It’s called the Forgotten War, and that apparently is exactly what happened to it in Lawrence.

At the end of a week that saw thousands of people in the city pay tribute to those who fought World War II, nothing is planned this weekend in Lawrence to honor those who fought in Korea — despite ceremonies in Washington, Topeka and elsewhere to mark the 50th anniversary of the war’s end.

But Alvin James said he wouldn’t forget the Korean War, in which more than 36,000 U.S. soldiers died, including more than 400 Kansans and eight from Douglas County.

James was a 17-year-old machine gunner with a heavy weapons company that took so many casualties it had to be reorganized with another outfit. The Lawrence man said he didn’t have many good memories of the war, but one of his most peculiar recollections was of what happened when his line was overrun by Chinese and North Koreans one December on Pork Chop Hill.

“We got into an ambush and blocked off of our patrol,” he said. “They burned a lot of our equipment and we had to sit there and watch all those Christmas presents go up in smoke.”

Many Korean veterans said they didn’t even know it was the 50th anniversary of the cease-fire that resulted in a tense standoff between North and South Korea that continues to simmer, with a continuing heavy U.S. military presence.

“I haven’t heard anything about it (the anniversary),” James said. “I guess they don’t want to celebrate it. It doesn’t seem like they want to do too much on the Korean War.”

Alvin James, who served as a machine gunner in the Korean War, is disappointed that there aren't any tributes or memorials planned this weekend for the 50th anniversary of the end of the war. James, a Lawrence resident, served in 1950-51 in Korea.

Mel Lisher of Lawrence entered the Army when he was 16 and served as an infantryman, then in tanks.

He served in late 1951 and volunteered to return in 1952 because, he said, “I was young and dumb.”

Lisher said his war experience was good for him. He doesn’t mind that there is no official tribute in town to recognize Korean War veterans.

“It doesn’t surprise me. We just had a real good weekend for the World War II vets,” he said, referring to the dedication of the Dole Institute of Politics, during which most of the events focused on World War II veterans, including former Sen. Bob Dole.

“One of these days they might do something for us, but not too many of us are Bob Doles,” he joked.

Friday in Washington, President Bush visited the Korean War Veterans Memorial. Several other events recognizing the anniversary are scheduled this weekend in the nation’s capital.

In Topeka, a dedication ceremony is planned for 2 p.m. Sunday for the Northeast Kansas Korean War Memorial in Gage Park.

No ceremonies are scheduled in Lawrence, but efforts are still under way to raise funds to build on the Kansas University campus a $300,000 memorial to those who were killed during the war.

¢ KU to receive gift for Korean War memorial (6-17-03)¢ Korean War veterans unite to raise money for memorial (6-8-03)