Francisco Lagarico
Bio
Francisco Lagarico was born on September 20, 1929 in the Philippines. His family farmed and worked in the sawmills, while his mother worked as a housekeeper. He was given an opportunity to attend the Catholic high school and graduated in 1950. Upon hearing the news of the outbreak of the Korean War, he joined the Philippine Army and was stationed there in 1954 near the Yanggu Valley. The mountainous terrain was challenging, but the harsh winters were most difficult to endure. He found great joy in getting to know the Korean people and looked forward to spending time with villagers along the way. Upon revisiting the country, he was pleased to see the transformation that had occurred. Seeing the prosperity, he felt the Korean people were lucky to experience such wealth, yet he expressed great gratitude for the way in which they have shared that wealth with the Filipinos through scholarships and programs.
Video Clips
The Best Remembrance
Francisco Lagarico explains with heartfelt gratitude all that Korea has given back to him for his service during the Korean War. He describes the opportunities provided for his children through scholarships from the Korean government. He thanks Korea for investing in his children, stating that it is the best remembrance offered to him for his contribution during the war.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0X5z9MtdqRE&start=1040&end=1290
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https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/francisco-lagarico#clip-1
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The Worst of Times and the Best of Times
Francisco Lagarico describes his most difficult time during the Korean War along with his happiest time. He recalls how difficult the cold winters were to bear, noting that Filipinos were not acclimated for such weather. He explains how much joy the local villagers brought him as they showed love for the Filipino soldiers.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0X5z9MtdqRE&start=918&end=1032
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https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/francisco-lagarico#clip-2
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