[July 24, 2025] Occasionally, I will post an upcoming speech for feedback from the many who read my website. And today, I’m posting a short talk that I will deliver tomorrow at the Korean War memorial in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The ceremony is conducted by the NJ Department of Military & Veteran Affairs and the Korean War & Korean Defense Veterans.
Short Talk at Korean War Memorial 25 July 2025
Good morning.
I am greatly humbled to be here today and to be part of this ceremony that recognizes the anniversary of the signing of the Korean Armistice Agreement on July 27, 1953, and rightfully honors our Korean War veterans. Thank you, Rick, for the invitation to recognize the 72nd anniversary.
I would like to respectfully acknowledge our leaders here today and our Veterans from around the nation and give my most sincere thanks to those who traveled to Atlantic City for this solemn occasion. For our Korean War veterans, welcome. You are not forgotten. In the audience today is my good friend Al Zimmerman, a veteran of the Korean War, Vietnam, and Desert Storm.
Let us never forget what Americans call “The Forgotten War.”
But why is this war called the Forgotten War? I believe it’s because Americans thought that the end of WW2 was the end of war, and that thinking is clearly wrong. WW2, with another name, continued throughout Asia, Eastern Europe and parts of Africa, and continues to this day in that region.
Many Americans believe that all war is EVIL and should be avoided at all costs. That is also wrong.
Let me remind everyone that on June 25, 1950, North Korea invaded the South in a lightning attack that took everyone by surprise. Only with the intervention of US troops and countries in the United Nations did we hold back the Communist horde. If America believed that all war is evil, then we would not have come to the help of South Korea, or, for that matter, would not have discovered the Nazi concentration camps, five years earlier in Germany, Poland, and others.
As a General Officer, I had the opportunity to meet many senior ROK Generals and Admirals, and we worked closely together to help establish a defense of the South from an attack by the North. Yes, while there is an Armistice, the Korean War is still ongoing, just not active at this moment.
And, a little more than a decade ago, I was honored to meet one of the greatest South Korean heroes of the Korean War. His name … General Paik, Sun Yup, who was the 1st ROK Army Division Commander at the time. Due to his ability to speak English and his tactical knowledge and tenacity, the ROK Army, alongside American troops, was directly responsible for preventing the complete capture of the South.
I met with General Paik, Sun Yup, on several occasions. On his wall in his office was a painting by the famous artist Don Strivers. In the painting, we see General Douglas MacArthur, Lt. Gen. Matthew Ridgway, Maj. Gen. Chung Il Kwon, and Brig. Gen. Paik, Sun Yup. The painting is called “We Go Together.” Or in Hangul, Korean, “Katchi Kapshida,” the slogan for the ROK-US alliance.
On one of my visits, I asked General Paik what the most important lesson he could tell me about the Korean War was. He answered that ”Communism is a bad government” —an understatement of gigantic proportions. Never forget that lesson. And, Never Ever forget our allies in the Republic of Korea and never forget our Veterans.
Thank you for allowing me to speak a few words.
God Bless America and the Republic of Korea.
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Sir, how did the ceremony of the 72nd anniversary of the signing of the Korean War Armistice Agreement? I’m sure it was fantastic. Were there any Koreans present.
Mainer, remember that the purpose was to honor our Korean War veterans. One would think that’s an easy task, but anything that seems easy, is often very hard. I think the ceremony met the goals they had set up. And yes, there were Koreans there, a few from Korea, most however were Korean-Americans. The main speaker was okay, but too long, given the hot weather and elderly crowd.
Good to hear that all went well, Gen. Satterfield.
Excellent. Go for it.
Looks great to me. I looked up your weather and it’s going to be a hot one!
“On one of my visits, I asked General Paik what the most important lesson he could tell me about the Korean War was. He answered that ”Communism is a bad government” —an understatement of gigantic proportions. Never forget that lesson. And, Never Ever forget our allies in the Republic of Korea and never forget our Veterans.” — Gen. Doug Satterfield makes the case again that Communism is truly an evil blight on the world.
Consider this article by Gen. Satterfield from last year that points to the primary deficiencies of communism.
“ Why Are Communist Nations Collapsing? “
https://www.theleadermaker.com/why-are-communist-nations-collapsing/
Communism is the worst political system of the modern era, according to any objective measure. Today, we can see that over the past few decades, Communism has failed both as a political ideology and economic system. Communist nations are struggling: Russia, China, Venezuela, North Korea, Cuba, and Laos. Only Vietnam has survived and thrived, mainly because it adopted a capitalistic economy. — by Gen. Doug Satterfield
Good memory. Thanks Susie Q. Gen. Satterfield has been around the block, so to speak, a number of times. And he would know.
AMAZIN’
…. 👀👀👀👀 emphasis on the FORGOTTEN WAR aspect. Excellent.
Yes! To never never never forget. Memorials are part of the answer to never forgetting and a good education (that we no longer have in America). And memorial services too are necessary so thank you, Gen. Satterfield for being a part of this memorial.
Sir, I’ve not written in a few weeks but I’m still reading and listening to those giving you feedback. I only have a couple of positive criticisms. One, you might want to mention the Korean military somewhere. And Two, maybe recognize the senior Korean and American official by name. I’m sure the announcer/MC will give a list of “dignitaries” so no need to worry about the rest.
Looks good to me but like you’ve written to us in the past, it’s all in the delivery. 🤓
Got that right and I trust Gen. Satterfield to give a fiery, professional delivery.
… and I hear the delivery was great but it was only a short “talk” per Gen. Satterfield. Let’s all be ready to give a few comments whenever called upon or whenever we are called upon unexpectedly.