Visit to Korea emotional for Canadian veterans.
Korean War Veterans Association of Canada, Scarborough chapter president Bill Campbell stands on an overturned vehicle in 1953 during the Korean War.
Photo/COURTESY
The South Korean government has offered Canadian veterans gratitude and honour through the Revisit Korea trip taking place this week, Nov. 9 through 14.
The program, which began in 1975, is an all-expenses-paid tour of Korean War sites.
"One thing that sticks out in my mind is a visit to the UN cemetery," said Terry Wickens, president of the Korean War Veterans Association of Canada. "I saw the graves of two soldiers who did basic training with me. That was emotional, something I will never forget."
Often called the "forgotten war," veterans of the Korean War remember the thankless reception Canadians showed at their homecoming.
The government refused to recognize returning soldiers as veterans until more than 40 years later. "They had this funny idea that it wasn't a war, it was a 'police action,'" said Bill Campbell, president of the association's Scarborough chapter.
"But it was war. People were dying and airplanes were dropping bombs."
Campbell emphasized that every Canadian soldier in Korea was a volunteer, a fact that left many American soldiers incredulous.
"One guy from Georgia asked me, 'When were you drafted?' I said that everyone on this boat is a volunteer. He couldn't believe me, and started to laugh. That laughter is still with me. He couldn't believe that someone would volunteer to go to war."
The Revisit Korea program offers a warm return for Canadian veterans of the Korean War.
"Your sacrifice and dedication have been the foundation for Korea to become a free prosperous nation," said Yang Kim, Korean minister of patriots and veterans affairs in a welcome letter.
The program usually provides guided tours of battle grounds and monuments, including a visit to Kap'yong, where Canadian soldiers were venerated for their exceptional heroism. It also hosts a large banquet at which Ambassador of Peace medals are presented to veterans.
Wickens said the Korean government has "gone overboard" for this year's special 60th anniversary trip, which will feature a commemoration of the Battle of Chosin Reservoir, where UN troops broke free of encircling Chinese forces.
"The trip brought back memories and it brought closure for me," Wickens recounted.
"I'd never been back to Korea and never wanted to, but I'm glad I went."