Korean War Vets say they're closer despite smaller numbers

From WBIR 10: Korean War Vets say they're closer despite smaller numbers
The Korean War ended nearly 60 years ago, but the memories are still fresh on the minds of those who survived.

"I was an infantryman in the fox hole, dodging bullets, shrapnel, and mortars, living from one minute to the next minute," said Korean War Veteran Leroy Rogers of Maryville.

The Army's 7th Cavalry regiment are all in Gatlinburg to share their stories.

"Mostly we're talking about our past experiences. We are survivors. 54,000 did not survive the Korean War," Rogers said.

Rogers is a local but the rest hail from 21 other states. Wilbur O'Brien made the trip from Alaska.

"We all have a lot of memories. Some good, some not so good," said O'Brien.

There's an air of sadness for some who notice that the group gets smaller every year.

"At one point, we had 1,173 men on our roster and we had 400-500 people coming to the reunions," said organizer, Richard Mitchell. Now they're down to 40 men.

"You miss them when their gone," he said.

The group says it has only made them closer.

"Combat veterans have a closer bond than blood kin," said Rogers.

They plan to meet as long as they're able.

The group meets every year in different cities across the United States.