Once they were Tigers

Once upon a time, there were tigers fighting our war with North Korea, tigers that were then known as 8240th Army Unit under the 8th U.S. Army, better known as Federation of Partisan Forces Korea. The men were armed with ancient weapons and small boats; they waged guerrilla warfare against the communists.

Soon after the war, the U.S. military gave control of the partisan forces to South Korea. South Korea transferred the men into their military but immediately discharged them and that was the start of their problems.

The U.S. Department of Defense recently turned down a request for recognition, stating the 8240th belonged to South Korea, federation members said. In addition, the South Korean Ministry of Defense claims the 8240th was a U.S. 8th Army unit.

The remaining veterans of Federation of Partisan Forces Korea do not want America’s financial compensation; they only desire the honor that was denied them for so long, not too much to ask from a group of heroes.

The only U.S. entity that shows them gratitude today, members say, is the U.S. Special Operations Command Korea. A relationship that began in 1953, when some of the first U.S. soldiers to earn the Green Beret worked with the partisan forces on the peninsula.

Personally as a veteran, I feel these men deserve all the honor and gratitude of a nation that is possible and it is a long time coming.