THE KOREAN WAR At the end of the Second World War, Japanʼs empire was dismantled and the Soviet Union, seeking to gain influence in the region, occupied North Korea while the Americans moved into South Korea. The Soviets and the Americans eventually left, but not until a communist government had been established in the North and a democratic government in the South. Tensions between the two Koreas grew to a climax and, on June 25, 1950, the military forces of North Korea crossed the 38 th Parallel into South Korea. This marked the beginning of hostilities which were to rage on for more than three years, throughout the country known to its people as the Land of the Morning Calm. Sixteen (16) members of the United Nations, including Canada, would contribute combat forces under United States command to defend South Korea. On November 21, 1950, 17 soldiers of the 2 nd Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, died in a train crash in B.C. while on their way to the war in Korea. Canadians saw action in the Battle of Kapyong on April 24-25, 1951. Despite fierce enemy attacks, they maintained their position. Ten Canadians were killed and 23 were wounded in the battle. On October 2, 1952, HMCS Iroquois was exchanging fire with an enemy gun battery on shore when the ship took a direct hit. Three Canadian sailors died and ten were wounded in the explosion. Hill 355, known as “Little Gibraltar,” was the scene of bitter fighting in late October 1952. Under intense enemy bombardment and assault, the Canadian soldiers there held their ground. Over the course of some four years, the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) No. 426 Squadron carried 13,000 personnel and 3 million kilograms of freight and mail between North America and the Korean theatre of operations. Twenty-two (22) RCAF pilots served with US Air Force squadrons in Korea. Flying Officer Omer Lévesque, seconded to the USAF, was the first Commonwealth pilot to shoot down a MiG-15 enemy fighter in the Korean War. More than 5,000 Canadian women were recruited for military service during the Korean War. Of them, 60 Nursing Sisters served in Korea and Japan. When the ceasefire came into effect in 1953, the Nursing Sisters treated the released Canadian prisoners of war. For their gallant stand at Kapyong, the 2 nd Battalion of Princess Patriciaʼs Canadian Light Infantry received the United States Presidential Unit Citation. Other awards for valour received by Canadians during the Korean War include: 9 Distinguished Service Orders, 33 Military Crosses, 5 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 8 Distinguished Conduct Medals and 53 Military Medals. The active fighting in the Korean War ended on July 27, 1953 with the signing of the Armistice at Panmunjom. As with the two world wars that preceded Korea, Canadians volunteered for military service far from home. More than 26,000 Canadians served in the Korean War, including sailors from eight destroyers and airmen who took part in many combat and transport missions. Canadaʼs military contribution was larger, in proportion to its population, than most other UN participants. In total, 516 Canadians died in the third deadliest conflict in Canadian history. The total number of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians who served in the war is not known. On the back cover of this book is the list of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice as well as those that were wounded or injured.
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