[KS] "Sugi" Flag Issue

[Thomas duvernay]

Dear List Members,

A few years ago, we had a discussion on this list regarding the Korean 
commander's flag ("sugi") that was captured by the U.S. in the 1871 
conflict, known in Korea as the "Shinmiyangyo."  I have been trying for the 
better part of the past decade to have the flag repatriated to Korea; it 
currently sits on the bottom shelf of a display case at the United States 
Naval Academy's museum, rolled up and ignored.  During those years, I have 
run into vast bureaucratic hurdles, all of which led to dead ends.

However, there has been an initiative by another American, Doug Sterner, who 
runs a website dedicated primarily to Medal of Honor recipients 
(http://www.homeofheroes.com/).  He has been in contact with a U.S. 
congressman who is willing to sponsor a bill supporting the return of the 
flag to Korea.  The hurdle now is not so much in the U.S. Congress as it is 
with the Korean people.  As few people outside of military and academic 
circles in Korea know much of anything regarding the 1871 conflict, there 
has been no general call for the flag's return.

Mr. Sterner points out (http://www.homeofheroes.com/talkingpoints.html) that 
if the U.S. wishes to have a chance of adversary North Korea returning the 
ship U.S.S. Pueblo (namesake of Mr. Sterner's city of Pueblo, Colorado), it 
should lead by example by returning the flag, a war prize, to its friend, 
South Korea.

I plan to write an article on the subject, but there needs to be more 
dissemination of the information to the general public in Korea.  Any help 
list members can give will be greatly appreciated.

Please feel free to contact me.

Thomas Duvernay
http://www.shinmiyangyo.org