94-year-old U.S. Korean War vet returns to a country that never forgot

Over the past week, South Korea welcomed six Korean War veterans and their families from 19 countries.

Among them: 94-year-old U.S. Navy veteran Dr. Malcolm Williamson.

Our Kim Jung-sil sat down with him.

More than seventy years ago, he served aboard a U.S. Navy minesweeper during the Korean War.

This week, he returned to the country he once helped protect.

Dr. Malcolm Lynn Williamson is one of six UN veterans invited to Korea as part of a government-led program marking UN Forces Participation Day on July 27th.

"Dr. Williamson, welcome back to Korea. Thank you so much for being here. What do you think when you think of the word Korea?"

"I served in the Korean War in 1951 through 1953 on a minesweeper and had some close calls. But I appreciate the fact that we have a chance to come and revisit Korea through the program."

One of those close calls came during a mission near Incheon when his ship took a direct hit.

"The water just churned, and the smoke drifted by. The ship shuddered, and I knew we'd been hit. And if I had run down the starboard side, I would have been right where a shell hit."

He never forgot that moment, and returning decades later, he found a country transformed.

"I've been very impressed with the advancements that have been made in your country because I know it was devastated during the war. But you know the thing that I'm impressed most by is the people."

By his side this week is someone who didn't live through the war but now calls Korea home.

Emily, his granddaughter, has spent the past five years teaching kindergarten in Seoul.

"I've lived here for five years and I've always been very proud of my grandfather and the sacrifices he made."

For Emily, it wasn't just stories this time, it was seeing that gratitude, in person.

"I'm really touched, and it's been a very special experience seeing my grandparents here in Korea and having them be taken care of by so many loving people."

After the war, Dr. Williamson earned a Ph.D. in statistics from USC and spent decades consulting on medical research.

Now, at 94, he leaves Korea with one final message:

"I hope that people will recognize that their inalienable rights come from God."

A sailor. A grandfather.

A man of science, and of faith.

Honored by the nation he once helped protect.

Kim Jung-sil, Arirang News.