Korean War Veteran. Remembering those who served at Kapyong in 1951

Transcription

1 April 24, 2011 Korean War Veteran Internet Journal - Easter Sunday, April 24, 2011 Remembering those who served at Kapyong in 1951 (Photographs taken and provided by Senator Yonah Martin of the Canadian Senate)

2 Canadian veterans preparing to present scholarships to students of the Kapyong Buk Middle School. The students receive modest financial support from the veterans each year at ceremonies commemorating the April Battle of Kapyong. Though some of the veterans have not been met in person for going on 60 years, others are known to editor and identities made. At right, although almost left out of the photograph is Lieutenant Colonel John Bishop, president of the Korea Veterans Association of Canada. John served at Kapyong as a corporal and section leader. To John s right is Bernard Cote, a Kapyong veteran who fought from the highest position on Hill 677 with 10 Platoon, D Company of the 2nd Patricias. Fifth from right margin is Peter Seiersen, who worked on campaign in Canada to raise funds for an additional 24 scholarships. Seventh from right margin is Alex Sim, who served as platoon sergeant of Constant Force reconnaissance unit at Kapyong. To the right of Sergeant Sim is Gilles Martin, Royal 22e Regiment, R22eR VanDoos. At extreme left, second from left margin is Kapyong veteran Frank Boe. All of the veterans shown provided donations that funded one full scholarship. The exception was Alex Sim. Alex and his wife, Dina, provided funds for two scholarships. Apologies to those not named.

3 The Canadian War Memorial in the Canadian Peace Garden at Kapyong. The large bouquet of chrysanthemums to the right side of the altar are a tribute from His Excellency Lee Myung-bak, President of the Republic of Korea. Senator Yonah Martin said of the ceremony: During the one-hour ceremony, we experienced calm blue skies, breathtaking wind (just before the wreaths were about to be laid as if the spirits of the departed were reminding us of their presence), the pitter patter of a passing shower and more... (Colonel Jacques Morneau the Canadian Defence Attache presided over the ceremonies).

4 Kapyong Buk Middle School scholars, waiting to receive their scholarship awards from the Canadian veterans. The funds will help defray some of their school expenses, including meals taken while they are at school. Many smiles and much warmth passed between veterans and students as the scholarships were presented to Kapyong Buk Middle School scholars. Veteran John

5 Bishop (right), president of the Korea Veterans Associations of Canada seems delighted, as were all who donated scholarships and participated in the presentation. A beautiful Easter Sunday morning dawned just before services began at the Australian Memorial at Kapyong. Services were held concurrently for New Zealand veterans. The New Zealand Memorial is located on the same site. Some veterans who served at Kapyong in April, 1950 were present, representing their old units, the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment and the 16th Field Regiment of the Royal New Zealand Artillery.

6 The sign above the Australians says it succinctly and meaningfully and was tremendously appreciated. Note the Mugunghwa flower, the national flower of Korea, on right side of banner beneath Korean Flag, the Taegeukgi and the Australian Flag on left side of banner. Here is photograph borrowed from the Herald Sun of Australia

7 Australia s Prime Minister Juliard Gillard flew to Korea to participate with Australian and New Zealand veterans at the Kapyong ceremonies on April 24. The fellow on her right with right hand extended is Keith Payne, who served in the Korean War and later was awarded a Victoria Cross for action in Vietnam. The second veteran from her left is John Simmons, national revisit coordinator for Australia s Korean War Veterans. To the left of Keith Payne, VC is Tim Matheison, the companion of Prime Minister Gillard. Australia flooded with news stories about the Kapyong ceremonies It is noteworthy that on the Internet, if you call up Kapyong Australia you will get a flood of news reports, many with photographs. Some of them chronicle that the Government of Australia is setting up 10 special Kapyong scholarships to encourage Korean students to study in Australia. Prime Minister Gillard announced this at Kapyong. She also announced that on the Australian War Memorial in Australia the names of Australians classified as Missing in Action during the Korean War will be added, as will the names of all of those who served in Australia following the signing of the Military Armistice Agreement that ended the war on July 27, No news stories in Canada about the Kapyong ceremonies While Australia is filled with newspaper and television stories about the Australian veterans and their Prime Minister and her partner attending the Kapyong ceremony, Canada had virtually none. Prime Minister Gillard s trip to Korea was even controversial as she follows it up with an official mission to China to meet with top cabinet officials in summit level discussions. The foreign ministry in China advised they took a dim view of her trip to Korea to commemorate with veterans who had fought against the Chinese Peoples Volunteers. The spunky Gillard shrugged it off, said she will present at the meetings her view on the need for stabilization on the Korean peninsular, which she believes should be an immediate and fundamental goal for both China and Australia. There is not a single article about Canadians at Kapyong on the Internet at this time, save for this article which will later appear on the website of the Korea Veterans Association of Canada. No reports have been published or broadcast in Canada. Senator Yonah Martin of the Canadian Senate flew to Korea on her personal mission to be with the veterans. In the weeks before she left she launched a fund raising program that paid for 10 Kapyong veterans to fly to Korea and participate in the ceremonies.

8 Elected government officials in Canada are embroiled in national election campaigning and could not participate. The Minister of Veterans Affairs was considering it, but the election cut him out of the picture. Canadian news media also did not report on the Kapyong memorial Service Senator Martin organized at the Canada s National War Memorial in Ottawa on April 16. It was the first time that the Battle of Kapyong had ever been officially commemorated in Canada's capital. Senator Yonah Martin chats with British Korean War Veteran Edgar Green, who was stationed at Kapyong with the Middlesex Regiment, the Diehards. Edgar, a resident of the U.K., donated funds to purchase a full Kapyong scholarship in the Canadian fund raising campaign. It was awarded to a student at the Kapyong Buk Middle School during the Canadian ceremony. Another U.K. veteran who did the same is Albert Wyllie-Shovlin of Scotland, who served in Korea with the Royal Artillery. Also making a significant contribution from the U.K. was Korean War Veteran Bob Yerby. Bob Yerby was also in the Middlesex Regiment. He served in the Battle of Kapyong with A Company. (To follow: the Commonwealth veterans are feted in Gapyeong (Kapyong) City.