Korean War veterans return to South Korea after decades to honor fallen comrades and revisit wartime memories

Floyd Brenz., Philippine Canadian Inquirer
November 13, 2026

Photo Courtesy: Charlie Miller

More than seven decades after the Korean War, a group of aging American veterans returned to South Korea, where they were welcomed by a country transformed since the conflict that claimed hundreds of thousands of lives.

Among them was 95-year-old former U.S. Marine Patrick Finn, who revisited memories of the Battle of Chosin Reservoir in 1950. He recalled how fellow Marine Edmund Hubert Reilly saved his life twice during the brutal fighting, only to be killed days later.

During the visit, Finn made a rubbing of Reilly’s name from a memorial wall so he could bring it home and remember the man he credits with saving him.

The trip was organized by South Korea’s Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs as a gesture of gratitude to foreign servicemen who fought in the 1950 to 1953 war.

For Finn, the visit also brought emotional encounters with South Koreans whose families were affected by the conflict. One man, born aboard the SS Meredith Victory during the mass evacuation of refugees from North Korea, thanked the veterans for helping make his survival possible.

Other veterans shared memories that had stayed with them for decades. Elmore Brown, also 95, recalled how a coin toss helped his communications team avoid an enemy attack during the war. He also remembered caring for two baby crows they found near their camp.

Meanwhile, 93-year-old former Marine John Foley returned with a mission to keep alive the memory of his friend Duane Dewey, who received the Medal of Honor after throwing himself on a grenade to protect a fellow serviceman in 1952.

The veterans also witnessed how dramatically South Korea had developed since their wartime service. Some were moved by the welcome they received from residents, including people who personally expressed gratitude for their sacrifices.

Often called the “Forgotten War” in the United States, the Korean conflict saw around 1.8 million Americans serve, with more than 36,500 killed. South Korean, North Korean and Chinese forces also suffered enormous losses.

For the veterans who made the journey back, the visit was more than a return to familiar places. It was an opportunity to remember those who never came home and to see how the country they fought for has moved forward.