SOUTH KOREA - In a ceremonial spectacle at the UN Peace Park in Busan, a distinctive event unfolded, revealing a commemorative sculpture dedicated to the illustrious Gen. Richard S. Whitcomb, a valiant participant in the Korean War spanning 1950 to 1953.
Entitled "Embarking on the Collective Journey Towards Tomorrow," the artistic rendition honoring the esteemed US General was masterfully crafted by the skilled sculptor, Kwon Chi-gyu, aged 57. Notably, Kwon is the artistic mind behind the sculpture of Ahn Jung-geun, a prominent independence advocate during the era of Japanese colonialism, prominently displayed at the Ahn Jung-geun Memorial Museum in Seoul.
Gen. Whitcomb, distinguished for leading the 2nd Logistics Command in Busan, earned acclaim for his unwavering commitment to aiding war-displaced individuals in the city post the Korean War. Records from the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs unveil Gen. Whitcomb's benevolence, recounting his distribution of military provisions to victims evacuated from a conflagration near Busan Station in 1953.
Beyond his military duties, Gen. Whitcomb undertook philanthropic initiatives, fundraising for orphanages and the establishment of the Maryknoll Hospital in Busan. Additionally, he successfully persuaded then-President Park Chung-hee to allocate land for the establishment of Pusan National University.
In recognition of his exemplary service, the South Korean government bestowed upon him the highest civil merit, the "Mugunghwajang," in 2022.
"I deliberately crafted the platform of this sculpture with a diminished height and adorned it with vibrant hues, aspiring to render it more accessible to the common populace. My intention was to encapsulate Gen. Whitcomb's conviction that the path to healing war-inflicted wounds lies in the realm of education," elucidated Kwon.
"Embarking on the Collective Journey Towards Tomorrow" materialized through public contributions amassed over the course of the past year, destined to be presented as a gift to the metropolis of Busan.
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