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Outpost Harry Project
In memory of the soldiers of the Greek Expeditionary Force who served in the Korean War
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The 38th Parallel was the arbitrary division used to separate northern and southern Korea during the Korean War.
In Ancient Greece, King Leonidas and his 300 Spartans marched north-east, through the 38th Parallel,
Both King Leonidas and his 300 Spartans, in Ancient Greece, and Peter Company of Sparta Battalion, in the Korean War,
When King Leonidas was asked to surrender his arms (weapons) he responded with "come and take them".
The 300 Spartans fought in the shade cast by thousands of Xerxes arrows. They blocked the arrows with their shields.
Outpost Harry may not have been as strategically or geographically as important as Thermopylae but the men on Outpost Harry
The 300 Spartans made their defense in a small pass. The men on Outpost Harry made their defense on a small hill.
Both the 300 Spartans and the men on Outpost Harry could be surrounded by the enemy at any time.
Both the 300 Spartans and the men on Outpost Harry had friendly fire to support them.
The 300 Spartans were full-time professional soldiers and their training started when they were children. The Spartans were the best trained soldiers in the world. They also used long spears that gave them an advantage over all their enemies. The American and Greek troops sent to Korea were also well trained. American infantrymen had superior weapons to their Chinese counterparts and better cover from their superior air force. Many of the Greeks had previous military experience from the Greek civil war and from the Second World War. It was also common for Greeks to carry weapons at home during peace-time to defend their herds, crops, and properties from thieves and they were well used to carrying and using weapons.
Movies have been made about the 300 Spartans and movies will be made about Outpost Harry.
Both Greece and Korea were subject to 20th Century Civil Wars almost concurrently. |