"The Koreans treated us all the same, too. A lot of them liked us, or tried to. Most Koreans really appreciated the American blood that was spilled on their soil to help maintain their freedom. Some didn't. To some few, a distinct minority, we were just another group of invaders, like the Japanese in the last war and the Chinese before them. They could hardly be blamed for feeling that way after living for so many years with foreigners in their land. Getting to know the Koreans helped me to begin to develop an understanding about the cost of freedom. Not all of the Koreans were Slicky Boys. The Korean soldiers I worked with were excellent. The ROK Army soldiers and Marines were much less well equipped, fed, and paid than we were, but they were committed to doing what they could to preserve their five-thousand-year-old culture. They had an intense hatred for communism that I would see again when some of them fought in Vietnam."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Medal of Honor recipientsUnited States Army peopleDistinguished Service Cross recipientsPeople from Texas
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
p. 47
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Roy_Benavidez
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
Roy Benavidez
16 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by Roy Benavidez →
Related Quotes
"Frankly, I don't believe in luck. Everything happens for some purpose. To begin with, I'm alive. I shouldn't be; I sh…"
"When President Reagan placed the Congressional Medal of Honor around my neck, it all came racing back to me. The bloo…"
"Korea was becoming somewhat civilized, at least for the commissioned officers stationed there. An officers' club had …"
"Serving in Korea was not all misery for me. I felt more a part of something than I ever had in my life. I was a U.S. …"
"Our men developed strong compassion for the plight of these proud, independent people. The desire to be free from opp…"
"I sort of adopted a young orphan by the name of Kim. I have him little assignments and paid him with scrip and food. …"
"Okay, I thought, we're stateside, I'll try to look like it. I started looking for the post barbershop. Man, I couldn'…"
"The name Tango Mike/Mike had become synonymous with my given name, Roy P. Benavidez. Apparently it was much easier to…"
"I know the content of my heart. I am a good soldier. I go where I am ordered. That kind of loyalty, at least, is nobl…"
"Like Doss and Inouye, Staff Sgt. Roy Benavidez embarked on a journey from poverty and prejudice to receive the highes…"