[June 17, 2025] Shortly before I retired from the U.S. Army, I wrote an article about a great hero of the South Korean people. His name was Paik, Sun Yup (백선엽), and he was a true hero. The Korean War is known in America as the “forgotten war” because most Americans, unfortunately, do not know about it. Sadly, this is also true across the Western world.
There are many lessons we can learn from this war—some I will address in future blogs. At the time of my original article, General (retired) Paik, Sun Yup, was alive and well at 93 years of age and willing to tell me about the Korean War. I visited him in his office in the Korean War National Museum back in February 2014. The General died in 2020, just a few months short of his 100th birthday.
We had tea and spoke about the war and his keen memory of the events that unfolded between 1950 and 1953. He was very gracious during the visit: he regularly met many visitors who came to see him. He quickly pointed to a painting on the wall near me. It’s called “We Go Together” by Don Stivers and shows General Douglas MacArthur, Lt. Gen. Ridgeway, Maj Gen. Chung Il Kwon, and Brig. Gen. Paik Sun Yup.
I asked him what he considered the most important lessons in generalship in war. He was not hesitant in saying that the war was a fight for freedom from Communism which was and is a “very bad government.” Of course, he was quick to say that “freedom is not free.” This phrase is a common call for action against Communist-style type actors who would destroy the freedoms we enjoy in the West. Too many young people have no understanding of the types of governments and the opportunities associated with each.
At the beginning of the war, Colonel Paik was a Division Commander and finished the war as the Republic of Korea’s (ROK) first four-star general and the Army’s Chief of Staff. When the North Korean army invaded on June 25, 1950, the ROK military was under-equipped, under-trained, and under-manned. Colonel Paik’s division initially held fast but was pushed southward.
Over the next three years, General Paik was the stone in the river for the ROK government. His English speaking ability, although limited, allowed him to gain favor among the U.S. military because he was able to explain ROK military needs and concerns. ROK forces were often charged with being slow, prone to breaking when under attack, and generally unreliable. For the record, American forces did poorly in the opening months of the war.
General Paik says that the main lessons in generalship and being a successful senior leader are that one must know the troops, their abilities, and care for them. For those who read about the theories of warfare, what he is telling us, is common knowledge. But the problem is in the human nature of mankind when under the relentless pressure in the face of an existential crisis.
General Paik was a great patriot and a great man. It was an honor to meet him and have tea. I still have his business card and his multi-volume memoirs.
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The photograph as the feature image is one of the most well known of General Paik during the war.
- For more information on General Paik: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paik_Sun-yup
- The Korean War National Museum: http://www.kwnm.org/
- The Korean War at History.com: http://www.history.com/topics/korean-war
- The Korean War at Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Korean_War.aspx#1
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Please read my books:
This man was truly great and directly responsible for helping those living in South Korea to be free from a repressive Communist death cult. Now S.K. has voted in a communist. How little they have learned.
Thank you sir also for the references.
Gen. Satterfield has written considerably about heroes and our need for them. By “we” he means everyone. In this case, we also see that Gen. Satterfield is recognizing Gen. Paik but he also notes implicitly that we also need our allies. And South Korea is a major ally of the United States. They are a great nation and rightfully fulfill their position in the world. The problem with the West in general and S. Korean in particular is that they are in a demographic downward spiral (like Japan and China). Let us hope they reverse that course and begin to improve their population numbers. Thank you Gen. Satterfield for recognizing this hero.
Well said, Mother P. Gen. S. gives us a lot to think about and this is just one example. I recommend all who are new here to read about what Gen. S. has written on “heroes” before.
https://www.theleadermaker.com/?s=hero
Heroes come in many forms but this great man from South Korea – and who directly helped save his country – is one of the best of the best. We need heroes.
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“Paik, Sun Yup (백선엽), and he was a true hero.” — Gen. Doug Satterfield
Hey, folks… Pres. Trump just now demands that Iran surrender unconditionally. Wow.
A living legend in Korea, a true hero, and one of the most staunch proponents of the ROK/US alliance. Over the years we have been able to hear his lectures and stories recounting the start of the Korean war with him commanding the 1st ROK Division to the present day RO/US alliance relationship. I am very fond of this Stivers print which is entitled “We Go Together” (Katchi Kapshida). Think about this: Gen Paik was a general officer during the Korean War and met (and worked for) General MacArthur. How many people are alive today who served directly for General MacArthur? Certainly there are no other general officers still alive.
https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Korean-War-hero-Paik-Sun-yup-celebrates-100th-birthday.html?aid=Npbpk9qs4AY&soid=1114009586911
“내가 후퇴하면 나를 쏴라” 백선엽 장군 삶 다룬 다큐
https://www.chosun.com/culture-life/culture_general/2025/06/16/YWGETFCMGNGVXFUUMNLZFVY7SQ/
“If I Retreat, Shoot Me” A documentary about the life of General Baek Sun-yeob (Google translate)
If you can provide a full translation, that would be great. Thank youl.
Yes! I would like to read more about this South Korean War hero. Gen. Satterfield, you were very much honored to be able to meet this great man in person.
Thanks Gen. Satterfield.
HERO
Sir, I had a good read on this one. Let us never forget the forgotten war. For if we do forget, then we will forever make the same mistakes and get many of our people unnecessarily killed and maimed. One lesson to take away from this war is that you can never trust a Communist. Remember their philosophy is always that the ends justify the means. The means means cheated and lying, exactly what we should not do.
🇰🇷 Good one, sir! Just as we are coming upon the 75th anniversary of the start of the Korean War. In my family it will never be forgotten. 🇰🇷
And now, LET US NEVER FORGET.
Key paragraph for our readers. Learning about real leadership is not hard but putting it into practice is indeed difficult.
“ General Paik says that the main lessons in generalship and being a successful senior leader are that one must know the troops, their abilities, and care for them. For those who read about the theories of warfare, what he is telling us, is common knowledge. But the problem is in the human nature of mankind when under the relentless pressure in the face of an existential crisis.” – Brig. Gen. Doug Satterfield
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Keep the faith. 🫡
Excellent! 🙏 And praying for his soul. 🙏
Thank you, Pastor Jim 🙏. Like Gen. Satterfield tells us, respect those who have earned their positions of leadership and authority. And in this case, read the story of a great South Korean hero.
👏👏👏👏👏👏 Thanks Eric! Thinking the same thing.
Hey, Gen. Satterfield. Is the Korean writing his name? Cool. 😂