GI in Alleged Korea Killings Meets Survivors

SEOUL — A U.S. veteran of the Korean War on Thursday tearfully hugged five survivors of an alleged mass killing of civilian refugees by American soldiers in the early days of the conflict.

Former Lt. Edward L. Daily of Clarksville, Tenn., traveled to South Korea to talk to survivors about the incident at No Gun Ri village in July 1950.

“Just think of the mental anguish and pain that they have endured over the years. They expressed that today, and I recognized that,” Daily said.

On Sept. 29, Associated Press reported accounts by Daily and other American veterans and South Korean villagers that U.S. soldiers killed as many as 400 civilian refugees cowering under a railroad bridge at No Gun Ri, 100 miles southeast of Seoul. Washington and Seoul are investigating.

Daily said he was ordered to fire at the refugees. At the time, there were widespread reports that North Korean soldiers had infiltrated groups of civilians fleeing south.

Daily and the survivors met at a hotel near the killing site.

Survivors wept as a sobbing 61-year-old survivor recounted the killings, said Chung Eun Yong, a victims’ representative. At the end of the meeting, they applauded Daily.

“He held our hands and embraced us. He said he was sorry,” Chung said.