The Korean War Veteran Internet Journal April 21, 2013 Battle of Kapyong ceremony held in Pacific Rim National Park at Tofino, British Columbia

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1 The Korean War Veteran Internet Journal April 21, 2013 Battle of Kapyong ceremony held in Pacific Rim National Park at Tofino, British Columbia Senator Yonah Martin and Republic of Korea Consul General Yeon-Ho Choi from Vancouver, prepare to place memorial wreaths for the soldiers who fell in the Battle of Kapyong at the Canada Remembers Memorial at the Visitor Centre at Wickaninnish Beach in Pacific Rim National Park, Tofino, British

2 Columbia. Among the veterans present is LCol. John Bishop (second from left side of photo wearing glasses), the national president of the Korea Veterans Association of Canada.

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5 Most members of those commemorating the Kapyong Battle Fallen are seen in the group photo taken at the Canada Remembers Memorial. At the Tofino service Senator Yonah Martin delivered remarks on behalf of the Government of Canada and Steven Blaney, Minister of Veterans Affairs. Mister Blaney was preparing to begin a journey to Korea with 32 revisiting veterans and their wives and caregivers. The Republic of Korea s Consul General for western Canada, Yeon-Ho Choi delivered commemorative remarks on behalf of the Korean Government. The service, held indoors because of inclement weather, was emceed by ecosystem scientist John McIntosh, of the Pacific Rim Park Reserve. John Bishop, national president of the Korea Veterans Association of Canada and his wife, Judy Bishop, read the honour roll of the 10 members of the Princess Patricia s Canadian Light Infantry Regiment who were killed in action at Kapyong, in April, Several Korean War Veterans from various KVA Canada units in British Columbia participated. Among the veterans who served with Korean forces during the Korean War was Steve Chang, president of the ROK Korean Veterans Association Western Chapter and some of his fellow veterans, representing the Korean Canadian communities of British Columbia. Chaplain Ernest Gray read the opening prayer and Steve Seo sang the Anthems of Canada and the Republic of Korea. The Nanaimo Scottish Pipes and Drums band played as appropriate. Corporal Victoria Welte, age 13, the trumpeter, played the Last Post and Reveille. RCMP Constables added more Canadian tradition and a dash of colour. Here are three veterans of the Princess Patricia s Canadian Light Infantry s 2nd Battlion who were not present at the Battle of Kapyong ceremony in Tofino.

6 Realizing that they could not get together for the ceremony held at Tofino to mark the 62nd anniversary of the Battle of Kapyong, three close old comrades from the 2nd Patricias instead opted to attend the Heroes Hockey Challenge in Abbortsford, B.C., on the weekend preceding. It is a charitable event supported by the Princess Patricia s Benevolent Fund, the Amputee Coalition of Canada and other charities. Shown in the photo above are (from left) Susan McLeod, sitting across the table from her husband, Lieutenant Colonel (Ret d) Donald Bud McLeod (They are from Half Moon Bay, B.C.), Shirley Skelly, seated across from her husband, Dr. George Skelly (they are from Sun City, Arizona) and Dina Sim, sitting across from her husband, Alex Sim (from Kamloops, B.C.) Bud McLeod served in action in Korea as a platoon commander but did not participate in the Kapyong battle. He later was assigned as an aerial observer with the U.S. Air Force Mosquito Squadron and was awarded an Air Medal decoration.

7 Dr. Skelly graduated from medical school following the Korean War and is a noted urologist in Arizona. He led a platoon as a lieutenant in Korea and served in the Battle of Kapyong. At one point Dr. Skelly commanded the anti-tank platoon in which Alex Sim was sergeant. Again, in 1953 in Germany, Dr. Skelly commanded Alex Sim s platoon. Alex Sim is a World War Two veteran and served in the Normandy invasion in France. He served at Kapyong and nearly lost his life to enemy machinegun bullets when his men were strafed by an enemy heavy machinegun in daylight when they were caught on an open slope. They were all in good company at that the earlier charitable function held in Abbortsford. Other honoured guests included Honourable Judith Guichon, OBC, Lt. Gov. of British Columbia; Lt. Gen. (Retired) Raymond R Crabbe, CMM, MSC, CD, Col. of the Regt. PPCLI; Lt. Gen. (Retired) Kent R Foster, CMM, CD Former Commander of the Canadian Army; Lt. Col. Chris Henderson, MSM, CD, Strategic Joint Staff NDHQ; Dr. Bruce Banman, Mayor of Abbotsford; Peter Fassbender, Mayor of Langley; Master Corporal (Retired) Paul Franklin, Amputee Coalition of Canada and Peer Advisor; Mrs. Sian Jones LeSeur, Silver Cross Mother and Glenn Cumyn, Founder, Heroes Hockey Challenge.