Korean War Memorial Sites around Kapyong on a Sunday Trip

31 Jul 2017

On the Sunday morning, we decided to drive and visit to Keiser Highschool in Kapyong district, Gyunggi County, Korea. The school was introduced in the mass media recently in subject of its establishment and founder in time of Korean War. Some students leaded by s teacher had visited the US infantry division 40 head quarter to show their thankfulness toward the school establishment.     

This school was established in 1952 by the commander of US Army Division 40, Major General Cleland, to help young Koreans in the war. I drove first on the North Riverside Road along Han River to take Gyungchun Motor Way. We leaved from Seojong interchange to take the road for Kapyong, but there were severe traffic jam on that road. It would be better to get out of next Seolak interchange for Kapyong.

We arrived at the school at 12:30, and see the memorial statute memorizing the divisional commander and his subordinate sergeant Keiser. The history of school was sculpted on the back of the statue, specifying the statue was relocated in around 1960 and the name of school was changed to Gapyong Highschool. The original plaque addressing the purpose of the school as follows, made in the 15^th of Aug. 1952, was included in the whole statue. “This school is dedicated to the future leaders of the Republic of Korea by the officers and men of the 40^th Infantry Division United States Army”  

Thanks to the principal JongMoon Kim who worked for the school, made voluntarily these two(2) founders plaques to include the statue in 4 Apr. 1964. 

On the way to another battle memorials, we dropped by the Turtle Island near the school. This island was under retrofit to reinforce lawn and strolling roads. We had simple lunches at 13:00, and walked along the path in the island to see the North Han River and pleasure boats moving between Chuncheon Euiwang Lakes and Nami Island.

For next destination, we drove to Canadian memorial statue to the direction of Buk-myon, Kapyong district and NZ/Australian memorial statue for the battle of 24 to 25 Apr. 1951 in time of Chinese Spring Offensives. On the way to the NZ/Australian memorial statue, we could find the new memorial site regarded to be installed newly, of which signboard was specifying US Army Kapyong Battle Memorial, luckily dropped by to respect and see. We later identified the street signboard specifying Keiser road.

Where we could see the big sculptor of US Flag, Soldier sweeping his sweat after hard fight and Freedom is not free sculpted in the nearby big stone. The flags of USA, ROK and UN were flagging and the fallen name were indicated at the memorial wall. 

One side of mountain near NZ/Australian memorial statue, was looked sadly to be burnt by a fire. This mountain was the heavy fighting place in Apr. 1950 between Australian and Chinese soldiers and along the ridge the Australian units could evacuate from Chinese deadly surrounding. This battle has a meaning to protect Seoul and Western Front of UN Forces at that time when the forefront Korean Division 6 were collapsed far north form the site and Chinese forces were engaging in onslaught to destroy the rear of Seoul defense line.   Personally, I remembered the moment under this mountain side that we once stayed a pension to meet our son newly joined in MLRS and trained, allowing for his first overnight leave.    

We respected them for their high will and sacrifices, and thanked personally School Principal JongMoon Kim and a unknown Koreans of their efforts and values through establishing the memorial statue reminding of two(2) country blood brother relationships. Was it a meaningful journey?

At 17:00, we selected rather the motorway than conventional shortcut road to return home due to expected traffic jam. We drove southward to enter into Gangchon interchange of Seoul-Yangyang motorway. In the way of interchange, we had opportunity to drop by the memorial site of Ryu InChon who fought against Japanese during 1845 to 1915. Where I could identify the soldier George Libby who was selected by the memorial hall as a great man of Jul.  He was a member of US Army Infantry Division 24, trying to save his fallen comrades in the escaping action of Taejon Battle in Jul. 1950.

We had to have dinner for our refreshment at around 1800 in the Kapyong Service Area. The motorway was caught up by the traffic jam, maintaining speed at 20-30 Km per hour but speed was recovered from the interchange of Seolak to Seoul. It was 20:00 to arrive home.

I would like to recommend you to branch out of Seojong interchange rather than Seolak interchange for your Gapyong trip if you drive on the Seoul- Yangyang Motorway, escaping from driving on a mountainous road rather on a riverside road of North Han river valley.