Korean War Veteran, 96, Donates War Memories to Army Archives

By Kim Hyun-soo

SEOUL, June 24 (Yonhap) -- Han Hee-na, a 96-year-old Korean War veteran, wiped away his tears as he traced with his fingers the name of a beloved comrade engraved on the hall of fame at the military headquarters.

Han, who volunteered to fight in the South Korean army as a university student during the 1950-53 Korean War, still vividly remembers what he experienced with his comrades on the battlefields.

On Monday, he was invited to the Army headquarters in Gyeryong, some 145 kilometers south of Seoul, as he donated hand-written records of his memories about the war to the Army Archives Management Group in charge of restoring and preserving military artifacts.

"We believe this is Msg. Kim Byung-chil you have been looking for, given the date of his death on June 5, 1951, which matches the last battle he fought in early June," an Army official explained to Han.

As he was helped out of his wheelchair, Han silently saluted his fallen comrade, whom he described as a "caring and compassionate superior" and whose death he witnessed firsthand during the 1950-53 Korean War.

Han, who was born in North Hamgyong Province in 1930, fought a number of battles while affiliated with the armored regiment of the Capital Division, including the battle of Hyangnobong, where South Korean troops succeeded in repelling the communist forces from Mount Seorak and the peak of Hyangno in June 1951.

Han said he began writing down his memories of the war in his 30s, and some of his writings later became the basis of his book, titled "The student ID card left behind by the war."

"I remember the sight of troops climbing the mountain, their silhouettes stark against the snow-covered slopes," Han said, reminiscent of the battles near Hajinbu-ri and Sokasa-ri near Pyeongchang County, some 130 kilometers east of Seoul, which unfolded in March 1951.

An Army official said they found Han's description of Korean War battles well matched the military's official records of the war.

In 2020, the Army launched a project to restore key military records from the Korean War, amounting to 81,420 pieces, and has so far restored 49,040 of them, according to the armed service.

Restoring faded and yellowed documents of records requires extensive work by experts, which begins with a preliminary inspection of their condition.

The procedure involves removing pollutants on the surface, including tape or paper, and cleaning and refilling any holes to ensure it is preserved for a prolonged period.

The Army also digitizes all historical records related to the Korean War by using microfilm and scanning the materials.

"We have been preserving paper records that are over 50 years old," an Army official said. "This is to preserve and pass down the records to future generations in order to remember the seniors who sacrificed themselves for the country," the official added.

"These records hold meaning when they can be seen by future generations, and I hope (the Army) will continue to preserve them in good condition," Han said.

The Korean War, the deadliest conflict in the nation's history, took an especially heavy toll on the Army, with nearly 98 percent of the 137,899 deaths from the three-year conflict involving Army troops.

Han said he remembers facing a series of life-or-death situations throughout the war and thinking it a "miracle" that he was alive through it all.

"Not once, twice or thrice but many times I faced death but came out alive," he said.

He said he hopes his story will inspire future generations to embrace a spirit of selfless service and dedication to their country and fellow citizens.

"More than 70 years after the war, the sacrifices of my comrades remain etched in my heart," Han said. "I am grateful that the Army has continued to honor their sacrifices and pass their legacy on to future generations."