Tag: Korean War

Korea has always been really good at remembering veterans from the Korean War:

The death of a 91-year-old Ethiopian Korean War veteran has set off a wave of remembrance in Chilgok, North Gyeongsang, home to some of the fiercest fighting during the war.  
   
According to the Chilgok county government on Monday, local residents have set up banners commemorating the service of Melese Tessema, who passed away earlier this month due to complications of Covid-19.  
   
“We pray for the repose of the Ethiopian Korean War Veterans’ Association’s late president, Melese Tessema,” read one banner in the county.   (……)
   
Last year, the county government organized a 6037 Campaign –– named for the 6,037 soldiers in the Kagnew Battalions dispatched by Emperor Haile Selassie to fight in Korea –– to deliver 100,000 face masks to surviving Ethiopian Korean War veterans and their families.  
   
The Chilgok county chief sent a message of condolence to Melese’s funeral, which was read in Amharic by a local resident who had studied in Korea.  
   
Messages of condolence were also posted by Korean celebrities.  (…..)
   
Ethiopia is the only African country that dispatched ground troops to fight as part of the United Nations Command during the Korean War. Out of its 6,037 soldiers, 122 were killed and another 536 wounded. Some 130 Ethiopian veterans of the war are still alive today.  

Joong Ang Ilbo

You can read more at the link.
  

Here is an unbelievable story of how a career fraudster was able to convince the Canadian military that he was a medical doctor and ended up treating patients during the Korean War:

It was here that Demara met and befriended Canadian doctor Joseph Cyr, who was moving to the US to set up a medical practice. Needing help with the immigration paperwork, Cyr gave all his identifying documents to Demara, who offered to fill in the application for him. After the two men parted ways, Demara took copies of Cyr’s paperwork and moved up to Canada. Pretending to be Dr Cyr, Demara approached the Canadian Navy with an ultimatum: make me an officer or I will join the army. Not wanting to lose a trained doctor, Demara’s application was fast tracked.

As a commissioned officer during the Korean war, Demara first served at Stadacona naval base, where he convinced other doctors to contribute to a medical booklet he claimed to be producing for lumberjacks living in remote parts of Canada. With this booklet and the knowledge gained from his time in the US Navy, Demara was able to pass successfully as Dr Cyr.

In 1951, Demara was transferred to be ship’s doctor on the destroyer HMCS Cayuga. Stationed off the coast of Korea, Demara relied on his sick berth attendant, petty officer Bob Horchin, to handle all minor injuries and complaints. Horchin was pleased to have a superior officer who did not interfere in his work and who empowered him to take on more responsibilities.

Though he very successfully passed as a doctor aboard the Cayuga, Demara’s time there came to a dramatic end after three Korean refugees were brought on in need of medical attention. Relying on textbooks and Horchin, Demara successfully treated all three – even completing the amputation of one man’s leg. Recommended for a commendation for his actions, the story was reported in the press where the real Dr Cyr’s mother saw a picture of Demara impersonating her son. Wanting to avoid further public scrutiny and scandal, the Canadian government elected to simply deport Demara back to the US in November 1951.

Get Pocket website

You can read more about this fraudsters incredible tale at the link. The Canadian Naval & Military Museum has a good read about Demara’s time in the Canadian Navy as well.

China’s 50 Cent Army is getting their citizens riled up to go after BTS for not thanking Chinese for invading and attempting to destroy the Republic of Korea during the Korean War:

Fans of K-pop superstar BTS on Tuesday voiced frustration over the social media storm in China that has erupted over member RM’s recent remarks honoring those sacrificed during the Korean War.

In an Oct. 7 ceremony hosted by the U.S.-based nonprofit organization The Korea Society, RM, who spoke on behalf of the group that received an award for its contributions to Seoul-Washington ties, referred to the 1950-53 war where the two countries fought together.

“We will always remember the history of pain that our two nations shared together and the sacrifice of countless men and women,” the BTS rapper said on the fighting that remains one of the most significant events in the country’s modern history. (…………….)

The comment, however, stirred up a controversy in China after some people took issue with it for not acknowledging the sacrifice of Chinese people who also fought ― on North Korea’s side ― during the war.

In a story filed with the headline “BTS hurts the feelings of Chinese netizens and fans during a speech on the Korean War,” the Chinese state daily tabloid Global Times called the remark one that “reflected a one-sided attitude.”

Korea Times

You can read more at the link, but could you imagine what would happen if BTS recognized Chinese and Japanese troops that fought in World War II in China. The 50 Cent Army would be attacking BTS for recognizing the Japanese troops that tried to destroy China, which is the same thing the Chinese troops during the Korean War tried to do to the ROK.

It is pretty clear that the Chinese propaganda apparatus is trying to put BTS in its place and letting them know they better always talk positively about China or else. This usually works with most companies, players, and entertainers, but will it work BTS? I suspect they will probably get in line with Chinese propaganda to maintain access to the Chinese market.

By the way you can read about the PEFTOK battalion during the Korean War at this previous ROK Drop posting.

This is a great idea by the Korea Military Academy:

The Army unveiled a monument Friday to commemorate U.S. Military Academy graduates who were killed in the 1950-53 Korean War, officials said.

The monument, erected at the Korea Military Academy in Seoul, bears the names of 17 fallen officers from the West Point Class of 1948, Army officials said.

That is in addition to two monuments already set up at the Korea Military Academy campus to honor U.S. service members from the Classes of 1949 and 1950 killed in the war, officials said.

The Army plans to build four more for those from the Classes of 1945, 1946, 1947 and 1951 by 2023, and turn the area into a zone to remember the fallen U.S. soldiers.

Yonhap

You can read more at the link.

This week is the 70th anniversary of the Incheon Landing Operation that turned the tide of the Korean War. I guess we will see if President Moon attends any ceremonies honoring the operation that changed the course of the Korean War.  

You can read more about the Incheon Landing Operation at my prior posting at the below link:

For anyone visiting Incheon the memorial hall there dedicated to the landing is well worth checking out as well: