MEN AT WAR: Sacred Spot

A cold rain spattered down last week on olive-drab U.S. Army sedans, rolling between red clay banks toward the crest of a hill overlooking the sea near Pusan. On the hilltop, white-legginged MPs signaled in front of grey stone gates. Representatives of 15 nations aiding the U.N. cause in Korea were gathering to dedicate the first permanent United Nations cemetery.

Each nation had its own plot, surmounted by its own flag. Altogether there were 4,715 graves, of which 4,410 held U.S. dead. Here & there among the crosses were the Jewish Star of David, the Turkish Star and Crescent.

Said Lieut. General Matthew Ridgway: “Surrounded by this scene of earth and sea and sky, fashioned of Korea by our Creator, lie our comrades of land and sea and air forces . . . Proudly they served . . . We have sought with heart & hand to add for them what we could of simple beauty to this sacred spot . . .”

General Ridgway, the grenades that he carries on his chest glistening in the rain, stepped to the center flagpole. After a momentary hitch caused by a wet lanyard, a huge blue U.N. banner was unfurled, dominating all the flags of nations.