"On July 27th, the 45th anniversary of the signing of the cease-fire, ending the Korean War, men who fought with the 5th infantry Regimental Combat Team gathered in Arlington National Cemetery for the dedication of a living memorial to their unit and fallen comrades."

"The dedication of this living memorial begins recognition of those valiant soldiers who 48 years ago were truly key members of the defensive bulwark that initially stood between a crushing battlefield defeat of the 8th U.S. Army along the Pusan Perimeter, and the ultimate success on the Korean Penisular three years later. Time for recognition of this unit, is long overdue, said Lt. Gen. (ret.) Richard F. Timmons,"

"This select fraternity is a unique brotherhood. Each member here was bound for a brief moment in time in common and selfless service -- to each other, to his unit, and to his country -- under the revered colors of the 5th Regimental Combat Team," said Timmons.

"Today, at this moment, the souls of thousands of your comrades are now at peace and will rest more easily tonight, and the hearts of many others will gladden at what you have achieved today," he said.

"During the course of the war, the 5th would be attached to every U.S. Division in the theatre including the 1st Marines. Many times when North Koreans or Chinese made a hole in the lines, they'd call the 5th RCT to fill the gap. They were the spearhead with the 1st Marine Brigade (P) out of the Pusan Perimeter. When the Marines were moved back to go to Inchon, they spearheaded the attack to Taejon."

"Getting the job done was not without a cost to the unit, though. According to Timmons, the men of the 5th RCT suffered 867 killed in action, and 3,188 wounded, 16 missing in action, and 151 taken as prisoners of war. Some men in the 5th RCT have as many as five Purple Hearts.

There was great heroism in the unit too, according to Timmons. He said the 5th RCT earned three Korean Presidential Unit Citations, and two US Presidential Unit Citations. Two members were awarded the Medal of Honor. 27 The Distinguished Service Cross' , 377 The Silver Star, 538 The Bronze Star for valor, and over 4000 Purple Hearts, some men were awarded a Purple Heart five different times. The regiment also was awarded ten battle stars for the Korean Service Medal."

"From the torrid summer climate, 110 and above, to the bitter cold winters -45 degrees, of that barren and treeless landscape, and always faced by a dedicated enemy bent upon your destruction, the men of the regiment prevailed and emerged as the premier fighting RCT of the conflict," Timmons said.

"Individually and collectively you ultimately drew upon previously untapped sources of strength, and dominated the battlefield." He added. "Yet, even during the worst of conditions, the men of the 5th RCT thought of others. They financed, and built with the help of the 72nd Combat Engineers, a Korean Boys Town. An orphanage that housed and supported war orphans, and is still in operation, and supported by men of the 5th RCT today."

"This is a proud outfit, a great unit, one of the first to fight communism," said Timmons. "Their motto was, `I'll try sir,' and this unit could handle every job it was assigned. I would have been real proud to have been in the 5th RCT," he said. "The Korean War was a war fought to prevent communism from taking over a little country. They fought there so that Korea could stay free, and in the end, so America could stay free."