KOREAN WAR VETERAN
Internet Journal for the World’s
Veterans of the Korean War
July 30, 2016
Korean War Veterans Armistice Day celebrated from coast to coast in Canada
They served when they were so very young, in Korea, a place most had never heard of
before the summer of 1950, and they came from every city and small town and farmland in
Canada.
On July 27, 2016, those who remain gathered all across Canada to mark Korean War
Veterans Armistice Day, the day 63 years ago when the guns fired their last shots along the
front lines that now constitute Korea’s demilitarized zone, and the de facto border between
the two Koreas.
The Korean War Veteran presents in this edition only three of the principal ceremonies
held that day, although many, many were held in every Canadian province.
The edition begins with the two national ceremonies held in the Province of Ontario, near
the middle of Canada, then extends westward to the ceremony held at the Ambassador for
Peace Memorial in Burnaby, a suburb of Vancouver, on Canada’s west coast.
Temperatures across Canada were in the high 80’s and even the 90’s on the Fahrenheit
scale. These intrepid veterans, all in their 80’s and many in mid-80’s or even 90’s, braved
the heat to acknowledge that war they had fought in to make the Republic of Korea a free
nation, and to remember and honour their comrades who perished in that quest.
STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER OF CANADA ON KOREAN WAR
VETERANS DAY
Ottawa, Ontario
27 July 2016
The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on Korean War
Veterans Day:
“On June 25, 1950, Communist armies from the North charged across the 38th Parallel and
invaded South Korea. Over the next several years, more than 26,000 Canadians – many veterans
of the Second World War, and some still teenagers – left behind their loved ones to defend a
country half a world away.
“The Korean War would become one of the dirtiest, bloodiest, and deadliest conflicts in
Canadian history. The brutal combat was reminiscent of the First World War: soldiers dug out
trenches by hand, and lived between four walls of dirt for weeks – sometimes months – on end.
The harshest battle was often not against enemy forces, but unforgiving weather: frigid winds
and bitter cold that turned food into ice, and relentless rains that dissolved land into mud and
muck.
“Sixty-three years ago today, the combat phase of the Korean War ended in armistice. The cost
of the war was heavy, with two and half million victims. 516 Canadians made the ultimate
sacrifice. Many more came home bearing the scars of war. Approximately 7,000 Canadians
continued to serve in the tense theatre of operations between the signing of the Armistice and the
end of 1955.
“We are proud of the role Canada played, along with our United Nations allies, to defend the
sovereignty of South Korea. Because of our Korean War Veterans, fifty million South Koreans
now live in a peaceful and prosperous nation. Their courage and sacrifice helped to change the
course of history.
“Today, I urge all Canadians to learn more about Canada’s role in resolving the combat phase of
the Korean War. I also call on all citizens to join me in expressing our heartfelt gratitude to all
those from our military, and their families who support them, who have fought, and continue to
fight, so courageously to defend the principles of peace, freedom, and democracy around the
world.”
OTTAWA, ONTARIO – CAPITAL OF CANADA
The Monument to Canadian Fallen in Ottawa is inscribed with the names of 516 Canadians who
lost their lives in Korean War service. It is a matching monument to the one that stands in the
Canadian graves section of the United Nations Memorial in Busan, Korea. Veterans and visitors
from Korea hold services at this monument on many occasions throughout the year. It is sited in
its own park on an escarpment overlooking Confederation Park, and is directly across the street
from Canada’s National Arts Centre.
Veterans gather for the Canadian Veterans Korean War Armistice Day ceremony at the
Monument to Canadian Fallen on the morning of July 27, 2016.
Lieutenant Commander (Retired) Bill Black, president of the National Capital Unit of the Korea
War Veterans Association of Canada, reads a tribute to those who fell in Korea.
Veterans (left to right) Gord Harrison, Dave Petry, Claude Charland and Gord Gallant salute
while the Last Post is played to commemorate and honour the fallen.
Joining the salute is Colonel Jang Min, Korean Defence Attache. Minister In-Kyun Park of the
Embassy of the Republic of Korea bows his head in respect.
Wreaths are placed at the granite plinth of the Monument. The Monument was sculpted and cast
in Korea and the granite plinth was hand carved by the Korean artist using stone from a quarry
located where the Canadian 25th Brigade headquarters were located during the war.
Young-Hae Lee, president of the Canada Korea Society places a wreath of remembrance while
Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Claude Charland escorts her.
Lieutenant Colonel Paul d’Orsonnens of the Royal 22r Regiment places a wreath for the
Department of National Defence. Escorting him is veteran Gordon Gallant.
Tristin Doyle, assistant to Canadian Senator Yonah Martin places a wreath on behalf of the
Senate of Canada, assisted by Alex Slusar, from Veterans Affairs Canada.
KOREAN WAR VETERANS WALL OF REMEMBRANCE, BRAMPTON, ONTARIO
The Korean War Veterans Wall of Remembrance in the Toronto suburb of Brampton, Ontario,
holds 516 tablets that are replicas of the grave markers of all 516 Canadians who fell in Korean
War service. The monument was built using funds raised by the veterans themselves and is the
site each year of many national ceremonies, foremost of which is the July 27 Korean War
Veterans Day ceremony. This year the attendance was very light compared to all previous years
and senior dignitaries from the national government and Veterans Affairs Canada did not
participate. The heat, and perhaps also the recent change in the Canadian government may have
had something to do with the turnout. Nonetheless, all those who did show up to honour
Canada’s Korean War Fallen braved the high heat and humidity and held a splendid service to
honour their fallen comrades, and celebrate the 63rd year that the Republic of Korea has enjoyed
peace and freedom.
Veterans gather, some wearing blazers despite the high heat of the day.
Member of Parliament Sonia Sidhu represents the Minister of Veterans Affairs Canada, who was
visiting veterans in other locations in Canada. She receives a wreath of remembrance to be
placed at the base of the wall.
Perennial participants at the armistice day ceremonies are personal friends David A. Davidson,
former national president of the Korea Veterans Association of Canada and Major (Retired)
Charles Kim, former president of the ROK Korean War Veterans Association Canada Eastern
Chapter.
Major Charles Kim and comrades from the ROK Korean War Veterans Association Canada
Eastern Chapter are hallmarks at every armistice day ceremony at the wall. Charles was one of
the youngest ROK officers to serve during the Korean War and later led the first South Korean
army detachment into Vietnam during the Vietnam War. A citizen of Canada, he participates in
many services in Toronto and Ottawa, and every year visits the Korean War Veterans Memorial
in Washington, DC.
AMBASSADOR OF PEACE MEMORIAL, BURNABY, BRITISH COLUMBIA
The Ambassador of Peace Memorial in the Vancouver suburb of Burnaby, British Columbia,
was designed and built through the efforts of local veterans, supported by British Columbia
elected officials. It is named for the commemorative Ambassador for Peace Medals that the
Republic of Korea awards to every veteran who served in the Korean War.
The Colours of Canada and many allied nations are marched on, led by a piper.
Among the many officials present for the service is Canada’s Senator Yonah Martin, deputy
speaker of the opposition in the Canadian Senate. Senator Martin wrote the bill that became a
federal law designating July 27 as Canadian Veterans Korean War Armistice Day. Senator
Martin was born in Korea and is considered by Canadian veterans to be their champion and voice
in the Canadian government. Through her eight years in office she has worked tirelessly for
many veterans causes and has traveled to Korea many times to coordinate international activities
with Korea’s Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs. She also has represented Canada on trade
and other diplomatic matters. She is a resident of the Vancouver area but spends most of the year
in Ottawa.
Veteran Leo Valentine cites the Act of Remembrance, in memory of those who fell in Korea and
on Korean War service.
As always, veteran members of the ROK Korean War Veterans Association Canada Western
Chapter, took part in the armistice services.
Among the veterans participating in the Burnaby service was Sergeant William Newton, MID,
wearing shaded glasses. Mr. Newton was a medic during the war and in his service with the
Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry during the Battle of the Hook in November and
December, 1952, and then as a sergeant in charge of the casualty clearing post during the May,
1953 enemy raid on positions held by The Royal Canadian Regiment, he treated nearly 100
wounded soldiers, more than 5 percent of the 1,500 Canadian soldiers who were wounded during
the three-year war. He was awarded a Mentioned in Dispatched decoration for his service on the
Hook. During the Battle of the Hook he saved the lives of several Canadian soldiers. When
Corporal Charles Pond had been severely wounded by a direct mortar bomb hit, Newton rushed
to his side in an open area, despite incoming mortar fire. He lashed both of Corporal Pond’s
shattered legs together and applied rubber tubing as tourniquets to stem the massive bleeding. A
medical officer later said that in a few seconds more Corporal Pond would have bled to death.
Corporal Pond, then 19, was Canada’s only double amputee from the Korean War. He lived a
full life in Winnipeg. Newton rushed to another soldier under intense mortar fire while enemy
soldiers were still in positions surrounding the Hook. He put tourniquets on both of the soldier’s
legs. He had been wounded by 32 pieces of deep penetrating shrapnel. Newton was
recommended for a second MID for his service in May, 1953, but instead requested the award of
the coveted Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal, which was awarded only to officers. He
received it and wears it proudly. Quiet spoken and unassuming, he has been a steadfast member
of the Korea Veterans Association of Canada since leaving the service.