My Fathers Time in the Korean War

Roger Lamothe Korean war veteran

THE UNITED STATES ARMY FORMED THE HAWAIIAN DIVISION IN 1921 TO PROTECT THE ISLANDS AND GROWING INTERESTS IN THE PACIFIC. ON OCTOBER 1, 1941, THE HAWAIIAN DIVISION WAS SPLIT, CREATING THE 24TH AND 25TH INFANTRY DIVISIONS. THE 25TH INFANTRY DIVISION WAS STATIONED AT SCHOFIELD BARRACKS ON THE ISLAND OF OAHU. JUST OVER TWO MONTHS OLD WHEN THE JAPANESE BOMBED PEARL HARBOR, THE 25TH INFANTRY DIVISION WOULD MOVE TO GUADALCANAL AND TAKE PART IN SOME OF THE MOST BITTER FIGHTING IN THE PACIFIC THEATER.

IN 1953, “TROPIC LIGHTNING” BECAME THE OFFICIAL MONIKER ADOPTED BY THE 25TH INFANTRY DIVISION, REPRESENTING THE SPEED AT WHICH THEY ACCOMPLISH THEIR MISSIONS. IN SEPTEMBER 1954, AFTER 12 YEARS ABROAD, THE 25TH INFANTRY DIVISION RETURNED HOME TO HAWAII.

Electric Strawberry

THE 25TH INFANTRY DIVISION’S ICONIC SHOULDER INSIGNIA IS A LIGHTNING BOLT SUPERIMPOSED ON A TARO LEAF. THE COLORS OF GOLD AND RED WERE THOSE OF THE LATE HAWAIIAN MONARCHY.

Assignment Continued

25th Army Division “Tropic Thunder”

35th Infantry Regiment “Cacti”

The 35th Regiment with the rest of the 25th Infantry Division assumed the responsibility of guarding the approaches of Seoul 5 May 1953.

23 days later, when ceasefire negotiations at Panmunjom stalled, a heavy PVA assault hit the Nevada Complex, the Division held its ground; the brunt of the attack was absorbed by the attached Turkish Brigade and the 14th Infantry Regiment. By successfully defending Seoul from continued attack from May to July 1953, the division earned its second Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation.

Again negotiators moved toward peace. In July, the division again moved to reserve status at Camp Casey where it remained through the signing of the armistice 27 July 1953. Fourteen division soldiers were awarded Medals of Honor during the Korean War, making the division one of the most decorated US Army divisions of that war