Horton Journal of Canadian History ~ Papers

Canadians and the Korean War

By

Jamie Wade

Canada’s involvement in the Korean War was not immediate as was the American’s actions; Canada’s military had been reduced to peacetime strength coming out of World War II, and therefore was only in place for Canada’s defense. Once America had committed its defenses however, Canada was soon to follow.

My interest in the Korean War sprung from the hit TV series M*A*S*H and it’s inspiring novel by Dr. Richard Hooker published in 1968, not to mention the movie in 1970. Before I became interested in the whole MASH series I was hardly aware of the Korean War. However, thanks to what ever sparked my enthusiasm I have been able to educate myself quite extensively on this topic. Although I am very opposed to war, I feel that if we forget the tragedies of the past we will make the same mistakes in the future. The pointlessness of the Korean War that claimed over two million casualties from both sides, is something that should never be repeated.

To start off we must first look at what led up to Canada’s participation in the Korean War. On June 25, 1950 the North Korean People’s Army crossed the 38^th parallel and invades South Korea. North Korean radio reports that the South Korean Army had tried to invade North Korea and left them with no choice but to retaliate. The afternoon of June 25, the UN Security Council calls for the withdrawal of North Korean troops. Two days later the UN Security Council calls for its members of state to support South Korea. The same day, US president Harry S. Truman orders Navel and Air support to South Korea. The following day on June 28, North Korean forces capture Seoul. On June 30 American ground troops are sent to Korea.

Blair Fraser of Maclean’s Magazine wrote in a New Year’s day article in 1951,

"Americans, on their side, don’t fancy a country were you can’t tell a friend from an enemy. We drove up to the front one day when an American truck convoy was ambushed by an innocent looking crowd of Korean peasants."

This just goes to show the type of war that was being fought in Korea where you’re warned not to go wandering around alone or unarmed because an old woman washing her clothes on might pull out a gun and shoot you. Even Chaplains bore arms in Korea. An estimated 20,000 communist guerillas were scattered among the countryside in Korea with an unknown number of secret aides in towns and villages.

On September 15, 1950, Gen. MacArthur landed American troops at Inchon. The Americans started the offensive the following day from the Puson Perimeter, which was a small area in the Southeast of the Korean Peninsula. The American 8^th Army drove the North Koreans back over the 38^th parallel, then on September 28, UN forces recapture Seoul and it looked as if the "police action" was over. On November 1, 1950, a month after the recapturing of Seoul, the Chinese launch a massive offensive on the UN forces as they crossed the Yalu river that divided China from Korea and swept down the peninsula with over 180, 000 volunteer Chinese soldiers.

B.L. Kortegaard, a member of the Naval forces during the Korean War, writes in a recollection,

"Given the huge disparity in artillery, armor, air and naval support, the United States should have crushed North Korea’s offensive within the first month of our entry into the war. We should have crushed the Chinese as easily, if necessary."

On October 1, 1951, a month before the Chinese invasion, South Korean forces cross the 38^th parallel, the previous day, Chou En-lai, the foreign minister of China, warns "the Chinese people will not supinely tolerate seeing their neighbors being savagely invaded by the imperialists." On October 7, 1950, despite ample warnings from China of their intervention, US forces cross the 38^th parallel into North Korea.

Kortegaard also says in his recollection,

"we should have only have crossed the 38^th parallel far enough to establish better defensive positions for the South."

Kortegaard goes on to say,

"But our nation’s main concern was self-gratification. Our political leaders’ main concern was staying in office. Our military leaders’ main concern was not upsetting any higher level of command. As one consequence, our nation could not easily provide fighting forces who were adequately armed and psychologically prepared to fight."

As the Chinese invaded Korea, the well-known and respected Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry arrived. When called to serve in Korea, over 10, 000 Canadians flocked to recruiting depots. It is interesting to note that of the first 10, 000 volunteers, 30 deserted or were discharged, they included a 14-year old boy, a 72-year old man, and a former Japanese prisoner of war with severe medical problems.

Under the command of Col. Jim Stone, Battalion commander in Korea, Canadians were well trained, Unlike their American counterparts who sent 68 black men to Korea with minimal training. As Canadian troops past all 68 bodies who had been murdered in their sleep by Chinese soldiers, because Uncle Sam didn’t think it was worth it to train them well enough, Canadians began to question their presence in Korea. To most foreigners, Korea was a very strange land of harsh weather conditions and different morals. The casual brutality in Korea appalled Canadians. A Canadian officer complained that a Korean soldier assigned to his unit kept falling asleep on duty. Before anyone could intervene, a Korean officer arrived, made him dig his own grave, and then had him shot.

On July 1, 1951, North Korean leader Kim Il Sung and Peng Tah-haui, commander of the Chinese force, agree to truce talks. This is just the beginning of a very long end. The war had dragged on for over a year and now and had really gotten nowhere. The truce talks started in Kaesong and were interrupted by North Korean troops in a neutral sector causing the UN to leave. After five days truce talks resumed in Panmunjom this is were the talks stayed for the duration of the war.

On July 27, 1953, the truce is signed by all participants in the war and a cease fire is called, the war was over. Finally, on August 5, 1953, the prisoner exchange was made.

Although Canada’s participation in the Korean War was not of a great magnitude, it is still important to remember the actual men and women who joined that war effort and especially honor those who paid the ultimate price; death.

The Americans may be known as the country with the most power and the country that will always stand up for a good cause but what other country, even in the 50’s would toss 68 untrained men into battle because of their skin color.

-B.L. Kortegaard