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The Truth about the Accidental Death of General Walker of the US 8th Army Stationed in Korea (EUSA)

Sangho Lee 1

1국방부군사편찬연구소

Accredited

ABSTRACT

General Walker(Liteunant General at the accident) had played a major role in the middle of Korean War since the outbreak of that in June 25th. He commanded some important battles including the defensive operation along the defence line of Nakdong River and counter offensive operation to the north after the successful ops at the beginning stage of Korean war. However his roles died out and have not been mentioned in the history of war along with his accidental death. It is almost gone in our memories. In addition, the incorrect description about his death has caused a controversy, which is used by North Korea for wrong historical distortion. According to North Korea’s publications and official documents, General Walker didn't die in a car accident but in North Korea’s war hero’s operation. The aim of this thesis is to elaborate currently existing awareness about the General Walker’s accidental death, to correct the distorted facts, briefly to overview his life, expressed as ‘a true soldier’ and to take a closer look at the truth of the accident based on the exact information. What has been known about the General Walker’s accident shows many differences from the truth including identification check of the driver, name of the General Walker’s adjutant, and information about the car in accident. Even the US army’s official record does not have a detailed record about his death. And different descriptions of his death in domestic and overseas studies provided an excuse for the alleged argument that General Walker was died by the North Korean army’s attack. However, the accident can be clarified as follows based on the data of the times. December 23rd, 1950, 10:30 am, the jeep which the General Walker got in was heading to the north on the road of Dobong-ri 3-gu and it was overturned after having a broadside collision to the 3/4 ton truck of the ROK the 6th division, which was heading to the south. At that time, four out of the five cars pulled over left side of the road were all trucks and the last one was a jeep. The truck pulled over in the fourth did not see the jeep running in front but came out in the center of the road so that it hit the left side of the jeep with its left bumper. The jeep was turned over several times in the accident and the General Walker was struck out from the car and had a serious injury in his head. A severe bleeding led him to death. The explanations that his over-speeded car driving caused himself to death or he was killed due to the over speeding car got into an accident or he was so crazy about speed are all groundless. In addition, North Korea’s allegation from its official document that he was killed by its special squat laid antitank mine is more absolutely groundless. The Korean academia has failed to take an appropriate response to the North Korea’s exaggerated promotion in the history of Korean War. The thesis is significant as it refutes the groundless argument such as its promotion that General Walker of the US 8th Army died in North Korea’s attack.

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