99-year-old U.S. veteran reflects on Korean War and urges younger generations to remember ‘Freedom is not free’

At 99, retired U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Philip Shutler stood before the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., gently tracing the name of his fallen comrade etched into the wall. Tears welled up in his eyes.

“Here you are, my friend,” he whispered. “It’s been a while.”

A veteran of the Battle of Chosin Reservoir and the Hungnam Evacuation, Shutler visited the memorial on April 18, pausing at the inscription: Freedom is not free. It’s a phrase he hopes future generations will not forget.

-The Korean War is considered the foundation of the U.S.-Korea alliance.
“It was a war that proved freedom comes at a cost. That’s why we have this memorial in the U.S., and why Korea engraved the names of our fallen. My friend, 2nd Lt. Fred Miller, never came home, but his name lives on there. I’m proud that Korea, once defended with our blood, has become a global economic power and a linchpin for democracy in Asia.”

-What is your most vivid memory of Korea?
“I was 23 during the war. When I returned in 1954, Korea was still struggling. By 1978, when I came back as a senior officer, I no longer saw soldiers in uniform—but I saw tears of gratitude in the eyes of every Korean who learned I had fought there. That appreciation is what I remember more than the horrors of war.”

Retired Lt. Gen. Philip Shutler took part in several pivotal operations during the Korean War, including the Incheon Landing, which marked a turning point in the conflict; the Battle of Chosin Reservoir, remembered as one of the most grueling battles in U.S. military history with over 4,500 American casualties; and the Hungnam Evacuation, where U.S. forces abandoned weapons to load thousands of refugees onto naval ships.

When asked for a photo, Shutler handed his cane to his wife, who had stood by him throughout his life, and stood tall. “No matter how old a Marine general gets, he can’t lean on a cane in front of his comrades,” he said. He added firmly, “At Hungnam, we evacuated 100,000 refugees. I believe that mission played a crucial role in enabling Korea to preserve its democracy.”

Fred Lash, a 97-year-old retired U.S. Marine Corps lieutenant colonel, said he still remembers Gen. Douglas MacArthur’s order to send Marines to Incheon, a landing that had once seemed impossible.

-What orders did U.S. forces receive for the Incheon landing?
“The situation was desperate. We were cornered in Busan. MacArthur ordered us to pull Marines from there and land at Incheon. Everyone thought it was impossible—mudflats everywhere, tides over 20 feet. But MacArthur said we had to do it. We did. We recaptured Seoul, reopened the embassy, and believed the war was over.”

-What message would you leave for younger generations in both countries?
“We didn’t know 300,000 Chinese troops had crossed the border. It was one of the greatest intelligence failures in military history. Many died in the cold and snow defending freedom. Today, some young people don’t understand why America loves Korea, or why we hesitate with Russia and China. If we don’t know history, we’re bound to repeat it.”

David Pickett, 61, a retired U.S. Army sergeant and current president of the Korean War Veterans Association (KWVA)—an organization officially recognized by the U.S. Congress in 2011—said, “Within the next ten years, there will likely be no surviving veterans who actually fought in the Korean War. To carry on their legacy and ensure the world does not forget the significance of the Korean War and the U.S.-Korea alliance, the association is now being led by younger veterans who served in Korea after the war.”

-Are you collaborating with the Korean government?
“The association is funded entirely through voluntary donations from its members. Just as Korean War veterans are aging, the number of people in both Korea and the U.S. who remember the importance of the war that forged our alliance is also dwindling. It’s a war that must never be forgotten, yet we’re struggling even to find sponsors. That’s why we visited the Veterans Affairs Office at the Korean Embassy in Washington on April 17 to ask for support.”

-What are the association’s current challenges?
“We publish newsletters, give scholarships to descendants of Korean War vets, assist in POW/MIA recovery efforts, and care for elderly veterans left alone in hospitals. But our funds are nearly depleted. When the last of them pass, we want to at least send flowers. I worry that when they’re gone, the meaning of the war will vanish too.

-Are you concerned about U.S.-Korea ties under the Trump administration?
“Yes. Tariffs are hurting both countries. Some worry that even the alliance is at risk. But I believe the U.S. and Korea must continue to stand together to counter China. Despite uncertainty, our shared blood bond will endure.”

By Kang Tae-hwa   [thkang@joongang.co.kr]