FORGOTTEN: The Arkansas Korean War Project

This past Sunday (July 27) marked the 55th anniversary of the armistice that ended the fighting of the Korean War during the summer of 1953.

The Butler Center for Arkansas Studies is launching an initiative to document and preserve Arkansas’s role in the Korean War. This aspect of our nation's history has been forgotten for too long. Even worse, the sacrifice of our men and women in uniform during this time has often been overlooked. We believe it is time to change that!

Letters, photographs, diaries, and other materials of Arkansas’s Korean War veterans will be solicited, including items that document life on the battlefield and on the home-front. These pieces of history need to be preserved before they are lost. We will also be conducting oral history interviews to allow our veterans to share their personal memories of the war. All Korean War veterans will also be asked to fill out a questionnaire regarding their experiences. Through these individual pieces, we will develop a comprehensive and long-lasting record of Arkansas’s Korean War veterans.

Please spread the word about this project! Veterans and/or family members interested in participating in the project should contact the Butler Center at 501-918-3056 or email Brian K. Robertson at brianr@cals.org.

And remember to watch this blog for updates on the project as it progresses.

Contributed by Stephanie Bayless, Manuscripts Department.