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>> Hi, everybody. I am here at the Veterans Affairs Department with, ta-da, my American-Samoan and Korean-War grandpas and their families, so I’m going to introduce you to them. So you met yesterday the Veterans VFW state commander, Inafo Maria.
>> Hello.
>> Aloha, right? And then the post commander, Mr. Apu.
>> Hi.
>> Okay. So here is my veteran grandpa. You can come a little closer. Your name is …
>> Suaka Shushba.
>> Yes. Grandpa Sua was in the Air Force, which is very rare, in 1950 …
>> Two.
>> 1952, so he flew to Korea carrying a …
>> Atomic bomb.
>> He carried an atomic bomb, but thank God, yeah, thank God he didn’t have to drop it, right? Yeah. If I remember correctly, General MacArthur kind of wanted to drop it, huh?
>> Wanted to drop it.
>> Yeah, but thank God that didn’t happen because Korea then would not exist today, maybe. Yes, and maybe I wouldn’t exist, so thank you for not dropping it.
>> [INAUDIBLE] protect Korea.
>> Yes. Thank you. Thank you. Look how young he looks. How old are you, Grandpa?
>> I’m 87 years old.
>> Eighty-seven, he’s looking young though.
>> He’s too young.
>> Yes. Now this is my second Korean-War-veteran grandpa with his lovely girlfriend and son, handsome son, right? Grandpa, your full name?
>> [INAUDIBLE].
>> Yes. It’s a little bit long, but for short, I will call you my Grandpa … first name …
>> Beneva.
>> Beneva, Grandpa Beneva. He has an impeccable memory, and he was a combat veteran, right?
>> Yeah.
>> He served in some of the major battles of …
>> Outpost Harry.
>> Outpost Harry with the Greeks.
>> Pork Chop Hill.
>> Pork Chop Hill. Oh, by the way, everybody, do you have the … Well, he doesn’t have it, but he’s part of the Indianhead, the second ID. There’s a lot of Indianhead people watching this. So, “second to none,” right?
>> Second to none.
>> Second to none. Yes, yes. That’s it, so thank you, and what’s your name?
>> Gilbert Fiere.
>> Okay. What does it mean for you to have a father who served in the Korean War?
>> I’m very proud of my dad. He inspired me to join the service as well, and so I’m very proud of him.
>> Where did you serve?
>> First Persian Gulf War.
>> Oh, thank you for your service too. Thank you. Okay. Well, he’s not a Koren War veteran.
>> Nope.
>> As you can see, he’s not that old, but his father …
>> Yes.
>> His father was a Korean War veteran, and your father’s name is …
>> Edwin Robert Hollister.
>> Yes. Mr. Grandpa Edwin, he too also served in Desert Storm, so we have many families. Many of the members of the family served in the military and American Samoa. Per capita, right, number one, per capita, number one, and they have the spirit of serving the country, duty freedom, right, family, protecting family.
>> Yes.
>> And so your father served what year, you said?
>> 1950 …
>> 19 …
>> … until 1953, somewhere that time.
>> Yeah, yes, and he served in the Army.
>> Army, yes.
>> Yes. Do you know what division or what …
>> No. I don’t know.
>> Yes. He doesn’t know, but he did say that his father was very proud, right?
>> Yes.
>> He died 7 years ago?
>> No, back in …
>> Oh, it was ’75, 1975.
>> ’76. He passed away in 1976.
>> Oh, 1976, but he was born in 1925.
>> Yes.
>> Oh, and he was a medic. Now it’s coming back to me.
>> He was a medic, yes.
>> Yes, he was a medic. He was a medic, so we have airmen. We have a combat veteran, and we have a medic in American Samoa in the Korean War. And this is a very special story, so I’m going to save you last.
>> Mm-hmm.
>> Ladies, best for last, but his father …
>> Uncle.
>> Uncle, I’m sorry. His uncle also served in the Korean War, and so did he, right?
>> Yes.
>> And your uncle inspired you to be tough, right? You said so.
>> Yes.
>> Yeah. Everybody was scared of his uncle and his family, he said, right?
>> Yes.
>> And what is your uncle’s name?
>> Name is Titae Fieme.
>> Yes, and we honor him and his memory. Now her uncle and her brave uncle also fought. So they’re all family here. Let’s show … What’s your name? What’s your name? She’s shy, but she’s very cute and pretty. Okay, so your uncle’s name is …
>> Masanisa Soripo Fanlan.
>> Yes, and her uncle, however, passed away, died, was killed in the Korean War.
>> Action.
>> Killed in action in August …
>> August 12th, 1950.
>> Yes, so as you remember, that was less than 2 months after the Korean War broke, and this was before the [INAUDIBLE] of MacArthur, so when your uncle fought was when the North Korean army, after invading the 38th Parallel, kept pushing down and down and down and down. So your uncle was part of the first major casualties that were suffered, and it was so touching because her family still remembers her uncle’s memory, but she never saw his picture. They don’t have a picture of their uncle, so they don’t know how he looks like, so they only remember him through the heart, and so I’m really hoping that I can find them …
>> A picture.
>> Yeah, get a picture so that they can see how handsome their uncle was, and I know your other sister is not here, but there was a song about his uncle. Can you sing that a little bit one more time?
>> I don’t know. I forgot the words.
>> Yes.
>> My sister remembers.
>> Just a little bit.
>> The word of the song, it was done by my grandmother, his mom, and the word of the song goes like this in English: “Masani, where are you? Are you sleeping, or are you awake? Please come home.” That’s it.
>> And his mom was always waiting for him to come.
>> I think because he left when he was a young man, not an old man.
>> I call her my auntie, and I’m so, so honored you’re here, and I’m here to say thank you to your family and that your uncle’s service and sacrifice is not forgotten, okay?
>> Amen.
>> Forever, and there are so many people out there who are grateful to you. I represent them. I’m here to represent everybody who’s grateful, not just by myself, okay?
>> All right. Thank you very much.
>> So thank you, everybody, and I’m just so happy to be here on this beautiful island. We still have [INAUDIBLE] to do and cemeteries to visit. We’re going to go visit her uncle’s grave later. So remember727.org. Thank you. Bye.
>> Hello, everybody. I am here. I’m so excited. I’m honored to be here with my American-Samoan-Korean-War veteran grandpa. His name is …
>> Yaputo.
>> … Yaputo …
>> Avengario.
>> … Avengario. I’m also here with the Veterans of Foreign War commander, state commander, Inapo Maria. Aw, oh. I just told him that I’m very grateful to be here, and I gave him this pin, and I paid my utmost respect with a Korean bow, and he said, “I was just doing his” … He was just doing his job, but as you can see, he has so … He has a Purple Heart.
>> I think I have two Purple Hearts.
>> Two Purple Hearts …
>> And a Bronze Star.
>> … and a Bronze Star.
>> I’ve got three Bronze Stars with valor.
>> Three Bronze Stars with valor.
>> With valor.
>> How do you have three Bronze Stars?
>> They need to …
>> I got a combat patch.
>> … recognize his service, especially on, what you think, on Veteran’s Day …
>> Oh, my goodness.
>> … because I never knew he has this.
>> Wow.
>> I’m glad that you came.
>> Aw.
>> And I’m glad. My heart, I’m glad that you came because I’m so proud for his service.
>> I’m so thankful. Can you tell us about your war experience?
>> The only really [INAUDIBLE]. When we do our job and all good ones, I am still living and really fortunate [INAUDIBLE].
>> Well, you did your job very, very, very well because you defended the freedom for not only Korea but for this world really because the Korean War helped end Communism, but you should be very proud because not a lot of people know about American Samoa and American Samoans, and so the Korean War, people forget, but people don’t know American Samoa. So you almost died, and that’s why you have a Purple Heart, two Purple Hearts and three Bronze Medals. You must have seen many people die too. I hope that you remember the war but not only of pain but also of goodness. What year did you go to Korea?
>> ’52.
>> 1952? For how long?
>> [INAUDIBLE] and when I returned back after about June ’54, we finished off [INAUDIBLE].
>> So you were there from 1952 to ’54?
>> Yeah. I started on [INAUDIBLE].
>> Hmm.
>> [INAUDIBLE]
>> Oh.
>> It’s for us to remember.
>> Oh, thank you.
>> I’ll give that to him.
>> Okay. Thank you. She’s giving this to me, and she’s giving one for you, but I don’t feel like I deserve this.
>> What?
>> This medal.
>> No, no, yes, you do. No, you do. That’s my commander’s pin.
>> Okay. Thank you.
>> And you more than deserve it. You came all the way down here to say thank you to Korean veterans. Nobody can do it. Nobody do it from other … other country, but I know it’s precious to him, and he feels great that people like you that remember their service during the … This is my commander’s pin for you too, Papa.
[ Chatter ]
>> My big Papa. You’re my big Papa.
>> So no matter at least I know where he lives, so we can pay tax. Okay?
>> So do you remember … What do you remember about Korea?
>> I was in Korea … [INAUDIBLE] really, it was too cold. I went in the wintertime. Oh, boy, I don’t know which one I was scared to: the war or the cold.
>> Or the cold.
[ Chatter ]
>> Or the island.
>> Yeah, you stay over here. It’s warm.
>> Oh, it was cold.
>> Oh.
>> Now when I returned, I was wanted back in [INAUDIBLE] to get some [INAUDIBLE], and they gave me the two choice to go to finish up my time in Vietnam. One is to work [INAUDIBLE], they said, “You can go to Korea, or you can go back to Vietnam.” I was thinking about how cold, so I ran a call to a job in Vietnam [INAUDIBLE] about living over there [INAUDIBLE].
>> Hmm.
>> When I told him I’m involved back in Vietnam.
>> Yes, you served in Korea and Vietnam.
>> Yeah.
>> A lot of them, they served Korea and then Vietnam because they’re kind of back to back.
>> But so you received both Purple Hearts in Korea or Vietnam?
>> Vietnam.
>> Both in Vietnam?
>> Yeah, and [INAUDIBLE].
>> Oh, all three Bronze Stars in Vietnam?
>> Yeah.
>> Not in Korea?
>> Korea, I could [INAUDIBLE].
>> Oh.
[ Chatter ]
>> Combat.
>> Combat.
>> That’s one for the … That’s for the star.
>> Do you think your experience in the war and Korea helped you become more brave in Vietnam because you knew more about war?
>> I think right now it’s equipment. They get all brand-new ones that really … That was a big change. Now everything is [INAUDIBLE]
>> Mm. What division did you belong to in the Korean War?
>> I was in Third Division, Seventh Regiment, First Battalion.
>> Okay, Seventh …
>> Seventh Regiment.
>> … Regiment.
>> Third …
>> Third …
>> Third …
>> Third division.
>> Yes.
>> Okay.
>> Seventh Regiment and …
>> Third Division, Seventh Regiment.
>> Yes.
>> … and First Battalion.
>> First Battalion, okay.
>> Third Division.
>> Yes.
>> Seventh Regiment and First Battalion.
>> Yes.
>> Division, regiment then battalion.
>> Yes.
>> And what company?
>> Oh, yeah.
>> I was in the First Battalion and Company D.
>> D Company, Delta Company.
>> Did you experience any discrimination?
>> I experienced …
>> Discrimination.
>> Oh, there was some struggle because the part of the Third Division, the other regiment comes from Puerto Rico.
>> Oh.
>> So …
>> Puerto Rican, Hispanic.
>> Puerto Rican.
>> No one understands each other.
>> Oh.
>> And they think that’s the reason why they started changing [INAUDIBLE]. The regiment on Puerto Rico, it’s changing around.
>> Oh, okay.
>> Same thing over in [INAUDIBLE].
>> That’s good to know.
>> Yeah [INAUDIBLE].
>> Are we going on 20?
>> Mm-hmm. Thank you so much for meeting me. I’m so happy. I’m so happy. When you look at this heart, don’t forget me, okay?
>> Yeah.
>> Okay?
>> Yeah, I know.
>> I know.
>> I know because I don’t know how many people are alive and [INAUDIBLE] I hope they have somebody because all the people I went to Korea, I never [INAUDIBLE].
>> Oh.
You know a guy named Malleva, Maneva Pioli?
>> [INAUDIBLE]
>> No, no, but were you serving in Korea with him? He’s here. He arrived. We’re going to interview him.
>> Yes.
>> And so we thought that you’d make it to the center so you can see if you’re going to meet some of your …
>> Is that Malleva de Chun?
>> Malleva, no, no, not Union Malleva. Union Malleva is here too. He’s alive.
>> Yeah.
>> But Diauli Maneva .
>> Oh, no, I don’t know him.
>> Papa, how old are you?
>> Huh?
>> How old are you?
>> Eighty-eight.
>> Eighty-eight, so you went to Korea when you were 20, huh? No, 22, 1952, you were 22. Okay. Well, so this is my Papa, big Papa and American-Samoan Papa, and I’m just so happy to be here. It took a long time for me to be here, to get here. It was very difficult, but it’s so worth it, seeing your tears. It was worth all of my tears to get here, so, everyone, look. Can you stand up? Look. Look at this. Okay? Look at this. We’re going to …
>> Is that you and your wife over there?
>> Yes.
>> Get the photo of the … Oh …
[ Chatter ]
>> Yeah that’s [INAUDIBLE].
>> Yes, and I want to show he served in the Vietnam. He’s a warrior citizen, and his Purple Heart, Bronze Star, look at all his medals, not that I’m saying a veteran is one who has more medals, his life is any more precious. I’m not saying that. However, he went above and beyond to really serve the country, and the thing is, he never forgot. He never forgot.
>> I still get a Korean [INAUDIBLE]. That one right in the middle in the third row.
>> Oh, this one?
>> Way down, way down.
>> Way down.
>> Right there.
>> Yes, yes, yes.
>> That’s a unit citation, your unit citation.
>> Yes, so look at this. So I just want everybody to know that the veterans never forget their service, yes. Look at this. I want … Can you show this one here down here? I think he was in the Second Infantry. This is an Indianhead. Were you in the Second Division too?
>> Yeah, my son was stationed.
>> Okay.
>> He gave me that poster when he …
>> Oh, okay, so your second … So your son was in the Second Infantry Division in Korea.
>> Yeah, [INAUDIBLE].
>> Oh, wow, yes, so his son is also a Korean defense veteran, so he’s an Indianhead. So is my boss and many people out there, so again, I just thank you, Grandpa Pito, for receiving me today and everyone. I’m going to now meet other veterans at the Veterans Center, and we’re going to have a ceremony.
>> You’ve got time.
>> I’m just so happy to be here, so thank you, yes.
[ Chatter ]
>> Thank you. Bye.
>> Well, my name is Kevin Collin Joseph Berriman, commonly known as Col. I joined the Army on the 25th of October 1951, on my 17th birthday, as the Korea War was waging at that time. However, as I was underaged, at 17, you weren’t allowed to go into active service until you were 19. So therefore, the first 2 years of my Army life was spent waiting to go to Korea, in fact. I finally made it just after the Armistice when I went back for a second tour on the line. When we arrived, we did not have to put up with the shelling and the major fighting patrol activity, however, when I arrived my immediate thought was the sympathy for the people, and most of the populous was in starvation at that time. It was a terrible time for the South Korean people. When we arrived, there was still activity up on the DMZ. We established the demarcation zone, and our main activity at the time was patrolling inside the zone, which was allowed in those days. We patrolled one side, and the Chinese, who were still there, patrolled the other side, and we used to to wave to each other occasionally in the center. There was still activity with North Korea crossing the border on several occasions. Of course, we had to keep the whole area fortified, and I served there for approximately 12 months in that activity. There were several clashes on the border at that time, and I was injured during one of them where we had to chase some suspects. We chased them into a mine field. Well, we didn’t ever find out who they … I’ll have to stop. Anyway, we never got to catch the four that we were chasing. We saw them, nearly caught them, but they went into a mine field, and we stopped the chase, but sadly saw them … Well, we couldn’t interview them because there was nothing left of them to interview after that. During the chase, I sadly fell down a ravine, and I didn’t know it at the time, but I’d fractured my spine, and really I was out of action for some weeks after that. I spent time in hospital, and then came back to Korea for a short time where we engaged in more patrol activities, especially along the DMZ. Then my time was up in Korea, and I was hospitalized again, but over in Japan while I was in hospital, I was approached by the public relations officer. They wanted somebody to look after the office in Japan for a while, and they recruited me as a junior noncommissioned officer in the public relations office, where we were engaged in photography of Operation Glory, which was where the exchange of the dead occurred. We were receiving our dead, which had been buried in North Korean graves before the establishment of the static war lines on the Kansas Line on the 38th parallel. And also, we were working returning North Korea and Chinese dead at that time. I was engaged in the fringes of that, mainly working with a photographer that was taking photos of the Operation Glory activities. Some of them are still in the memorial at the present time, when our dead were coming back, and we were sending dead back over to North Korea. I left Japan in July 1955, so I was over there for almost 2 years, and I came back to Australia. Korea had finished with then. I was just due to go over to the mine action, the emergency which was occurring over there, but was found to be, because of my injuries, no longer suitable for the infantry or active service. I retired from the Army in 1957 under the care of our Department of Veteran’s Affairs, who really have cared for me since I was 22 years old. I was re-educated through our Department of Veteran’s Affairs, became an accountant with a university degree and worked with the public service for a further 25 years until my injuries caught up with me again at the age of 48 when I was retired from public work. Since then, I’ve had another career of volunteer work for the ex-service community, mainly in welfare and bereavements, and that’s it.
>> So can you tell us a little bit about how many veterans in Australia are still remaining?
>> Sadly … Can we stop for a moment? You asked me, Hannah, how many veterans are left in Australia. There were 17,850 served in Korea from 1950 until 1956. Now, as of October last year, there were less then 3,000 of us still alive. To be in fact, there was only 2,700. They’re dying very quickly. At the present time, there would be no more than 2,400 of us left. Now, I can also give you some casualty figures of those that we lost. Those that paid the supreme sacrifice during their service in Korea was a total of 356 who lost their lives, 340 before the cease fire on July 1953, and 18 after the uneasy armistice that occurred on that date. Is there anything else that you would like?
>> POWs, missing in action?
>> Missing in action, we still have 42 that are missing in action, about half from pilots that were lost, mostly in the North. Only one that we haven’t recovered in South Korea. The rest of the missing in action are Army personnel mostly in the DMZ, which nobody can find in any case, even to this day. We suspect that some of those pilots that were lost in the North could have gone back on recoveries that have occurred by the Americans. It’s a possibility that they could have some of them in Hawaii. We’re investigating this matter at the present time by organizing a memorandum of understanding with the American authorities. Those that were recovered, of course, are all in the Hawaii cemetery, the beautiful American cemetery in Hawaii. I think it’s called the Punchbowl. Perhaps they could be, but it’s very doubtful if any of the 22 Army personnel are there. They’re mostly still in the demilitarized zone. There’s thousands of Chinese still there, and Americans, many thousands of them, still missing. That’s about all that we can say about the MIAs. Under the current regime in North Korea, I don’t think we’ll ever recover any more of those. Anyway, it’s so long ago now, what, over 60 years. What’s to recover?
>> How about POWs? Australian POWs?
>> POWs, there are very few of them alive now. I can’t tell you the exact … We had probably over 20, 25. Some of them died in captivity, three of them, to my mind. I don’t know whether we have any still alive at the present time. I think there was about less than 30 we had POWs in Australia. What else?
>> What do you think is significant about Australian contribution in the Korean War?
>> What?
>> Australia’s contribution in the Korean War unlike other countries? For example, on top of my head, I could think of is the Australians contributed all the …
>> Well, for our size, we contributed quite a lot, especially … You’ve heard some stories from two of our pilots, both from the Navy and from our own 77 Squadron, who flew there. Our Army contribution, of course, was three infantry battalions, which for our population at that time, 17,850 of us served, so for our small population of seven million was … Our actions, of course, in the infantry we contributed to several major battles: the taking of Maryang-san, which during the static war was … Although we took it in October 1951, it was lost shortly after, unfortunately, but Maryang-san was the main Chinese outpost on the Jamestown Line. That was a major battle. The Battle of Kapyong, of course. Australians and the Canadians held the line at Kapyong during the big Chinese offensive of 1951, in April 1951. The Australian battalion 3 RAR held the Chinese offensive during that time long enough, for 3 days, for them to establish the defenses around Seoul, which stopped the Northern advance. And then, of course, the static war period happened shortly after that in October 1951, where the war stayed until the armistice just about the 38th parallel. For a small force of 17,000, as I said, we lost almost 400 killed in action. Many of us were wounded and injured, like myself, I suppose. I was one of the injured. Anyway, that’s about all I can say really. It was a long time ago. My main thoughts and feelings during the time that I served was heart rending. I was so sad to see the population starving, especially children, which upset me very much as a young man. All that I can say is my … The sacrifice that the South Korea people paid was enormous, and they must be congratulated for how they’ve lifted themselves up after that disastrous time to such a prosperous country that it is today, and I’m very proud to be concerned with the recovery of Korea. They’ve done a wonderful job. That’s about all. I can’t think of anything else. I get bad thoughts when I think of what the people suffered. It was a terrible, terrible time for them. Terrible thing to see. We helped them as much as we could, of course, but we couldn’t feed the whole population. Anyway, that’s it.
– Pero mis tíos fueron a pelear también y donde yo peleé, pelearon ellos, uno de ellos murió en mis brazos, lo enterré y regresé de nuevo, pero yo sé lo que es un hijo cuando está guerreando, cuando se manda a sitios a pelear, donde uno ha estado pasando… Y pasando malos tragos en la guerra. Así que yo también siento como padre y como hijo, siento como hijo porque sé lo que sintió mi madre, sintió mi padre cuando yo partí.
– No.
– Y nosotros, nosotros apreciamos todo el esfuerzo que hacen por nosotros, somos, fuimos soldados y somos soldados porque el soldado una vez sigue siendo soldado todavía, pero siempre hay alma.
– Sí.
. Hay agradecimiento y amor. Okay.
– Y gracias muchísimo, padre.
– And there’s a picture…











