The National Mall in Southwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Half a World Away
National Mall and Memorial Parks, Korean War Veterans Memorial
— National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior —
On June 25, 1950, North Korea invaded South Korea. The United States, under United Nations Command, rushed to defend the South Korean peninsula. In November 1950, China sent ground troops in support of North Korea. American soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines served half a world away for three years. They fought alongside soldiers from South Korea and 20 other nations.
In 1953, an armistice established a boundary at the 38th parallel. Today, South Korea remains an independent, democratic nations.
Mural Wall
The granite wall along this path contains 2,500 images-actual faces of those who served. They represent the medics, chaplains, engineers, pilots, and other personnel who supported the troops. Artists removed identifying information and shadowed the images with eastern light before sandblasting them into the granite. The mural looks like Korea's mountains when viewed from afar.
"We Knew that war through our feet…we walked every inch of that country."
- Unnamed Korean War Veteran
[Captions:]
For three years, troops crisscrossed the Korean Peninsula. The furthest North Korean advance extended almost to Pusan. Months later, UN forces pushed North Korean forces north against the Chinese border.
Soldiers
this page online
Erected 2022 by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, Korean. A significant historical date for this entry is June 25, 1950.
Location. 38° 53.262′ N, 77° 2.901′ W. Marker is in Southwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia. It is in The National Mall. Marker is on Daniel French Drive Southwest, 0.1 miles north of Independence Ave SW, on the left when traveling south. Marker is located on the grounds of the Korean War Veterans Memorial. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 600 Daniel French Dr SW, Washington DC 20245, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Cost of Freedom (within shouting distance of this marker); Korean War Veterans Memorial (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Not Forgotten (about 400 feet away); John Ericsson Memorial (about 600 feet away); John Ericsson (about 600 feet away); Lincoln Memorial (about 700 feet away); Alaska and Hawaii (approx. 0.2 miles away); Vietnam Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Southwest Washington.
More about this marker. Marker contains
Photographed By Shane Oliver, September 3, 2022
2. Half a World Away Marker
Photographed By Shane Oliver, June 3, 2019
3. Section of the Korean War Veterans Mural Wall
Notice the dog etched into the wall on the center left side of the photo.
Photographed By Shane Oliver, June 3, 2019
4. Section of the Korean War Veterans Mural Wall
Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 4, 2022, by Shane Oliver of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 75 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on November 27, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 4, 2022, by Shane Oliver of Richmond, Virginia. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
