Korean War Veteran

Internet Journal for the World’s

Veterans of the Korean War

November 17, 2014

November 11, 2014 Busan, Korea

Veterans visit graves of Fallen Comrades in

United Nations Memorial Cemetery before

Turn Toward Busan ceremonies begin

President of the New Zealand Korean Veterans Association Desmond Vinten and

the New Zealand Defence Attache visit graves on the symbolic Flagged Terrace

area at the head of the United Nations Memorial Cemetery.

Canadian veteran Henri St. Laurent, a former national president of the Korea

Veterans Association of Canada and for many years, president of the Province of

Quebec region of KVA Canada, pauses within the Memorabilia Hall before

visiting graves of fallen comrades. Henri served in Korea with Canada’s French-

speaking Royal 22e Regiment.

Veteran Jean Lauze takes a morning break in the Memorabilia Hall where hot

coffee was available, before visiting graves of Fallen Comrades in the Cemetery.

Mr. Lause served in the Korea with Canada’s French-speaking Royal 22e

Regiment, the well-known “VanDoos.”

Turkish veterans view photographs of their comrades from long ago in the

Memorabilia Hall before visiting the graves of 462 of their Fallen Comrades, then

participating in the unveiling of a new Monument to commemorate all 721 of

Turkey’s Korean War Fallen, and all 20,000 who served.

Four Canadian veterans gather to reminisce in the Memorabilia Hall which contain

photographs of units of all of the UN Allied Nations. Shown above are (left)

Charles Wilson of the 1st and 2nd Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry

(PPCLI), Captain Arthur Lortie of the Royal 22e Regiment, Peter Seiresen of the

1st PPCLI and Lieutenant Colonel John Bishop, 2nd PPCLI. John Bishop is the

president of the International Association of Korean War Veterans Association.

Frank Fallows, chairman of the newly formed British Korean War Veterans

Association, explains the British role in the war to Mrs. Betty McAfee, wife of

veteran Louis De Cleen, of Belgium.

A veteran who fought with the Turkish Brigade prays over the grave of a Fallen

Comrade in the Turkish Graves Section of the United Nations Memorial Cemetery.

It is the second largest burial section in the cemetery, the resting place for 462 of

the 721 Turkish soldiers who fell. The others rest in unmarked graves. Of the total

of 15,000 Turkish soldiers who served in the three brigade rotations, 2,111 were

wounded. Additionally, 164 were listed as missing in action. In October, 1950, the

Brigade had just joined 8th U.S. Army on the line and was advancing far North of

Pyongyang when huge Chinese forces interdicted the supply lines and surrounded

some of the units. The Brigade had received no U.S. liaison officers and eventually

received no orders from the U.S. command chain and was left to sort things out on

its own. It totally lacked intelligence and therein some of its soldiers were captured.

However, when fiercely attacked by great numbers, some of the officers threw

their hats to the ground as a marker beyond which none of the soldiers would

withdraw and they “died upon the fur.” Of the Turkish soldiers who were captured

not a single one of them perished in the enemy’s prison camps, although deaths

among imprisoned soldiers from other nations were very high.

Turkish veteran Huseyin Tutas, visits the grave of a comrade who fell while

serving with the famed Turkish Brigade. There were 14 veterans from Turkey

participating as special guests of the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs.

Before the Turn Toward Busan ceremony was held, all veterans gathered near the

flagged terrace area at the head of the cemetery where a new Turkish Memorial

was dedicated.

Canadian veteran Peter Seiresen and his daughter, Wendy Walker visit the grave of

one of Peter’s Fallen Comrades. Peter served in Korea with the anti-tank platoon of

the 1st Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry and participated in

the Turn Toward Busan ceremonies in special status as the 1st National Vice

President of the Heritage Unit of KVA Canada.

Colonel Melesse Tessema Debela, president of the Korean Veterans Association of

Ethiopia and his son, Endale Melese Tessema, visited many gravesites and viewed

the various monuments in the UN Cemetery. All Ethopian Fallen were returned to

their homeland for burial. None were listed as missing in action, for comrades of

the Fallen would fight to their deaths to recover their remains. The enemy forces

were astounded at the tenacity of these brave soldiers in ensuring that not one of

them was left on the battlefield, including the dead. The three Kagnew Battalions

that served in succession, suffered 121 soldiers killed in action and 536 wounded. No Ethiopian soldier was ever captured by the enemy.

Colonel Guillermo Rodriguez Guzman, vice president of the Korean War Veterans

Association of Colombia, visits the graves of Canadian Fallen prior to the

beginning of the Turn Toward Busan ceremonies. Many today, even veterans, are

not aware that Colombia had a full battalion of infantry in action in Korea

throughout the war and three naval frigates serving at sea. Most of the three

successive battalions that served in Korea were made up of very young soldiers in

their late teens or early 20’s. The Colombian battalions lost 146 soldiers killed in

action, 69 missing in action and 448 wounded. In the tragic fifth battle of Old

Baldy in March, 1953, the battalion that was then serving suffered staggering

losses, with 95 soldiers killed, 30 missing and 97 wounded. In this action, higher

U.S. command intervened with the battalion commander’s orders, causing much

confusion and needless exposure of Colombian troops to enemy fire. Higher

command also had diverted a backup company of infantry to U.S. forces holding

Pork Chop Hill, leaving the Colombians without a reserve to counterattack. With

many Colombian soldiers still wounded and fighting in outposts and others upon

Old Baldy proper, higher command dictated that Old Baldy was in enemy hands.

Thereafter the entire hill was barraged with artillery fire from regiments of an

entire division and fight bombers saturated it with napalm bombs. The stunned and

shaking Colombians who could witness the fierce fires were certain not one of

their soldiers could have survived. None of them did. The veterans returned home

to a country that mostly did not even know their countrymen had served in Korea,

and if they did they didn’t care. The veterans suffered for decades, including those

badly wounded, and only those who could prove their disabilities were caused by

war service were able to receive social aid. For all its lack of services to those who

survived, the Colombian Government fastidiously had the Fallen brought home

with each of the returning battalions.

Colonel Rodrigues salutes veterans from Canada who fell in the Korean War as he

stands among the graves of 378 of the Canadian Fallen.

Robert Mortimer and his wife Janice pay homage over the grave of Janice’s father,

J.R.H. Longmore, who fell in action at age 38, serving with the 3rd Battalion of the

Royal Australian Regiment. Janice was one of six daughters, an infant when her

remarkable father enlisted. He had served all through World War Two and was

much too old for enlistment in the force raised for Korea, so he lied his age

downward by 10 years. He arrived in Korea when his Regiment was fighting near

Pyongyang in North Korea. Records show that the journey of his remains to the

final resting place in the UN Cemetery was a long one. There were three burials

involved in different locations as the line of the 8th U.S. Army withdrew

southward. Janice was two years old when her father died.

On the walkway from the burial sites toward the green area where the United

Nations Wall of Remembrance is located, Dr. Anders Tang, in wheelchair, and his

daughter, Birgitta Fagerlund, pause for photographer and take a breather. A

volunteer helper from the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs is assisting

them. Dr. Tang served with the Swedish Red Cross Hospital in Busan during the

war and is 99 years old.

Mrs. Catherine Crawford, wife of Rear Admiral (Ret’d) Ian Crawford of Australia,

pauses among graves of Fallen Australian servicemen. Her husband was visiting

graves elsewhere when the photograph was taken. He was invited to the

ceremonies in special status as the President of the Australian Council of Korean

War Veterans Associations.

British Korean War Veteran Brian Morley visits British graves with Warrant Officer

Ian Smith the Deputy Defence Attache at the British Embassy. Brian was one of

four British Veterans who signed on suddenly 48 hours before the Korean Airlines

flight that would take them from London to Incheon. Although four openings had

been conveyed to veterans associations in England there were no responses. The

Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs then asked the newly formed British

Korean War Veterans Association if they could help locate veterans who might

want to participate. The KWVA filled all four slots with five hours of receiving the

request.

Mr. Constantinos Farros, representing the Korean War Veterans of Greece, pauses

respectfully beside the Greek Memorial. Mr. Farros met his wife in Korea during

the war. She was a nurse in the Greek Army. She served for 35 years and retired in

the rank of brigadier general. Mr. Farros represents the veterans of his nation at

meetings of the International Federation of Korean War Veterans Associations.

Australian Veteran Norman Driver and his son Stephen, visit the Turkish grave

section of the United Nations Memorial Cemetery. They were among eight

representatives from Australia to participate in the Turn Toward Busan ceremonies,

including the allocation for veterans and those invited in special status.

Canadian Defence Attache Colonel Jeff Drummond, chats with Turkish veterans in

the Turkish graves section of the Cemetery, shortly before a special ceremony at

which a new monument for Turkish Fallen was unveiled and dedicated.

Margaret Nichole Evered, wife of veteran Alan Evered, admires one of the roses

that grow between the graves of fallen soldiers. Margaret and her husband are

originally from England but are now residents of Australia. Alan served in Korea

with the Essex Regiment.

Vince and Mak-ye Courtenay from Canada have visited the graves of 12 Fallen

soldiers who served with the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, and

prepare to move to the United Nations Wall of Remembrance where the November

11 Turn Toward Busan ceremony is scheduled to take place.