‘Korean War’ Games

US vets’ peaceful return for Olympics

Sixty-five years after the Korean War ended, two 83-year-old military veterans are boots down on their old battlegrounds — attending the Olympics.

Pals John “Jack” Keep and Lewis “Lew” Ewing, both of Virginia, braved a grueling day of travel and South Korea’s bitter, subfreezing weather to make their journey to the Games, a family member confirmed to The Post.

“I’m too old to get giddy about things anymore,” Keep (inset left), a former petty officer with the Navy, told CNBC before setting out. “But it will be quite a thrill.”

Ewing (right) is equally delighted — whether he gets to watch curling or the Super-G (super giant slalom).

“I’ve never seen an Olympics firsthand,” the former Army helicopter crew chief told the network. “I’m just ready for whatever they give us the opportunity to see.”

With North and South Korea marching under the same flag at the opening ceremony Friday, the Olympics give the two war vets hope for peace.

“You know you can’t trust the North Koreans, but I think we all hope that there will be some loosening of relationships where they get to talking,” said Keep.

“And maybe make it possible once again for families to visit across the line and things like that.”

Nearly 34,000 US forces died by the time fighting in the Korean War ended in July 1953. Another 7,747 Americans remain missing in action.

South Koreans still show appreciation to US veterans — and the two Virginians are grateful in return.

“It means a lot to us,” Keep said. “Because when we came home from Korea, nobody knew where we were, or cared.”

Keep was just 17 when he enlisted in the Navy. Two years later, he was assigned as a petty officer on a ship that patrolled the North Korean coast.

Meanwhile, Ewing, an Army corporal, was stationed at Chuncheon.

“When we left Korea in the 1950s, the city of Seoul was total devastation, just nothing but rubble,” Ewing said.

Both men have since made return trips to the South.

“Today, Seoul is like any metropolitan city in the United States,” Ewing said. “It shows you how hardworking and energetic the Korean people are and how they really won’t give up.”