Korea War veterans get new, improved websites

One of the black-and-white photographs posted on the improved website peftok.blogspot.com shows Peftok men attending Mass at the county of Chorwon in North Korea before committing themselves to battle in the Korean War.

MANILA, Philippines—The only website in honor of the Philippines’ role in the Korean War has been improved with the addition of more historical data and photos.

Over 50 black-and-white photographs, many of them never before published, have been added to the website of the Philippine Expeditionary Force to Korea or Peftok which is at peftok.blogspot.com.

Two new historical sections have been included. One is a timeline of the Philippines’ involvement in the Korean War. The other features two news stories written by war correspondent Johnny Villasanta and published in the Evening News in 1951.

The enhanced website complements a new one that also honors Peftok at artvillasanta.wix.com/peftokmuseumph.

The new website went online in December 2013 and is about the Peftok Korean War Memorial Hall (PKWMH). Both sites were created by Korean War historian Art Villasanta.

The new website spotlights the Peftok Museum located in the PKWMH. The museum is the first in the Philippines devoted to memorializing the country’s role in the Korean War.

The PKWMH is located on Bayani Road inside Fort Bonifacio. The museum is open Monday to Saturday.

The Peftok consisted of five Battalion Combat Teams that helped defend the Republic of Korea in 1950-53 against communism. Some 7,420 Philippine Army officers and men served in Korea from 1950 to 1955.

Peftok consistently defeated the communist Chinese in battles inside North and South Korea. The most famous Filipino victory against the Chinese was the Battle of Yuldong.