In a small wooded area adjacent to the southeastern side of the main Korean War Monument to U.S. Forces.

Black stone monument remembers Major General John K. Singlaub, an exceptional veteran of World War II, the Korean War, and special operations in China, Vietnam, and other locations.

The front side contains a golden medallion with Singlaubs portrait and inscriptions in Korean and English languages highlighting his service and contributions. The reverse side includes U.S. and Republic Flags, a photo of General Singlaub in uniform during the late 1970s, as well as inscriptions in Korean and English.

On 12 October 2023, Lieutenant General Willard Burleson, Commanding General of the Eighth U.S. Army, and Yoon Jong-jin, Vice Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs of the Republic of Korea, as well as surviving family members, participated in the dedication ceremony for this monument and a similar one to U.S. Colonel William E. Weber. The project, funded by the Republic of Korea Ministry of Defense and SK Group, was part of programs that commemorated the 70th anniversary of the alliance between Seoul and Washington in 2023.

Singlaub commanded the 2nd Battalion, 15th Regiment, U.S. 3rd Infantry Division in 1952 and 1953 and blocked the advance of Chinese troops in the Iron Triangle battlefield encompassing Gimhwa, Pyeonggang, and Cheorwon.

In 1977, Singlaub was relieved from his position as Chief of Staff of U.S. Forces in South Korea after openly criticizing U.S. President Jimmy Carters proposal to withdraw U.S. troops from the Korean peninsula in an interview with the Washington Post. Less than a year later, Singlaub was forced to retire after publicly questioning President Carters national security policies.

Source of information: en.yna.co.kr, www.dvidshub.net

Source of photos: https://vagabundler.com/south-korea/dmz-monuments/, Gunther Michels, Vagabundler Collective

In front of the monument text:

John K. Singlaub

(1921.07.10 - 2022.01.29)

John K. Singlaub, the General Who defended Korea

If I could give up a few stars to prevent the second Korean War and save the lives of countless Koreans, my service in Korea would be very rewarding.

Preventing the Second Korean War by Opposing the Withdrawal of U.S. Troops from the Korean Peninsula

In 1977, Major General John Singlaub, Chief of Staff of the United Nations Command / U.S. Forces Korea, assessed that withdrawing U.S. forces from Korea would provide North Korea with an opportunity to miscalculate, given the unprecedented increase in North Korean military power and troop deployment at the time. General Singlaub based his judgement on his military expertise from experiencing the Korean War and international strategic environments such as the Indochina War. Even when General Singlaub was recalled home he refused to compromise his convictions, which ultimately led to his retirement from the military. While his service in Korea helped prevent a recurrence of war on the Korean Peninsula, it also marked the end of his military career.

Defending Korea as a Battalion Commander during the Korean War

During the Korean War between 1952 and 1953, General Singlaub served as the Battalion Commander of the 15th Regiment of the U.S. 3rd Infantry Division and blocked the advance of the Chinese Peoples Volunteer Army in the Iron Triangle. He lifted the morale of the unit, which initially planned only to served for a limited period on the deadlocked front line, and encouraged all soldiers to dedicate themselves to the defensive battle. As a career combat officer, Singlaub was a Battalion Commander immersed himself in the battle, and answering phone calls from his superiors while commanding the fight against the Chinese forces. The outpost Harry that Singlaubs Battalion defended has now become a distinctly protruding geographic part of the Central Front of the South Korean military, marking a sentinel protecting South Korea.

General John Singlaubs Military Life

General John Singlaub was born on July 10, 1921, in Independence, California. He graduated from UCLA and began his military career as a ROTC officer. He later graduated from the U.S. Command and General Staff College and served as an instructor at the same institution. During World War II ending period, as a member of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), he infiltrated Nazi Germany-occupied France to organize, train and fight alongside the French Resistance. After World War II, he conducted special operations in China, Vietnam, and elsewhere, and served as a Deputy Commander of the 8th Mechanized Division in West Germany. He sustained numerous injuries in combat and considered it a stroke of luck to retire from the military without dying on the battlefield. He was a true soldier. General Singlaub passed away at the age of 100 in January 2022 in Franklin, Tennessee. His military

life was a continuous series of dangerous situations, whether in wartime or peacetime, as described in his memoir, Hazardous Duty. We look forward to fulfilling his wish to have a statue of him erected here in view of North Korea.

At the back of the monument text:

John K. Singlaub (1921.07.10 - 2022.01.29)

In commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the ROK-U.S. Alliance, this memorial stands to honor those who sacrificed for the Republic of Korea.

Freedom is not Free.

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