85 The Royal Canadian Legion MANITOBA & NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO COMMAND www.mbnwo.ca CLARK, Thomas James “Jim” KOREANWAR Jim was born in Minnedosa, Manitoba in 1933. He left school in 1951 and joined the Army at Fort Osborne Barracks in Winnipeg when he was eighteen. He took a group two Mechanics Course in Calgary. Shortly afterwards, he was shipped overseas to Korea, where he took up a position as a Driver Mechanic with the 81st Field Regiment, which later became the 4th R.C.H.A. In Jim’s words, “In retrospect my army service in Korea as a young man of 18 was the most impressive event of my lifetime. Like other young guys of that age, war has a way of making 18-year-olds grow up in an awful hurry. I was proud to serve with the Canadian Army in Korea.” “On June 25, 1950, the forces of North Korea crossed the 38th Parallel into the Republic of Korea. This marked the beginning of hostilities which were to rage for three full years and more, throughout that country known to its people as the Land of the Morning Calm. The magnitude of the assault made it clear that this was a full-scale invasion. This was the first open act of aggression since the establishment of the United Nations Organization, and its actions were of great significance for its prestige and credibility - in fact for its very future. The invasion was declared a breach of the peace, and 16-member nations joined forces to resist the aggression. Canada’s contribution, exceeded only by that of the United States and Great Britain, demonstrated her willingness to uphold the United Nations ideals and to take up arms in support of peace and freedom. All told, 26 791 Canadians served in the Korean War, and approximately 7 000 continued to serve in the theatre between the cease-fire and the end of 1955. The names of 516 Canadian dead are inscribed in the Korea Book of Remembrance.” * In July 1953, the Korean Armistice Agreement was signed, ending the war. Jim returned home in the spring of 1954 and was discharged. Jim received the Korean Medal, United Nations Medal, and the Korea Volunteer Medal. Jim married Doreen Shanks of Neepawa in July 1956. They had three children, two boys and a girl. He trained as an autobody mechanic and worked in Neepawa before moving back to Minnedosa, where he worked in a dealership as Sales Manager for seventeen years. He then worked for Agri-Steel and later with the Manitoba Provincial Government as a Court Reporter and Special Examiner. Jim retired in 1991. In 1993, at the invitation of the Korean Government, he returned to Korea to take part in the 30-year Reunion of the NATO forces. Veterans paid for only their airfare. The South Korean Government looked after all other expenses. Thomas is a member of The Royal Canadian Legion Gen. Hugh Dyer Branch 138 in Minnedosa for 68 years and counting. *Information on Korean War from Veteran Affairs Canada website
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