YANKTON, S.D. (AP) - More than a half-century later, Elmer Fischer can still see the eyes of enemy soldiers looking back at him, just a few feet away on patrol in Korea.

"They said, 'You don't shoot, we don't shoot!'" Fischer said. "They didn't want to fight. They were a bunch who were as scared as we were."

But not all of Fischer's confrontations with the enemy ended in such a bloodless manner. Fischer served in Korea with the 7th Division, known as the "Polar Bears" or the "Bloody D," from 1951-53.

Fischer just turned 80, making this Veterans Day a special one.

"I served on Pork Chop Hill and on Old Baldy. Pork Chop Hill was the worst," he said, referring to the bloodiest battle in the three-year Korean War.

"I was in three different battles. I was injured and in the field hospital for two weeks. Then they sent me back on the line. I took shrapnel in my big toe, and now I have a deteriorating nerve."

After enduring such horrifying experiences, Fischer could have discouraged others from joining the military.

Instead, he has been joined in military service by five of his six sons.

For the sons, the military offered educational and career opportunities.

"I told the boys, I can give you high school, but I can't give you college," Fischer said. "You can go to the service and then go from there. So they all volunteered for the Army."

Veterans Day truly is a family affair for Fischer and his wife, Iona. They proudly show a small photo with the father and sons all in military uniform. In the living room, each man is shown in an individual portrait photo in uniform.

The Fischers point to each son's photo, telling his experience.

LaVern, the oldest now at 53, served three years in Germany during the Vietnam era.

Roy entered the Army after high school, serving three years in Germany and then 23 years in the National Guard. He served at first with the Philip and Rapid City units, then joined the 153rd Engineer Battalion in Parkston.

Kenneth waited a year after high school, then served five years in Germany.

Curtis served right after high school for three years in Germany.

Doug, the youngest, entered the National Guard before high school graduation. He served a total of about seven years of active duty in Germany with the Army and another 15 years with the National Guard.

"Doug served in Kuwait with Operation Desert Storm. He was part of the 100 Day War and received the Bronze Star for driving an ammo truck," Elmer said. "If Doug had stayed in the Guard, he figured he would be the one to go to Iraq."

Elmer says he thinks the United States and coalition forces should have gone into Iraq during Operation Desert Storm in 1991 and captured or killed Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.

"(Gen. H. Norman) Schwarzkopf should have got him right away," Fischer said, referring to the Operation Desert Storm commander. "I think Saddam Hussein was part of the 9/11 terrorism. He and Osama bin Laden and Al-Qaida were all part of it."

Besides her husband and sons, Iona's family has maintained a military tradition. Her father, Ed Munkvold, served in World War I, and four brothers served in a variety of theaters: Roy in Germany, Albert stateside, Roland in Korea and Oliver with combat in Vietnam.

"They sent home a death certificate for my father," Iona said, noting the distress caused by the mistake.

Elmer was the recipient of not only one but two miscommunications.

"My folks got two telegrams. One said my leg was amputated, and the other said both legs were amputated," he said. "That was really hard on my folks. I wrote a letter to my mother that I was OK. But she wouldn't believe me. She said, 'You're just trying to make me feel good.'"

While suffering an injury, Fischer felt fortunate just to get home alive.

"I think quite a few got lost from my company. In the first battle, my company went in with 180 people. We went off the hill, and only 25 of us came back. A lot of them got killed or wounded in the 6th of March battle," he said.

"We came back two weeks after that and hit another (battle). I'm not sure if the company was at full strength, but we came back with only 50 men. The third battle, we only came back with 25 men out of the company we started with."

In less than a year, the fighting took a heavy toll on Fischer's unit.

"A few came back," he said. "When we rotated home, only 7 out of that original 180 survived and had no injuries."

As he looks into the distance, Fischer can vividly recall the battles.

"The nights were quiet," he said. "It was at dusk and dawn that things started happening. It would get to you once in a while."

Fischer recalled the exact moment of the cease-fire on July 24, 1953.

"I was with a supply unit, going up and helping a sergeant give ammo," he said. "I was over at headquarters when I got word of (the cease fire)."

"I was 9½ months in combat, and I got $45 a month above my regular pay," he added.

Even on the boat ride home, Fischer couldn't escape the war.

"It took 14 days going over (to Korea), but it took 17 days getting home because we had American POWs (prisoners of war) who had to be discharged," he said. "The POWs wouldn't tell us much. There was a wire mesh between us so we couldn't talk. I think the POWs were treated right (by the enemy) at first, but later they were starved."

Fischer remains convinced that American POWs were either killed or are still held by North Korea or other enemies.

"I think there are still some (POWs) over there. It was on the news that they had some POWs, and others had passed away," he said. "I don't think there were any who chose to stay (in North Korea)."

Elmer was discharged Sept. 19, 1953, and the Fischers were married Dec. 6, 1953. They spent much of their married life in Hot Springs, and part of their family still resides in the Black Hills.

For much of his life, Fischer never shared his story about war.

"I worked in the Hot Springs schools for 19½ years. I was in a story (about his service) in the Rapid City Journal. People read it and asked, 'Why didn't you tell us that you did all of that?' I said, 'I didn't think it was important.'"

The Fischers went to the dedication of the Korean War veterans memorial in Pierre, joined by thousands from across the state and nation.

The memorial and ceremony were long overdue, Elmer said. "Korea was the most forgotten war," he said.

Elmer said he suffered flashbacks after returning from the war, and the bad dreams returned about five years ago.

"You can't keep it inside you. You have to get it off your chest. Otherwise, you'll get sick and it will get the best of you," he said. "I had somebody ask if I would talk to his dad, who was a World War II vet, and I said no, (the father) has to talk it out with another World War II vet. He did, and the son said his dad was a completely new man."

For the Fischers, the U.S. flag flying in their front yard isn't a decoration - it's a family commitment. The tradition continues, as grandson Jeremy Fischer has served five years and re-enlisted in the Marines.

While nearly 60 years has passed since his own combat experience, Elmer said he can relate to the Yankton-based Charlie Battery members who served in Iraq and the next group of Charlie Battery members who recently deployed for Iraq.

"I know what they went through, and my youngest one (who was in combat) knows what they went through," he said. "It really strikes home."