KAILUA-KONA — The Korean War commenced on June 25, 1950, when 75,000 communist troops from the North Korean People’s Army pushed southward across the 38th parallel, invading the Republic of Korea.
Thursday night, nearly 66 years later to the day, members of the Kona Korean Mission Church hosted a banquet at Calvary Community Church for members of the Korean Veterans Association of West Hawaii — a reception they hope to turn into an annual celebration honoring those soldiers who fought and sacrificed for the preservation of their country.
“All Koreans understand because of American sacrifice, they are able to live well at home and abroad,” said an interpreter, who translated the words of Senior Pastor Gyo Mun Kim.
Kim continued on, asking the banquet’s attendees — which included Byongyoon Jeon, the Vice Consul of the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea — to keep his divided nation in prayer. He added his hopes for a prompt unification of Korea so that all the work and sacrifice of Korean War veterans will not have been in vain.
The ceremony, cooled by a makai breeze that blew swiftly through the open pavilion and carried the delectable scents of Korean cuisine on its back, was a colorful blend of traditional Korean, Hawaiian and American cultures.
The evening began with a rendition of both the U.S. and South Korean national anthems. That was followed by a video depicting an interaction between General Douglas MacArthur and a young, stalwart Korean soldier who impressed upon the American General the pride and strength of South Korean fighters.
Anna Chae, David Lee and Hannah Kang then sang a Korean song for the crowd, after which Shine Lee performed a hula. The performances wrapped with a traditional Korean Fan Dance by Tina Lee, and an honoring of the veterans in attendance.
One such veteran was Don Nitsche, 86, who fought in the war as a member of the Navy Construction Battalion, which built air strips and power lines for advancing American and South Korean forces.
“The night was excellent. (Koreans) are a very appreciative group of people,” Nitsche said. “Korea seems to have the most gratitude of any country in the world, as far as I’m concerned. The United States goes out and helps a lot of countries, and as far as I can see, the Koreans have bent over backwards to show their appreciation.”
Charlie Ine, an elder and missionary within the Kona Korean Mission Church, was a chief organizer of the event. He was only 5-years-old when the North Koreans invaded his country, but he remembers the years after the conflict well.
He echoed Kim’s sentiment that it was time Kona honored its 20-some Korean War veterans, as similar celebrations of their peers have been longer standing on the mainland and in Hilo. He said without the Americans, his country could never have become as prosperous as it is today.
“The Korean War is not a good memory for Koreans. It is a sad story,” Ine said. “But we wanted to invite (the veterans) and make it a joyful time. They are our heroes.”
An elaborate dinner was served as the sun began to sink into the ocean, and church members and veterans mingled and mixed together as they enjoyed their food. It was exactly the type of unity Jihoon Lee — another organizer and the unofficial host of the banquet — envisioned not only for the event, but for the Kona community as a whole.
“We appreciate all those who served our country, and we wanted to show our gratitude to these wonderful, honorable veterans living in Kona,” Lee said. “The Korean community is not so big, but we want to be part of our Kona community. As foreigners, it’s not so easy to come together. We want to preach community between the U.S. and Korea. We feel a brotherhood.”