He noted Philippine textbooks do not contain detailed information about the exploits of the first Filipino combat troops to fight in a foreign country. "Their stories of valor and loyalty, of defeats and triumphs, of literally offering their lives to assist others in a time of war-these are stories from which we can gather pride, solace and strength," he said. "We hope to further connect Filipinos in South Korea with an exemplary moment in our history by intensifying efforts to promote awareness about the role of Filipinos in the Korean War," he added. Improving the markers On the eve of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the Philippines and South Korea in 2008, the Embassy began coordinating with the local government of Yeoncheon County to improve the condition of the markers for the forgotten soldiers. Yeoncheon County converted the place where the bigger monument stood into a small park, buying adjacent land to increase the area devoted to the memory of the PEFTOK. The smaller monument was moved from its original location on top of a low hill some 30 meters away. The two monuments now stand together on a common base over one meter in height, beside poles that fly the Philippine, Korean and United Nations flags. Joint coalition The Philippines was the eighth country to respond to the call of the UN for a joint coalition to assist South Korea after the North's surprise invasion on June 25, 1950. Filipino General Carlos Romulo, then the president of the UN General Assembly in 1950, strongly supported military action in defense of South Korea. The Philippines sent 7,420 soldiers to South Korea, 112 of whom were killed in action. Five battalion combat teams-each combat team had a one-year tour of duty-were deployed from 1950 to 1955. The first team left Manila on September 16, 1950 on board the ship Antolak after a massive send-off rally at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila. Carrying 1,367 men, the ship landed on Busan on September 19. It was this team that figured prominently in the Battle of Yultong, where besieged UN forces were forced to retreat following the Chinese Spring Offensive of 1951. During its tour of duty, the PEFTOK battalions fought several other battles and received citations from the Korean and Philippine governments. Former President Fidel Ramos, then a second lieutenant, commanded a reconnaissance platoon that successfully took over Hill Eerie on May 21, 1952. The tactically important hill ensured that it became part of the defense lines of the UN. Filipino troops also took part in campaigns in other places such as Miudong in North Korea on October 31, 1950, the first battle on foreign soil involving Filipino soldiers. In gratitude, the South Korean government in October 1974 inaugurated the biggest memorial for the Philippines. Towering at 21.5 meters, the Philippine Monument in Goyang City incorporates both Filipino and Korean motif in its design. The Philippine Department of National Defense funded the construction of the marker at the UN Memorial Cemetery in 2009, where fallen Filipino soldiers were temporarily interred before their bodies were repatriated to the Philippines. – VVP, GMA News