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| Members of the KATUSA Veterans Association (KVA) pose with other dignitaries during a ceremony to mark the 70th U.N. Day at U.N. Memorial Cemetery in Busan, Friday. / Courtesy of KVA |
By Yi Whan-woo
The KATUSA Veterans Association (KVA) and the 2nd Infantry Division (2ID) of the 8th United States Army honored fallen U.N. soldiers during the 1950-53 Korean War at a ceremony in Busan, Friday.
KATUSA is an acronym for Korean Augmentation to the United States Army, a group of enlisted soldiers who serve their military duty with the 28,500 American troop stationed here.
The KVA invited the 2ID to the ceremony at the U.N. Memorial Cemetery on the occasion of the 70th U.N. Day.
Some 500 guests joined the events. They included KVA President Kim Jong-wook, the 2ID's Commander Maj. Gen. Theodore Martin, its command Sgt. Maj. Edward Michell, the U.N. veterans and bereaved families of the war victims.
Troops of the 2ID arrived in Busan on July 23, 1950, about a month after the outbreak of the war as the first unit from the U.S. They were sent to defend the Pusan Perimeter ― the last line of defense for the allied forces.
The Nakdong Battle around the city occurred from August through September, marking the first turning point in the conflict that began the U.N. forces' drive north.
The U.S. had the largest number of war sacrifices among the U.N. forces during the Nakdong River Battle, according to the KVA.
The remains of the 36,492 fallen U.S. soldiers were moved to their homeland, according to the KVA.
It said the bodies of other 36 American war dead are buried at U.N. Memorial Cemetery according to their wishes.
