My Korean War (4)

The following article is the last of a four-part series on the 1950-53 Korean War written by Kim Yun-sik, professor at the Asian division, the University of Maryland in Yongsan, Seoul. Prof. Kim contributed this series on the 60th anniversary of the outbreak of the fratricidal war this year. ― ED.

By Kim Yun-sik

I am convinced that a large component of the Korean War can be characterized as a psychological war. The communists sought to achieve victories behind barbed wire as well as the battle front. On May 7, 1952, revolting POWs seized Gen. Dodd, the Geoje U.N. POW Camp commandant, in hardcore communist compound 76.

He was released after negotiations between the U.N. POW camp and the communist compound. The compound was subsequently occupied by paratroopers of the 187th Regimental Combat Team after Gen. Dodd’s release. The troops found a tunnel that was under construction from compound 76 to 77.

After the incident the U.N. POW camp commander ordered the removal of the Yeoncho villagers and to burn down the village. The villagers were suspected of helping the POWs pass information to the north. I stood idly by and watched the village burn.

At this time in several compounds, there were intermittent ideological power struggles between pro- and anti-communist prisoners. The situation got worse as Kangaroo courts were held at night. The courts frequently sentenced the prisoners to death.

The next morning I would see the prisoners’ corpses hung on the fences of the POW camp. In the most problematic communist prisoner compounds such as 62, 66, 76 and 77, the POWs would sing communist marching songs so frequently that the U.S. guards were able to follow and sing along. They never knew what the words meant.

During my service at the POW camp, I was further assigned to provide vocational training to the POWs. The training program was designed to aid in the development of manual skills that would be useful in the eventual reconstruction of their countries after their release.

The POWs put on U.S. Army fatigues that were too big. They needed tailors to cut and alter the uniforms to fit. Their shoes, also made for Americans, were too big. Thus we began to train cobblers. We trained prisoners to use a forge so that they could create stovepipes for drum heaters from discarded cans.

From an Air Force dump, they salvaged aluminum from damaged wing tanks. A miniature factory was constructed where POWs made rice bowls and scoops from the reclaimed metals. I found it better to offer the prisoners training rather than let them sit in idleness.

At the truce talk negotiation table in Panmunjeom, most issues were settled within a few weeks. However, the POW issue, although assigned the highest priority topic on the agenda, took 15 months to finally reach an agreement regarding the exchange of prisoners. The armistice was eventually signed on July 27, 1953.

After the armistice was signed, silence fell on the valley of central Korea. I remember taking my helmet off and feeling elated that I was finally homeward bound. After three years of separation, my father and I were reunited. We greeted one another with many hugs and tears.

I had planned to attend college after the war, but because of the devastation, my father was unable to support himself due to the destruction of his farm. I was forced to take a job. I was quite fortunate to have the opportunity to work with the British troops.

Initially, I worked as the supervisor for Korean labor under the auspices of the 1st Commonwealth Division at the Rear Division Branch under Major Gold. The branch was subsequently disbanded. I was then assigned to work at the headquarters of the main division. The headquarters were located at the valley near the Tower Bridge of the Imjin River.

My assignment was with the Commonwealth Relation Office as an executive assistant to Maj. Gen. Murray and his subsequent replacement, Brig. Gen. Musson. I worked as the liaison between the Commonwealth Division headquarters and the management representing the Korean Augmentation to the Commonwealth Division (KATCOM) as well as the local civilian employees, numbering about 3,000.

KATCOM (similar to KATUSA) was originally organized in May 1952 following the formation of the 1st Commonwealth Division (British, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand troops) on July 28, 1951, by Maj. Gen. James Cassels (commander of the 1st Commonwealth Division, prior to Gen. Murray) as a way to relieve the serious shortage of manpower of the British Army in Korea.

Soldiers assigned to KATCOM were given 16 weeks basic training at the ROK Replacement Training Center before being posted to the Commonwealth Division.

They were then given further training in British weapons before being assigned to their individual company. Each battalion received 94 KATCOM soldiers, for a total of 1,000 soldiers for the division.

I had the pleasure of working with many KATCOM soldiers, particularly Maj. Chung, Capt. Song, Capt. Kim, and my cousin Cpl. Kim Moon-sik who were a great help to me in my work. In addition, I was fortunate to work with Capt. Emerson who was an Englishman in the Australian Army.

I reluctantly left my service in the 1st Commonwealth Division to attend college at the urging of my good friends in the valley. I left my English friends behind and went back to school with the ambition of a bright future for my life. I was subsequently blessed to earn three degrees.

I reluctantly recall many friends and relatives sacrificing their lives in the war some 60 years ago. Among them were Pfc. Kim and Lee, my classmates of the 1st KATUSA class with the 7th Infantry Division. They were killed in the Chosin Reservoir campaign.

My cousin Chung was killed at the battle of the Nakdong River. I hate to think that Sgt. Mathew and Pvt. Chestnut were captured or killed while on the retreat from Unsan but I haven’t seen them since. I hope that they lived through the war and have led happy and productive lives blessed with many sons and grandsons.

Recently, I received a letter from the wife of my dear friend, Francis Peck, who served with me in the 453rd Engineers Construction Unit, which let me know of his passing. He has always been a lasting memory in my thoughts. He, like I, was fortunate to live through the war and had a happy life.

The writer is a professor at the Asian division, the University of Maryland in Yongsan, Seoul. He can be reached rokmankim@hotmail.com.