The Korean War Veteran

Transcription

1 The Korean War Veteran Internet Journal - November 24, 2011 Turning toward Busan in Canada s Capital On the evening of November 10, 2011, Canada held its national Turn Toward Busan ceremony in Ottawa, with two minutes of silence occurring precisely at 9 p.m. It was internationally synchronized with the Turn Toward Busan service being held at the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Busan, Korea, where it was November 11, and where the respectful silence was held at 11 a.m. local time. In Canada, Veterans Affairs Minister Steven Blaney and the Republic of Korea s Ambassador, His Excellency Joo Hong Nam both addressed the participants and issued statements to the nation. In Busan, Honourable Park Sung Choon, Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, addressed several hundred veterans and dignitaries at the United Nations Memorial Cemetery. Additionally in Canada, veterans held Turn Toward Busan services from coast to coast, either on the evening of November 10 or during the day on November 11. It is a simple, heartfelt gesture. They turn along GPS set plot lines toward Busan, where 378 Canadians are buried and where 16 soldiers with no known graves and five Canadian sailors lost at sea are also commemorated. Veterans in some of the other nations, in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, also make this simple tribute. Those who do so can contemplate the vast distance separating fallen comrades from their homeland, and the amount of time that has gone by and they can visualize the land where they served in war and the faces of friends who fell. For all of us, the connection is timeless; there are no dimensions separating us.

2 Address in the Ottawa City Hall by His Excellency Joo Hong Nam The Repubic of Korea s Ambassador to Canada. Tonight, we gather together once again to show our eternal gratitude for the brave Canadians who gave everything they had to help save Korea more than sixty years ago. Without the ultimate sacrifice of those 516 fallen Canadians, the Korea we know today would never exist. It is very important therefore to honour the heroic Canadians whose actions changed the course of history, thereby making Canada, Korea and the World a safer and better place. As some of you have already witnessed through our government revisit program, the Country, Korea that you and your fallen Canadians defended has now emerged as the world s 15th largest economy and is among the most prosperous countries in the world. Korea, which used to receive aid from international societies as a needy country has transformed into a giving country. Again, the remarkable transformation of Korea could not have happened without the sacrifices of brave Canadians like you and your fallen brothers.

3 Tonight, we turn towards Busan, where the 378 brave Canadians soldiers and the 5 sailors who were lost at sea, are laid to rest in peace. This ceremony is timed to simultaneously take place as the Remembrance Day Ceremony at the UN Cemetery in Busan occurs. We know that we have no way of repaying their supreme sacrifice, however, I truly hope that this humble, but symbolic ceremony can continue to be a great reminder to all of us, especially our future generations. Again, on behalf of all Koreans in Canada and the citizens of the Republic of Korea, I wholeheartedly appreciate your dedicated participation in this special ceremony. We Koreans promise that we will continue to remember you and your fallen colleagues in hopes that the Korean War will never be forgotten. We will never forget them. Lest we forget. Thank you.

4 Honourable Steven Blaney, Minister of Veterans Affairs, and His Excellency Joo Hong Nam, the Ambassador for the Republic of Korea, place wreaths at the altar within the Ottawa City Hall, to commemorate those who fell in the Korean War. The National Capital Unit of the Korea Veterans Association of Canada was coorganizer of the ceremony. Lieutenant Commander (Retired) Bill Black, president of the unit was the planner and coordinator of the program. This evening we honour the more than 26,000 courageous Canadian men and women who served in the Korean War, of whom 516 bravely gave their lives to defend our way of life, Minister Blaney said. They served our country with pride and conviction. We will never forget their service and their sacrifice in making our world a safer place. Canada was one of 16 countries to join the United Nation's multinational force in Korea. After an armistice was signed in 1953, another 7,000 Canadians continued to serve in Korea until the end of Fifty-eight years after the signing of the Armistice, we remain firmly committed to remembering and recognizing the shared history that unites our two great countries. Most of all, we are proud to stand together and pay tribute to our nation's truest heroes.

5 Seated during the service in Ottawa are (left to right) Young Hae Lee, President, Canada-Korea Society; Colonel Soo Wan Lee, Defence Attaché, Embassy of the Republic of Korea; Minister Hwang, Embassy of the Republic of Korea; His Excellency Joo Hong Nam, Republic of Korea s Ambassador to Canada; Honourable Steven Blaney, PC, MP, Minister of Veterans Affairs; Major General Ian Poulter, Canadian Army, Department of National Defence and Captain Watson, Royal Canadian Navy.

6 Shown after placing wreaths are (left to right) Honourable Steven Blaney, Minister of Veterans Affairs; Major General Ian C., Poulter, OMM, CD; Deputy Mayor Steve Desroches, City of Ottawa; Lieutenant Commander (Ret d) Bill Black, President, Korea Veterans Association National Capital Unit 7; His Excellency Joo Hong Nam, the Republic of Korea s Ambassador to Canada, Royal Canadian Legion Dominion President Pat Varga and Royal Canadian Legion Grand President Larry Murray, Dominion Command. Turning toward Busan on the Atlantic Coast For the fifth year in a row in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, from which small city and region thousands of Canadians have come forth to serve Canada so bravely and so proudly and memorably, veterans and the local populace turned toward Busan during the November 11 Remembrance Day service, to commemorate those who fell in Korea. Ah, it was sad indeed that the leader of this movement, John MacNeal, longtime president of the John Bernard Croak VC Memorial Branch 3 of the Royal

7 Canadian Legion (now retired) was not supervising the veterans, but John has been suffering from severe illness these past few years. The historic Savoy Theatre, home to the region s summer stock theatre and famous in the Atlantic Provinces was jam filled more than 500 by estimate, standing room only. No unit or ship or service was not blessed with the sweat and dedication and spunk of these great sons of the sea and of the land, not only in the Korean War but in all wars Canadians have served in, and in its countless peacekeeping missions. So many went from Glace Bay and its region to serve in Korea and some are buried there still in the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Busan. None are forgotten in Glace Bay, or in the region dominated by Sydney!!! There was driving wind and rain outdoors this year, but all of them marched to or after the indoors service, feeling the harsh weather, yes, but whining or ducking it, no! Korea should give special memory to these brave young sons of Canada who fought so hard for her people when their nation was in peril. Glace Bay veterans take part in November 11 Remembrance Day and Turn Toward Busan service in the historic Savoy Theatre. Shown from left are Bill McLean, president of the John Bernard Croak VC Memorial Branch 3 of the Royal

8 Canadian Legion, Ossie Gillis, former paratrooper and Korean War Veteran and Fred Wall. Other members of the John Bernard Croak VC Memorial Branch 3 of the Royal Canadian Legion prepare containers with 7,000 poppies for distribution during Veterans Week. The funds support local needy veterans.

9 In nearby Sydney, Nova Scotia Remembrance Day Commander David Kane of Royal Canadian Legion Branch 138 leads veterans contingent through strong winds and rain in march to indoor services that were held in the Sydney Academy. And on the Pacific Coast Many Turn Toward Busan services were held, some high in the British Columbia interior. One notable service in Kamloops, British Columbia involved the Royal Canadian Air Force 419 Fighter Trainer Squadron from Cold Lake, Alberta, as well as the City of Kamloops and RCAF 866 (Overlander) Wing of the Air Force Association of Canada. This joint service was held this year on the evening of November 10 and the Honorary Commanding Officer of 419 Squadron, conducted the Turn Toward Busan service, which was most respectfully observed by all who attended. The honorary C.O. is retired Warrant Officer Alex Sim, who served in Korea as a platoon sergeant in the 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia s Canadian Light Infantry. Alex s anti-tank platoon served as the long-range reconnaissance unit for the battalion, and was the first to come under fire at Kapyong, during the Battle of Kapyong in April, 1951.

10 Toast to Fallen Comrades, Warrant Officer Alex Sim (second from left, in RCAF kilt) makes toast with officers of RCAF 419 Squadron and civic official.

11 Lt. Plamboeck RCAF 886 (Overlander) Wing AFAC, Capt. Ken Matende Padre, Capt Andrew Faith, Lt. Larsen, Sgt Derrick Manning, Capt. Riel Erickson, Cpl. Jillian MCNeill, Capt. Bennett Phay, Republic of Singapore Air Force, Sgt Carl Tremblay 19 Wing RCAF Comox, Alex Sim, Col. Phil Engstad, Maj. Stig Lorentzen, DCO 419 Squadron and Major Scott Henson.

12 Everyone attending the RCAF 419 Squadron tribute dinner in Kamloops on November 10 turned respectfully along a plot line to Busan, Korea, where 378 Canadians who fell in the Korean War are buried and 21 without known graves are commemorated. They stood solemnly for two minutes while silence was observed for the Fallen.

13 We do not have reports on 2011 services conducted in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, which are entirely voluntary, but veterans from all of those

14 nations were present for the November 11 Turn Toward Busan National Ceremony of Thanks and Tribute to the United Nations Fallen, which was held at the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Busan, Korea. Further, veterans in 26 nations who become familiar with the simple Turn Toward Busan gesture of remembrance, will - not necessarily on November 10 or on November 11, but when they think of Korea and their comrades who served - turn silently toward Busan and at the very least, think of this one of that who fell, and perhaps snap a quick salute that way in their honour. In future years the Turn Toward Busan service held in the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Busan may take on a tone of reconciliation as well. Veterans who fought against South Korea and the United Nations allies may come to the graves of the United Nations Fallen with open hearts, and respectfully wish peace to the spirits of their brave former adversaries. Happy Thanksgiving Day to Our Comrades in the United States of America