In the News

Before our program begins, I do want to thank Congressmen Dennis Moore for traveling here from Washington to be with us this morning. Congressman Moore, would you please stand?

Here for the Dedication representing Senator Pat Roberts is Harold Stones. Mr. Stones, would you please stand?

I also want to acknowledge the creator of the beautiful sculpture which graces this Memorial, John Havener, (HAY-vener) whose work is entitled, “Korean Cranes Rising.” Professor Havener, would you please stand?

We are also honored to have with us the Deputy Commanding General, Combined Arms Center for Training in Ft. Leavenworth, Brigadier General John Woods. General Woods would you please stand?

Here is the inscription that is a permanent part of the University of Kansas Korean War Memorial:

“This memorial commemorates the conflict that began on June 25, 1950 when North Korean military forces crossed the 38th parallel and launched a massive invasion of South Korea. Responding to pleas for help by the government of the Republic of Korea, the United States sought a United Nations Security Council resolution condemning North Korea’s actions and calling upon member nations to give ‘every assistance’ to South Korea. Subsequently, President Harry S. Truman committed U.S. military forces to the defense of the Republic of Korea.

Over the next three years, military forces from the Republic of Korea, the United States, and from fifteen other countries pursued the mandate of the United Nations to defend South Korea’s independence and to restore stability to the Korean peninsula. The human costs of that struggle were great. Total estimated casualties --- killed, wounded, missing in action --- suffered by the Republic of Korea were 238,656; by the United States 142,091; and by other United Nations forces 17,260. Approximately one million South Korean civilian casualties and another one million North Korean civilian casualties occurred as a result of the conflict in Korea. Military operations were brought to an end by the signing of the Korean Armistice Agreement at Panmunjom on July 27, 1953.

Although Korea suffered grievously, and the conflict that burned back and forth across the Korean landscape for more than three years has oft been termed ‘the forgotten war,’ the Korean conflict represents a difficult, yet ultimately successful, struggle to achieve security and prosperity for the people of South Korea and to further the cause of freedom for all mankind.”

There are 44 names inscribed on this Memorial --- and there are descendents of several with us this morning --- and for each of the 44 there is a story of dedication to their country, a story of sacrifice. Of the 44 names, We have chosen one to represent them all: Jack A. Davenport from Kansas City, who attended the University of Kansas in the Fall of 1949 before enlisting in the Marines.

On September 21, 1951, two weeks after his 20th birthday, an enemy grenade landed in a foxhole near Song-nae-Dong….a foxhole in which Corporal Davenport and another Marine were standing watch together. Disregarding his own safety, he smothered the grenade with his own body --- in order to save another Marine from death. For his courage and spirit of self-sacrifice in the face of almost certain death, Jack Davenport was awarded, posthumously, the Congressional Medal of Honor, one of only 131 awarded during the Korean War.

We are here today to honor Corporal Davenport and the 43 others whose names appear on the plaque on this Memorial. But in a deeper sense we are here to honor all those students, faculty and staff who served their country from the day KU first opened in 1866, a few months after the end of the Civil War, to this very morning when many Americans with ties to KU serve in Iraq and Afghanistan, in the Republic of Korea, and all around the world. I am acutely conscious of this because my own son, Sgt. Matt Hemenway, a KU graduate, presently serves in the 2nd Infantry Division of the U.S. Army in Korea.

All who serve have a unique story, but along with their KU heritage, they all share a love of country.

Many military veterans and family members are with us this morning, and I say “thank you” to them --- and “thank you” to:

--- those 44 who gave their lives during the Korean War;

--- Along with those from WWI for whom Memorial Stadium is dedicated;

--- to those from WWII for whom the Campanile is dedicated;

--- and to those whose ultimate sacrifice is remembered on the walls of the KU Vietnam Memorial.

All of them deserve our humble thanks this morning.

For nearly three decades KU had hoped to build a Korean War Memorial, and it was not until March of 2003 that the lead gift was made that eventually resulted in today’s dedication. That gift came from a distinguished Korean-American businessman from Kansas City, and it is my pleasure to introduce to you Mr. Yong L. Kim. Mr. Kim.

(Remarks by Mr. Kim)

Chancellor: Thank you Mr. Kim.

The final chapter in the building of this Memorial was written in Seoul, when, in the early summer of 2003, several exceptional gifts were received from the KU Korean Alumni Association and from several Korean corporations.

In December of 2003, a major gift was given to KU by the International Communications Foundation in Seoul. I would like to give special recognition for making this gift possible to Mr. Young Bin Min, the founder and chairman of YBA/Sisa who is with us today. Mr. Min would you please stand?

Also here today is the Chairman of the Board of the International Communications Foundation, Dr. Suk-Kee Yoh. (prounounced “Yaw”). Dr. Yoh would you please stand?

And one of our great friends in Korea, who has worked tirelessly on the fund raising for the Memorial, and who is part of an extended KU family, Kwang-Sun Kim, Dean of the Graduate School of the Korean University of Technology and Education, traveled from Seoul for this dedication. Dr. Kim would you please stand?

One of the founders of the KU Korean Alumni Association, and the guiding light and inspiration for KU in Korea, is also with us today. He believed in this Memorial and said he knew it could be built. It is my honor to introduce to you KU graduate, and great friend of this University, Jong-Woo Han.

(Han comments)

Chancellor: Thank you Mr. Han.

Student Body President Steven Munch, recognizing the very special nature of this Dedication, asked that the students of KU be represented this morning by an ROTC student, and I am pleased to introduce Cadet Eric Buschelman, (pronounced “Bushelman”), a senior in Electrical Engineering from Edmond, Oklahoma.

(Buschelman comments: http://www.oread.ku.edu/Oread05/Apr22/dedication.html)

Chancellor:

The ancient Greeks, when they wanted to express thanksgiving to the Gods, would offer a “pean”, or song of praise. As we bring this ceremony to a close, I would offer a “pean” to those we honor today.

May all who knew the beauty of Mount Oread, and the horror of war in Korea;

May all who dreamed of future lives, lives that were tragically cut short by death in service of their country;

May all those whose legacy of valor we remember today by our presence;

May all rest in peace; enshrined with God’s blessing, the gratitude of two nations, and this permanent tribute in stone from their alma mater.

As Chancellor of the University of Kansas, and on behalf of the entire University community, I officially dedicate this Memorial in honor of those alumni, students, faculty and staff who died in the cause of freedom during the Korean War.

Thank you.