Members of the Korean Australian Friendship Society welcome Australia’s Korean War veterans at Incheon International Airport on April 20. / Korea Times photo by John Redmond

By John Redmond

Members of the Korean Australian Friendship Society (KAFS) played host to Australian Korean War veterans during their visit to Korea as part of a tour commemorating the outbreak of the Korean War (1950-1953).

The group, including students from schools in the Incheon area, welcomed the soldiers and family members at Incheon International Airport on Wednesday evening as a show of support for many who had not returned to the peninsula since serving during the conflict.

Among the soldiers were those who were stationed in Japan at the outbreak of the war.

“I was 19-years-old when I arrived in Incheon in 1952. We flew in from Japan. I haven’t been back since,” said veteran Graham Hill.

“There was nothing here. The whole place was flattened. Even the roads were gone.”

The groups exchanged flags and banners with children receiving toy koalas.

The KAFS has been active for some 30 years as a program that involves the exchange of ideas and skills between Korea and Australia. These include job training, educational programs and trade opportunities.

As part of the tour the party had a reception with Prime Minister of Australia Julia Gillard.

During their stay veterans of all nations also attended an ANZAC Day dawn service at the National War Memorial.

ANZAC Day refers to a memorial for the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps known as the ANZACs.

The term originated with the First World War army corps of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force that was formed in Egypt in 1915 and operated during the Battle of Gallipoli, a campaign that resulted in almost half a million casualties.

The group of 40 including 19 veterans left Incheon to return home on Tuesday evening.