The US soldier in the 20th Century has seen a lot of war. Korea was a shock to the system so soon after we believed we'd fought The War to create The Peace. 

Well, the Peace never lasts. If the history of mankind has two years in a row to rub together that there was no war anywhere, it would be a surprise to me. Our men went headlong into a brutal fight in Korea from a massive demobilization, which demonstrates the devotion to duty they had. They fought there in weather that ranged from temperate to polar cold, under muddy monsoons and in terrain forbidding to modern transportation. 

It should be enough to know the fighting was over such unknown bits of land they had to number the hills.

And yet this mother's son tried to ease his family's worries. 

For those unaware (hard to imagine, but my wife didn't know), KIA means Killed in Action. I never knew you Walter, but I hope you found peace.