Bob Dole: “as a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, I am particularly honored today to introduce…”

“as a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, I am particularly honored today to introduce legislation which will amend the congressional charter of the VFW to make those veterans who have served in South Korea eligible for membership. Since the 1953 armistice, the 170-mile demilitarized zone [DMZ] which separates North and South Korea has been the source of extreme and serious tension. According to the VFW, 89 Americans have been killed and 132 wounded in clashes with North Korea since the armistice was signed. Across this no-mans-land, North Korea has maintained 70 percent of its 1.2-million-man armed forces. Those forces are in forward deployed attack positions along the entire DMZ, only 30 miles from the South Korean capital of Seoul. Since the end of the Korean war, the United States has pledged to the Republic of Korea to deter any renewal of the conflict. To fulfill our commitment, we have positioned a 37,000-man force consisting of the U.S. 8th Army, including the 2d Infantry Division and the Air Force's 314th Air Division. The record and performance of our military men and women during the past four decades in meeting that commitment, and in spite of constant danger, has been exemplary. I wish to commend the leadership of this great veterans service organization, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, for their recognition of those members of our Armed Forces who have served in Korea since 1949.”