GENOA - For more than 50 years, Bob Osterhoudt had felt resentful of being drafted into the Korean War.
Angela Kershner / The Citizen
Barbara Edwards looks through a photo album, on display during a dinner at United Church of Genoa, highlighting a trip to Korea by Max Lovelace and Bob and Elinore Osterhoudt.
Barbara Edwards looks through a photo album, on display during a dinner at United Church of Genoa, highlighting a trip to Korea by Max Lovelace and Bob and Elinore Osterhoudt.
The retired U.S. Army private with the artillery division had wanted to stay home to help his ailing father on the family farm.
But all of that changed this past June when Osterhoudt, along with eight other local Korean War veterans, were invited to visit the place they had helped save.
“I was drafted,” he shared with guests at the United Church of Genoa Thursday evening. “I was resentful of being taken away from my focus. All that changed a couple of months ago.”
Osterhoudt, along with fellow Korean War veteran Max Lovelace, shared their memories and experiences of the war, as well as their emotional trip to Korea more than 50 years later, during a dinner at the church.
On June 9, the veterans and four of their wives were invited to South Korea by Pyongyang Presbyterian Church.
“The trip I felt was very worthwhile,” Lovelace said. “It was nice to see what Korea was like now. It was nice to see that our sacrifices were well worthwhile.”
Lovelace said the country had seen tremendous change over the years.
“They are just tremendous people,” he said. They were so appreciative of what we had done for them. We were treated like royalty. They just could not do enough for us.“
Osterhoudt's wife, Elinore, attended the trip with her husband and said that she was grateful for the chance to be included in that part of her husband's life.
“These men were surprised by how grateful the Koreans were for what they had done for them,” she said. “It gave me as a wife a better knowledge of that side of my husband's life. It was very emotional.”
“The veterans are glad to replace old memories of starving children digging in trash cans for food, freezing winter conditions and steaming summer warfare with new and bright memories,” said Sue Doran, mission coordinator of The Presbytery of Cayuga-Syracuse.
“Now they have seen how South Korea has developed into a democratic society that appreciates its civil and religious freedoms and demonstrates respect and honor for its past and present heroes.”now. It was nice to see that our sacrifices were well worthwhile.”
Lovelace said the country had seen tremendous change over the years.
“They are just tremendous people,” he said. They were so appreciative of what we had done for them. We were treated like royalty. They just could not do enough for us.“
Osterhoudt's wife, Elinore, attended the trip with her husband and said that she was grateful for the chance to be included in that part of her husband's life.
“These men were surprised by how grateful the Koreans were for what they had done for them,” she said. “It gave me as a wife a better knowledge of that side of my husband's life. It was very emotional.”
“The veterans are glad to replace old memories of starving children digging in trash cans for food, freezing winter conditions and steaming summer warfare with new and bright memories,” said Sue Doran, mission coordinator of The Presbytery of Cayuga-Syracuse.
“Now they have seen how South Korea has developed into a democratic society that appreciates its civil and religious freedoms and demonstrates respect and honor for its past and present heroes.”
But all of that changed this past June when Osterhoudt, along with eight other local Korean War veterans, were invited to visit the place they had helped save.
“I was drafted,” he shared with guests at the United Church of Genoa Thursday evening. “I was resentful of being taken away from my focus. All that changed a couple of months ago.”
Osterhoudt, along with fellow Korean War veteran Max Lovelace, shared their memories and experiences of the war, as well as their emotional trip to Korea more than 50 years later, during a dinner at the church.
On June 9, the veterans and four of their wives were invited to South Korea by Pyongyang Presbyterian Church.
“The trip I felt was very worthwhile,” Lovelace said. “It was nice to see what Korea was like now. It was nice to see that our sacrifices were well worthwhile.”
Lovelace said the country had seen tremendous change over the years.
“They are just tremendous people,” he said. They were so appreciative of what we had done for them. We were treated like royalty. They just could not do enough for us.“
Osterhoudt's wife, Elinore, attended the trip with her husband and said that she was grateful for the chance to be included in that part of her husband's life.
“These men were surprised by how grateful the Koreans were for what they had done for them,” she said. “It gave me as a wife a better knowledge of that side of my husband's life. It was very emotional.”
“The veterans are glad to replace old memories of starving children digging in trash cans for food, freezing winter conditions and steaming summer warfare with new and bright memories,” said Sue Doran, mission coordinator of The Presbytery of Cayuga-Syracuse.
“Now they have seen how South Korea has developed into a democratic society that appreciates its civil and religious freedoms and demonstrates respect and honor for its past and present heroes.”now. It was nice to see that our sacrifices were well worthwhile.”
Lovelace said the country had seen tremendous change over the years.
“They are just tremendous people,” he said. They were so appreciative of what we had done for them. We were treated like royalty. They just could not do enough for us.“
Osterhoudt's wife, Elinore, attended the trip with her husband and said that she was grateful for the chance to be included in that part of her husband's life.
“These men were surprised by how grateful the Koreans were for what they had done for them,” she said. “It gave me as a wife a better knowledge of that side of my husband's life. It was very emotional.”
“The veterans are glad to replace old memories of starving children digging in trash cans for food, freezing winter conditions and steaming summer warfare with new and bright memories,” said Sue Doran, mission coordinator of The Presbytery of Cayuga-Syracuse.
“Now they have seen how South Korea has developed into a democratic society that appreciates its civil and religious freedoms and demonstrates respect and honor for its past and present heroes.”
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