Efforts intensifying to bring U.S. ship involved in Heungnam evacuation to Korea

SEOUL, July 14 (Yonhap) -- Efforts are expected to accelerate in South Korea to secure a U.S. ship involved in the rescue of thousands of people during the 1950-53 Korean War and turn it into part of a monument park that would help remind younger generations of the cruelty of war and the importance of peace. A private group was launched in South Korea in 2013 to get the S.S. Lane Victory handed over from the U.S. It recently convened a meeting and decided to intensify its push by launching a nonprofit entity exclusively working on the objective. "I hope that our younger generations will renew their recognition of history by looking at the Lane Victory," said a retired Marine Corps general who leads the group. Should all the efforts succeed, the group said that it is considering locating the ship on Geoje Island at the southern tip of the Korean Peninsula where many of the rescued people settled. It estimates around 5 billion won is necessary and plans to secure the money through support both from the government and the private sector. The Lane Victory is a U.S. cargo ship known for helping rescue around 7,000 people in the so-called Heungnam evacuation that took place in late 1950. It was when the U.S.-backed South Korean forces began retreating from North Korea after China sent a massive number of troops to join its communist neighbor. The ship is currently anchored at a port near Los Angeles and has been used as a war museum. With the U.S. government mandate for its operation long gone, however, worries grow that it could be sold and turned into scrap, a fate similar to the Meredith Victory which also participated in the major evacuation at the height of the war. The Meredith Victory rescued around 14,000 people during the evacuation which included the parents of incumbent South Korean President Moon Jae-in. It was turned into scrap after being sold to China in 1993. "Unless we are in a hurry, the ship (the Lane Victory) could become scrap," he said. "I hope our efforts succeed as fast as possible. But things will not end with the return of the ship since we will have to install the necessary infrastructure and operate it well. I also hope the people can understand our intention and help us a lot." (END)