George Parsons
Bio
George Parsons was born in 1930 in Brooklyn, New York, and he joined the United States National Guard in 1950. His unit was sent to Korea following the outbreak of the Korean War to join a United States Army combat team, and he details his arrival on the peninsula and first experiences. He recalls bitter cold and physical destruction and recounts some of his movement while serving though he admits it was chaotic and was unaware of the names of most locations at the time. He reflects upon why the Korean War is referred to as the Forgotten War and the legacy of the war along with its veterans. He shares his fondness for the Korean people and government as both have continuously shown gratitude through the years. He is extremely proud of his service in the Korean War and offers support for the reunification of Korea.
Video Clips
Bound for Korea and First Experiences
George Parsons chronicles his departure from the States and arrival in Korea. He comments on the ride over aboard the troop ship USS Anderson and recalls landing in Pusan. He recounts the cold weather as it was January of 1951 and recalls there being no lodging available, stating that he remembers sleeping out in the field and crowding around fires to stay warm. He details his journey to Incheon and through Seoul, sharing that Seoul was completely flattened from the fighting.
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Returning Veterans
George Parsons shares that the Korean War is hard to describe as it was a war we could have won but simply did not finish the job. He describes how it felt to come back from Korea and not be given the same recognition that he had witnessed being given to returning WWII veterans and discusses why he feels the Korean War is known as the Forgotten War. He elaborates on how proud he is that the DMZ is still a boundary between North and South Korea at the 38th Parallel, protecting the people he fought for during the war.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q67F7aRv534&start=668&end=909
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Enduring Fondness for Korea and Koreans
George Parsons explains that the Korean War and veterans of the Korean War should be remembered as honorable and should be valued for helping render a free country. He comments on the enduring fondness he feels for the people and government of Korea due to their appreciation for the Korean War veterans and their efforts. He offers an example of the gratitude he was shown while in line at a donut shop.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q67F7aRv534&start=916&end=1026
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https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/george-parsons#clip-3
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Legacy of the Korean War and Korean War Veteran
George Parsons speaks on the legacy of the Korean War and Korean War veteran. He feels that veterans saved a country and a people worth saving willingly. He believes the United States did the right thing by fighting, saving, and then handing the country of South Korea back into the hands of its citizens. He feels strongly about the reunification fo the Korean Peninsula and offers supporting reasons.
Share YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q67F7aRv534&start=1202&end=1327
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Photos
George Parsons Participating in the Communion with His Comrades in Between Battles
Subject : Chorwon
Description : George Parsons participating in the Communion with his comrades in between battles
Coverage : Chorwon, 1951
Creator : George Parsons
Publisher : George Parsons
Contributor : Daniel Kim
Rights : KWVA Veterans & KWVDM
Date : 1951
A Destitute City in North Korea
Subject : North Korea
Description : A destitute city in North Korea
Coverage : North Korea, January 1951
Creator : George Parsons
Publisher : George Parsons
Contributor : Daniel Kim
Rights : KWVA Veterans & KWVDM
Date : January, 1951
George Parsons with a Teenage Orphan Named Kim
Subject : Kimhwa Valley
Description : George Parsons with a teenage orphan named Kim who stayed with Parsons for a few weeks until he was adopted by a Korean family
Coverage : Kimhwa Valley, July 1951
Creator : George Parsons
Publisher : George Parsons
Contributor : Daniel Kim
Rights : KWVA Veterans & KWVDM
Date : July, 1951
Houses in Chorwon
Subject : Chorwon
Description : Houses in Chorwon
Coverage : Chorwon, June 1951
Creator : George Parsons
Publisher : George Parsons
Contributor : Daniel Kim
Rights : KWVA Veterans & KWVDM
Date : June, 1951
George Parsons in Kumhwa Valley
Subject : Kumhwa Valley
Description : George Parsons in Kimhwa Valley
Coverage : Kimhwa Valley, Sept 1951
Creator : George Parsons
Publisher : George Parsons
Contributor : Daniel Kim
Rights : KWVA Veterans & KWVDM
Date : Sept, 1951
George Parsons on a Battlefield Against the Chinese Forces in Kumhwa Valley
Subject : Kimhwa Valley
Description : George Parsons on a battlefield against the Chinese forces in Kumhwa Valley
Coverage : Kimhwa Valley, 1951
Creator : George Parsons
Publisher : George Parsons
Contributor : Daniel Kim
Rights : KWVA Veterans & KWVDM
Date : 1951
A Temple in North Korea
Subject : North Korea
Description : A temple in North Korea
Coverage : North Korea, April 1951
Creator : George Parsons
Publisher : George Parsons
Contributor : Daniel Kim
Rights : KWVA Veterans & KWVDM
Date : April, 1951
Children in North Korea
Subject : North Korea
Description : Children in North Korea
Coverage : North Korea, April 1951
Creator : George Parsons
Publisher : George Parsons
Contributor : Daniel Kim
Rights : KWVA Veterans & KWVDM
Date : April, 1951
George Parsons on a Battlefield Against the Chinese Forces in Kumhwa Valley
Subject : Kumhwa Valley
Description : George Parsons on a battlefield against the Chinese forces in Kumhwa Valley
Coverage : Kumhwa Valley, 1951
Creator : George Parsons
Publisher : George Parsons
Contributor : Daniel Kim
Rights : KWVA Veterans & KWVDM
Date : 1951
Chorwon
Subject : Chorwon
Description : Chorwon
Coverage : Chorwon, June 1951
Creator : George Parsons
Publisher : George Parsons
Contributor : Daniel Kim
Rights : KWVA Veterans & KWVDM
Date : June, 1951
M114 155mm Howitzer Used by George Parsons During the War
Subject : The DMZ
Description : M114 155mm Howitzer used by George Parsons during the war
Coverage : The DMZ, June 2011
Creator : George Parsons
Publisher : George Parsons
Contributor : Daniel Kim
Rights : KWVA Veterans & KWVDM
Date : June, 2011
A Temple in North Korea
Subject : North Korea
Description : A temple in North Korea
Coverage : North Korea, April 1951
Creator : George Parsons
Publisher : George Parsons
Contributor : Daniel Kim
Rights : KWVA Veterans & KWVDM
Date : April, 1951
A Temple in North Korea
Subject : North Korea
Description : A temple in North Korea
Coverage : North Korea, April 1951
Creator : George Parsons
Publisher : George Parsons
Contributor : Daniel Kim
Rights : KWVA Veterans & KWVDM
Date : April, 1951
A Demolished Town in North Korea
Subject : North Korea
Description : A demolished town in North Korea
Coverage : North Korea, Jan 1951
Creator : George Parsons
Publisher : George Parsons
Contributor : Daniel Kim
Rights : KWVA Veterans & KWVDM
Date : Jan, 1951
A Temple in North Korea
Subject : North Korea
Description : A temple in North Korea
Coverage : North Korea, April 1951
Creator : George Parsons
Publisher : George Parsons
Contributor : Daniel Kim
Rights : KWVA Veterans & KWVDM
Date : April, 1951
