The Korean War Veteran Internet Journal for the World s Veterans of the Korean War July 31, 2014

Transcription

1 The Korean War Veteran Internet Journal for the World s Veterans of the Korean War July 31, 2014 Korean War Veterans Armistice Day in Windsor, Ontario, Canada shows public interest in Korean War and its Veterans now higher than ever before Anyone who doubts that the Korean War and its Veterans are better known by the public now than in past years only has to reflect on the City of Windsor, Ontario, Canada, population a little less than 300,000. While only 14 of the city s 50 or so surviving Korean War Veterans were able to turn out for the Korean War Veterans Armistice Day on July 27, there were no less than eight elected officials present, including Members of Parliament, Members of the Provincial Parliament and City of Windsor councilors. No less than 14 wreaths were placed in memory of Canada s Korean War Fallen.

2

3 Veteran Henry Martinak, who chaired the team that had the monument designed, raised the funds to build it and had a huge unveiling and Consecration in 2009, addresses fellow Veterans in Windsor, including veterans who served in World War Two, Korea, Vietnam and Afghanistan, whose associations all placed wreaths. Henry served in the 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia s Canadian Light Infantry, along with many Special Force volunteers from Windsor. Sadly, many of them have passed on and seven soldiers from the Windsor area are buried in Korea where they fell in action. With Henry is Reverend Stan Fraser, who heads a Windsor group of veterans who care for the graves of those who fell and also conduct funeral and burial services for needy veterans. Stan Fraser has been the padre at many, many funerals of veterans from all wars. Photo by Veteran Peter Remdenok Honoring the veterans who served in Korea were Vietnam War Veterans from the North Wall Riders and other associations whose members served in Vietnam, Afghanistan Veterans, Veterans from World War Two, Royal Canadian Legion members and officials. The huge Monument, built with donated funds, lists the names of all 516 Canadians who lost their lives in Korean War service, as well as all the Canadian Army and Royal Canadian Air Force units, and all eight Royal Canadian Navy destroyers that saw service in Korea.

4

5 Paul Yoo, newly elected president of the Korean community association in Windsor, spoke to the veterans and expressed heartfelt appreciation for their service. Mr. Yoo said that present day South Koreans, though most were born long after the war had ended, know how terrible life is in oppressive North Korea today, and but for the sacrifice of veterans from Canada and the other UN Allied Nations, South Korea would be like North Korea. Mr. Yoo lost his composure and wept as he got to the end of his speech. Photo by Veteran Peter Remdenok Korean War Veterans Memorial in Windsor lists all the names of the Canadians who lost their lives on Korean War service, all of the military and Royal Canadian Air Force Units that served in Korea and all eight Royal Canadian Navy destroyers. The first three of the destroyers sailed for Korea a few days after the United Nations asked for armed support. The last Canadian destroyer left Korean waters in It is of note that Windsor, Ontario, located directly across the Detroit River from Detroit, Michigan, is also the location of the Canadian Vietnam Veterans North

6 Wall a memorial listing the names of 103 Canadians who fell in Vietnam and seven who were listed as Missing in Action. Many of the Vietnam veterans attended the Korean War Veterans Armistice Day ceremony, as did an honour guard from the Royal Canadian Navy Veterans Association. Engraved on the memorial is this inscription: As long as we live, you shall live. As long as we live, you shall be remembered. As long as we live, you shall be loved. Canadian Vietnam Veterans Association North Wall Memorial in Windsor, Ontario, Canada was the gift of three U.S. Vietnam veterans, Ric Gidner, Ed Johnson and Chris Reynolds. Every year a grand ceremony of remembrance is held there for those who were lost in Vietnam, including those listed as Missing in Action. The North Wall Riders Association, a large motorcycle club composed of Canadian Vietnam Veterans, rides to the memorial where hundreds join in the remembrance ceremony. According to their Association, more than 20,000 known Canadian served in United States Forces in Vietnam. Among the 103 Canadians who lost their lives in Vietnam was Lance Corporal Richard Paul Dextraze. At the time that he fell, his father, the famous Canadian Korean War veteran General Jacques Dextraze was Canada s Chief of Defence Staff, the most senior officer in the Canadian Forces. As a lieutenant colonel, his father, popularly called Jadex by the troops, led the 2nd Battalion of Canada s French speaking Royal 22e Regiment, the Vandoos, into action in Korea. He was on duty at National Defence Department headquarters in Ottawa in 1969 when officers from the United States Embassy arrived to give him the hurtful news that his son had been killed in action. They presented General Dextraze with his son s Silver Star medal for bravery, which was awarded posthumously.

7 General Dextraze, when in civilian clothes, wore a small enameled replica of the Silver Star ribbon in his lapel. He wore it until the day that he died. The Canadian Vietnam North Wall Memorial is flanked by the Canadian and American Flags, set in stone and visible from the Ambassador Bridge that links Windsor with Detroit, Michigan. More than one quarter of all the commercial goods traded between the two nations is transported by truck via the bridge, the busiest connecting link between Canada and the United States.