Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 9, 2012 19:22:16 GMT 12
Peace medals given to Korean War vets
By Grant Ellen | Journalism Student
Friday, January 20, 2012 8:52
Paul Taylor
Awards Officer Colonel (Retired) Richard Clouston (left) awards Calvin Mackie the "Ambassador for Peace" Medallion at Hastings RSA yesterday.
Hawkes Bay's Korean War vets were honoured yesterday by the South Korean government which presented them with "Ambassador for Peace" medallions.
Sixty years after the war, the South Korean government joined with the Korean War Veterans Association in New Zealand, to issue medallions to all surviving veterans who served in Korea.
Secretary of the Korean War Veterans Association John Campbell said the medal was previously only given to veterans who had gone back as part of the Korean government's sponsored revisit programme but would now be awarded to everyone who fought there.
"Last year the medal was presented to us at a big banquet in Seoul but the Korean government has turned round now and said they're going to give it to all Korean veterans," he said.
"We have 20 men in our branch that haven't been back so this is for them."
"But it's not only for New Zealand veterans, it's for the 16 countries which supported the United Nations army which supported their government," he said.
Mr Campbell said since 1975 the Korean government had sponsored about 30 New Zealand veterans twice a year to revisit the country.
They travel with contingents from Australia, Canada and Britain, as part of the 2400 veterans from around the world who make the pilgrimage each year.
"It's a Commonwealth brigade. Our group is all together and we go to all the battle sites and memorials while we're there on a 10-day visit," Mr Campbell said.
He went to Korea last year in his first visit there since the 1950s, when he fought as an artillery gunner and says one trip was enough.
"It's pretty full on and with the guys all pushing 80 and over it is a big day - getting up at 6am and arriving home about six at night. You have to be reasonably fit for an old bloke."
There are two more trips for veterans this year but they finish next year with the 60th anniversary of the war's end.
www.hawkesbaytoday.co.nz/news/peace-medals-given-to-korean-war-vets/1244195/
By Grant Ellen | Journalism Student
Friday, January 20, 2012 8:52
Paul Taylor
Awards Officer Colonel (Retired) Richard Clouston (left) awards Calvin Mackie the "Ambassador for Peace" Medallion at Hastings RSA yesterday.
Hawkes Bay's Korean War vets were honoured yesterday by the South Korean government which presented them with "Ambassador for Peace" medallions.
Sixty years after the war, the South Korean government joined with the Korean War Veterans Association in New Zealand, to issue medallions to all surviving veterans who served in Korea.
Secretary of the Korean War Veterans Association John Campbell said the medal was previously only given to veterans who had gone back as part of the Korean government's sponsored revisit programme but would now be awarded to everyone who fought there.
"Last year the medal was presented to us at a big banquet in Seoul but the Korean government has turned round now and said they're going to give it to all Korean veterans," he said.
"We have 20 men in our branch that haven't been back so this is for them."
"But it's not only for New Zealand veterans, it's for the 16 countries which supported the United Nations army which supported their government," he said.
Mr Campbell said since 1975 the Korean government had sponsored about 30 New Zealand veterans twice a year to revisit the country.
They travel with contingents from Australia, Canada and Britain, as part of the 2400 veterans from around the world who make the pilgrimage each year.
"It's a Commonwealth brigade. Our group is all together and we go to all the battle sites and memorials while we're there on a 10-day visit," Mr Campbell said.
He went to Korea last year in his first visit there since the 1950s, when he fought as an artillery gunner and says one trip was enough.
"It's pretty full on and with the guys all pushing 80 and over it is a big day - getting up at 6am and arriving home about six at night. You have to be reasonably fit for an old bloke."
There are two more trips for veterans this year but they finish next year with the 60th anniversary of the war's end.
www.hawkesbaytoday.co.nz/news/peace-medals-given-to-korean-war-vets/1244195/
