Historic Datemark: Korean Conflict

Independence, MO – Sixty years ago today, President Harry Truman was in Independence when word came that the North Koreans had invaded the South, and the cold war had become hot. Today, veterans of that war were honored in Independence at the Community of Christ Auditorium and sponsored by the Harry S. Truman Library Institute.

Nearly 3000 people gathered to hear tributes from Missouri's governor, U.S. Senators and members of congress. An estimated four hundred American veterans were there to hear General David Petraeus, commander of U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Petraeus offered -- " Our men have fought with grim gallantry, President Truman observed at the time, going on to note that all of us, especially those of us who are old soldiers know how worthy they are of a place on that long and honored roll of those who created and preserved liberty for our country."

General Petraeus spoke of extraordinary commitment and extraordinary courage of troops in a sometimes forgotten war. Nearly 334,000 Americans died in the war in which some 1.8 million Americans served.