-Estas placas fueron instaladas el, el 14 de Noviembre del 2000, del año 2007, ante una ceremonia muy hermosa con todos los destacamentos militares, la asistencia del comandante del Ejército, el Estado Mayor, la Armada Nacional, y mucho público y todos los veteranos de la guerra de Corea. Fue algo, fue muy conmovedor para la ciudadanía de Bogotá y para todos los militares y veteranos que asistimos, puesto que no se había colocado en ninguna parte de Colombia por parte del Gobierno ninguna conmemoración, ningún recuerdo a los muertos de la guerra. Estábamos buscando y yo me dediqué a buscar con ellos. Y un buen día, tuve la inspiración de venir aquí y proponerle al padre párroco que, que si me daba permiso de colocar las placas acá en este lugar tan sagrado para la, donde están los mártires de la patria. E inmediatamente me aceptó. El general Álvaro Valencia Tovar, que en paz descanse, puso todo el empeño por su experiencia militar. Fue comandante del Ejército, estuvo en la guerra de Corea, fue el comandante de la primera acción contra los chinos. Y me dijo: “Isaac, cuente con mi apoyo porque esa idea no se me había presentado a mí, no se me había ocurrido a mí. Yo lo apoyo”. Y cuando me di cuenta, pues, comunicó al Estado Mayor, convocó a todas las fuerzas militares, y fue algo esplendoroso. Que, por eso esas placas están aquí. Yo puse mi aporte espiritual y no más. Que Dios tenga sus almas en su, su, su reino. Gracias.

– Me llamo José Adonai Castilla. Viajé a Corea en el año, año 1952. Tengo 83 años en la actualidad. Regresamos en el año 53 en el mes de septiembre. Para mí como experiencia al viaje, la ida, viaje o ida a Corea fue una experiencia, como joven, muy bonita. Nunca habíamos, en mi caso, ni conocía un buque ni había montado en avión por primera vez, de modo que, para mí, fue una experiencia de joven, muy alegre, muy bonita. Y agradezco, en parte, al Ejército tanto de los Estados Unidos, de Colombia y de Corea habernos dado esa oportunidad. Llegando a Corea, pues, ya las cosas se nos complicó. No sabíamos qué era una guerra, nunca habíamos estado en ella. De pronto, de niños veíamos unas películas de guerra, pero no sabíamos las consecuencias que tenía una guerra. Como soldado, actué en el Cerro 180. Afortunadamente salí con vida de ahí. Luego, nos tocó el 23 de marzo la Batalla en el Old Baldy. El Batallón Colombia fue uno de los más fuertes que hubo allá. Gracias a Dios también salí ileso de esto. Posteriormente, me salté eso, pero posteriormente fui herido en una, en una, eh…
– ¿No será en patrulla?
– En una patrulla, una patrulla de reconocimiento y fui herido ahí, y murió al lado mío un colombiano, que eso me ha causado mucho mucho impacto. Me impactó demasiado porque era compañero, amigo, de la raza negra, pero un negro supremamente echado para adelante. Me acuerdo de ese detalle porque él había puesto una demanda al Gobierno de Colombia que era único hijo, que él no debe haber ido a Corea a la guerra por ser único hijo. Ya le había llegado la resolución de que tenía que regresar a Colombia. Llevaba ocho días esperando que lo evacuaran para nuestro país. Y estaba en la Casa Mata cuando nosotros salíamos a esa patrulla. Como buen guerrero y joven, nos pidió o le pidió al cabo que comandaba la patrulla de que por qué no lo llevábamos. Yo era radio operador, fui el radio operador en Corea. Dijimos: “¡No, pues, camine!”. Porque se encontraba el tipo aburrido sin hacer nada ahí porque el comandante daba la orden de que no patrullaran, no hicieranningún frente ni nada de esto, que estuviera quieto mientras regresaba al país. Pero estaba aburrido y entonces dijimos: “Camine con nosotros”. Y, desafortunadamente, ese día fue el único muerto, bastándole una semana para regresar al país. De resto, la guerra la tomamos, ya le dije, ¿no? En parte, una experiencia inolvidable, con tristeza por los compañeros fallecidos que quedaron allá, pero con otros compañeros que estuvimos afortunadamente compartiendo todo, que están aquí presente varios. Pero para nosotros y para todos los veteranos, fue un orgullo sumamente grande de haber cumplido. Es un deber cumplido haber estado allá en Corea. Mil gracias.

>> My name is Derstin Germadell. When I went to Korea, I was [INAUDIBLE] but now [INAUDIBLE] at this time. I went to Korea because of the United Nations. Our government is believing [INAUDIBLE] collective, and by that time, the Koreans run by North Korea. So at that time, we are in the United Nations. So at that time, our governments were voluntary to send troops to fight with the United Nations. At that time, I was Battle Commander, and it's his first time for us to go to foreign country. At that time, we didn't know Korean areas or the ways or anything like that, but the first time our government, they gave us some orientation about the North Korean, and then, of course, we went by ship, and they went to Busan first time. At that time, we met the president of Sint Maarten. We saw General Cobedacabre that time, the continent commander. Then at that time, we didn't know, so they brief us how to leave the area, also starting to train ourselves. The weapons is new to us, the Americans' weapons, and they would stay there in Busan for 3 months training, and now some areas where that has happened, and then after that, we went to the front line. At that time, the Americans, because we are from Africa, only we would be there. So the Americans, they asked us, "Where are you from? Where are you coming? Are you a British colony?" "No," we said, we were not a colony. [INAUDIBLE] so ... "How do you speak?" [INAUDIBLE] speak in English." We say, "Of course, we are in the school." "We all speak English." We said, "Of course, we are in this school," and we learned English. Especially our officers, they are trained in the academy, of course. So everybody knows, it's not a problem for us, the language. So we start up to front line, and then at that time, they don't believe us because they are afraid if the Koreans, North Koreans or Chinese break the line, they came from behind. So they sent us first but accompanied by a platoon, a floater attached to the company of Americans. Then at that time, the first time I went to the one company attached to the Americans at the front line, and then the company commander gave us a mission to go forward and to see, at that time, there is no [INAUDIBLE] front line. The mission that he gave us to do, to bring president or so to destroy enemy bunkers. "So this mission will be you starting tomorrow morning," and then he also attached, was one, [FOREIGN LANGUAGE] six, seven people with us, Americans, and then in the morning, I started to go to that area, especially [INAUDIBLE] we know how to read the map, the area, the hill, the river, everything we could read already. So he told me to go this place and try to bring president. So I went, but some time after I start in the morning, there is clouds. I can't see 10 meters even, and then I report to company commander. He said, "Stop, stay there. I'll inform you when the clouds go. You can go to your mission." After 1/2 an hour, the cloud is off. Then I went. I told him, "I can see now." So it was about 2, 3 kilometers from the company areas. I went to the front, and then I stayed there, and then I observed by my ... >> Binocular. >> And so there is an enemy bunker in front I can see. Unfortunately, one Chinese soldier came out from the bunker, and he tried to go to the river. There is some river, and I now have an opportunity to take him easily. So I turned to my squadron commander [INAUDIBLE] FR, and he took slips just with him, and he went down, and then the soldiers, he tried to take the water from the river, and then they captured him, take back, and then I reported to the company commander, and he said, "Please send him immediately," and then I came back to this area, and then he gave me orders again. "Now try to destroy the bunker." "Yes, I can see the bunker." It's about a 100 meters, something like that, from my place. So I have set of 75 millimeters. Also we put out machines and then shoot them. I report I did all these things, and they told me that, "Is it possible to go to that area and bring some peoples if you can?" "Yes, I can." He changed his mind again. "Please can you hold them there? I will give you artillery to bombard the area over there." So, "Yes," I told him I'd ring him up, and then he understand, and he knows where I am under the [INAUDIBLE] three round. So I destroyed the area, and then he say, "Come back. That's enough. So I tried to go back, and as we started walking up again back, it's about 400 meters, something like that, the enemies, they realize that we are there, and, from left and right, they started shooting. Anyhow, this jungle area, as we went back safely without anything or any prisoners at that time, but unfortunately, on the front line before me in some areas, they took one prisoner. So they promised us to send someone for vacation and something like that, but unfortunately somebody was before me. So I lost my chance at that time. So after 3 or 4 days with the company there, and then I went back to my unit. This is the first time I did my tour. Now this time, the Americans, they saw us, that we are very good soldiers, and that we are brave. So we starting with company size in the front line, and then from the front line, we start to go with the company, fighting on the frontline zone. So we did that so they'd believe in us, [INAUDIBLE] everything with them. So we went with the battalion first on the front line and then, starting with the company, fighting in some areas. So we did a lot of ... We win a lot, and then we [INAUDIBLE]. >> Mm-hmm. I read that you never lost a battle. You had about 263 combats but never lost a battle. >> No. >> That's amazing. >> That's so amazing. >> That's really amazing, and that ... >> No prisoners, no even ... >> Dead, dead. >> ... dead men. >> I know. >> Yeah. >> That's amazing. >> Yeah, because always after fighting, we controlled our people and where they are. Of course, sometimes, we are in the bush and something. So we'd find them and take them back, yeah. >> Mm. So later, after the Korean War, you stayed in the military, and you eventually retired as a general, right? And you fought in Congo, and after, you saw other conflicts, but what do you think is the significance of the Korean War in terms of Ethiopia's military actions? >> You see, there is a different unity there, especially French units in some areas, and then sometimes, there are lots of their soldiers and so on. Then we go to the front line, of course, in that area. As of that time, of course, the Americans, as I told you, we are moving on us, and so we are a diverse battalion, [INAUDIBLE] battalion, and then sometimes after we stay there on the front line, we go back to rest. So at that time, we meet a lot of [INAUDIBLE] from another continent. Is that not answer for you? >> Ah, no, no, no, no. So Ethiopians, do they know about the Korean War? Are they proud of the Korean War, Ethiopians in general? >> Are they proud of it? That's ... >> Ethiopians, do they know about Korean War? >> Yeah. >> They do? >> Yeah, they know, for example that our officers [INAUDIBLE] before 10 years after, 20 years, and now some of them coming together and so on, and we had a lot of experience at that time, and then, for example, you see, the Korean people, they are really with us. They are good to us, I can say. At that time, as my wife told you, when we went to Korea, the area and the people is very, very, very low and very poor. If you knew [INAUDIBLE] at that time, but now, I was there 3 years ago, and so the area was bombed, and now woods ... Everything is ... Only at that time, but now the place is industry. Where we are fighting, it's been [INAUDIBLE]. It's amazing to see these people. So even we learned enough from them, from Korean people. We know we saw, at that time, what they are, but now, they are completely changed. They can teach us how to be a good people and do good things. >> Well, I want to let you know that the rise of Korea from the ashes of war, it is actually thanks to your contributions. I read that Ethiopians were, again, one of the best fighters, and that the enemy saw blacks for the first time, and they thought you were superhuman because you had a reputation for being so brave and best soldiers, and I thought that was very funny. Can you explain to us a little bit about your medal? >> Now, for example ... [ Chatter ] >> See, the one thing now, what the Koreans is doing for us, really, in the hospital, free ... We are in the hospital, everything. We are not paying. You see? No. Now when I go, two times operation in a Korean hospital. Yeah, I'm not paying, nothing. Medicine is free. Operation, everything is free for us besides this ... They are giving us pocket money every month, [INAUDIBLE] >> Whoa. >> You see? Now they are not forgetting us. Still if we ask them to do something for us, they do it. They never buck. They always say, "Please ask us what you want. You give us our blood, your blood, your life for our country. Now we are in this place. We are here now. So we can help you. You are our brothers because our blood is together now." You see, one Korean ... They always went out on the front line. They bring us hot food and something like that, padding, because no person is reaching there. So after he gave us this food, and, you, see, before he go back, the enemy shoots a weapon, of course, and then in the ridge, one of the ridges, they can't see them. Then this Korean hit by this, by some artillery, another artillery, and then our soldiers, they went and take him. Again, they fire. Both of them, they died, just like that. So we are blood. Even in the blood, we are together with the Korean people. So even they are good for us. Of course, we do our best to them also. Yeah. >> Well, again, I'm very grateful, and that's why I'm here, and I call all Korean War veterans my grandpas because I say if you weren't there fighting, I wouldn't be here right now. >> You are proud of them still now. >> And my friends and family and supporters in America and all over the world say they want me to express gratitude on their behalf. So thank you very much, thank you. >> So you are saying when you are asking to receive, thank you very much. Again I say, please tell our bravery to your people. >> Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you.

>> My name is Victor Smith. I'm part of the committee of the British Korean War Veterans Association. My position is National Treasurer who looks after the finances. We have approximately about 250 members. This was after the collapse of the original British Korean War Veterans Association, and we formed out of the members that wanted to carry. It's very successful. We're growing year-by-year. The old organization closed in 2013. That's when we started, and over ... We've made great steps in the 5 years that we were ... 4 years that we've been in operation. What else would you like me to say? >> Just how many served from Britain. >> Oh, the servicemen from Britain that were killed in action was 1,078. I think there was over 1,000 that were captured, and altogether, there was about 30,000 went to Korea from Britain. The reason that we only did one winter because of the cold winter, extreme cold, whenever you got there, you could only go 12 months that included one winter. The conditions were pretty basic. Spares ... I was involved with maintenance of vehicles and tanks. To get spares and equipment was very, very hard. We cannibalized one vehicle to keep another vehicle going. Any that we couldn't deal with, they were taken to Inchon and shipped to Kure in Japan where the Japanese had workshops that repaired all the vehicles. That was under the REME. I was actually a member of the REME, which is the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. They're mainly workshops, but within each unit, there's always a REME craftsman attached to the unit. I was attached to the Tower [INAUDIBLE] Infantry, and then I was passed onto the Royal Warwickshire Regiment. On my end of service in Korea, I then moved around to the Suez Canal and spent 6 months on the Suez Canal, and then I ... My 3 years was up. Anything else? >> Have you been back to Korea? >> I have been back the once. I hoped to go back this year. It was a wonderful experience to return there, and I'm looking forward to going back again. >> And I'm sure when you went to Korea, many Koreans expressed their gratitude, right? >> Oh, yes. They treated us like gods. They're absolutely wonderful to us. They're so kind, the Korean people. >> When you see that, that the South Koreans and Koreans all over the world are experiencing, enjoying freedom, and North Koreans are not, what do you hope for the people of the Korean Peninsula. >> Well, I hope they'll unify. I believe there are still people that work from the South work in the North and from the North work in the South. I think they travel there daily. I'm not sure, but it wants complete unification and peace, and absolutely, it's a wonderful country to visit, wonderful people. I thoroughly enjoyed my time out there.

>> I came to Australia in 1968. >> Your name? >> Brian Edwards, ex-Lance Corporal, Royal Military, please. So I served in Korea from 1951, August, until 1952, August, where I served with the 28th Brigade, and the brigade at that time consisted of the Third Battalion Royal Australia Regiment, and apart from the King's Own Scottish Borderers and one or two other regiments, but the bulk of it was the Australians. That's why I'm affiliated with the Australian branch of Korean vets, so you want me to say something about whatever? Okay. My duty as a military policeman, apart from keeping law and order among the ranks, we have to assign the routes for troop movement, and my job was assigning routes for the 28th Brigade, mainly the Australians, whenever they were moved anywhere, and I had to sign the routes right up to the forward line to make sure they knew where they were going, and then once I'd done my job, then the troops would move in. We normally was the first in with an engineer or signals. The engineers would clear the mines. Signals would establish telephone points, and I used to point the signs down and say this is where this battalion or the second is going, so that's what a military policeman does in war. He's usually the first in and the last out to make sure all the wounded go out and everything is cared for apart from looking after all the roads, making sure all the roads are clear, so it's a big job, but it's good, and it's a rewarding job, and you usually do 3 months in the forward area and 3 months in reserve, but whilst I were in reserve in April '52, I escorted the First Battalion or Australian Regiment to relieve the third battalion, which was in the line, from Incheon. That was just the transport section. The other troops arrived Busan, and then came by road, so it was interesting job. You had to know the roads. You had to keep the roads clear, and you had to keep ammunition and supplies going to the front, and you had to make sure the wounded and/or dead were back behind the lines, so that's what a military policeman does in war, and that's how I was sort of affiliated with the Australians. >> But you're British. >> When did you come to Australia? >> 1968, so I've been in Australia quite a while. >> Were there other countries that sent their military policemen? >> Yeah, most countries did, but the British military police was probably the first big one. The Americans did have police there, but they didn't do as much as what the British ones did. >> You're actually the first military policeman that I have interviewed. >> There you are. >> I didn't even know. >> And we all wore red hats. >> Can you put it in? >> All right. >> Wow. Wow, looks handsome. >> But it wasn't a hat like this we wore. It was more what we called a cheese-cutter where it had a big down where it had a red top on. I should have brought ... I've still got the red top I had there, but it's got a few holes in it now. Just I remember one time. It was the battle of Maryang-san. That was on the 3rd of October to the 8th. I, as a policeman, assign the route from the 28th of September before we moved the brigade up on the 3rd of October, and it was during that time ... I think ... In that battle, I think 30,000 wounds of shells went in, and I think we took 20,000 back, and that was on a crossroads. There was the enemy there. There was a road to Goheung down there, and there was the British. 29th Brigade was up there at one time, but on the 3rd or 5th of October, I had the bring the 28th Brigade up, so I was the last man. My mission dropped off at various points on the road, and I was the last one on, and I took control of this crossroads, and the shells was coming in at us, and a soldier from there took my into a ditch, and he said, "It's that hat of yours, which they're using as a target," and he was commander of a tank regiment. All the tanks were lined up there, and he was right. The shells were on it. What the hell? Just one cool experience that we came across. >> Wow. >> It was exciting. I was 19, and I think my first job when it comes to a large road was to stop a truck going too fast, and I asked him why he'd gotten ... Because he was creating dust, and you can't have dust in the war area, and he said, "I want to know where the graves commission is." He had dead bodies. At 19, it was bit confronting [INAUDIBLE]. There you are, but I'm here and thankful.

– Yo me llamo Manuel Antonio Gaitán Briceño. Fui cabo segundo en la guerra de Corea. Eh, me llevaron en el año 53 a Corea, estuve en el campo de guerra, de batalla, el cerro… De ahí me sacaron para reserva por lo que yo tocaba acordeón para ir a un concierto en Busan. De ahí regresé otra vez a Corea a prestar el servicio común y corriente en patrullas, patrullajes, en el cual no tuve ningún problema. Eh, el tiempo que duré, pues, me mandaron a una academia de los Estados Unidos a hacer un curso de preparación militar americana y nos mandaron con dos suboficiales más y el único que sacó diploma fui yo, véalo por puntos, los otros no alcanzaron la puntuación. Y me tocó que llegar al batallón Colombia a darle instrucción a mis compañeros de acuerdo a lo que me habían enseñado en la academia de la séptima división de los Estados Unidos. El resto, pues, común y corriente, el tiempo se transcurrió y fue pasando poco a poco hasta que me mandaron al Japón a, eh… eh, recuperación y descanso, un, un descanso que le daban al personal que era aplicado y tenía estudios y todo eso, por 10 días en el Japón, como, como premio, ¿ve? Como premio a lo que se había hecho. Y ahí ya se llegó el momento de venirnos para Colombia otra vez, ¿ve? Que nos tocó siempre un poco, eh, cansón porque traíamos los restos de todos los compañeros que fallecieron y, y armamentos y todo lo que había, lo que teníamos que nos había dado la séptima división de los Estados Unidos al batallón Colombia. Eh, no tengo así más que informarles sobre lo de Corea por parte mía. ¿Ve? Que estuve prestando mi servicio allá y estuve en una academia de los Estados Unidos haciendo un curso para preparación militar americana y ya eso, pues, me vine para Colombia otra vez en, en el General Stewart, un barco de los Estados Unidos, ¿ve? Zarpamos de Corea y llegamos a un puerto en Honolulu, Hawái, y estuvimos ahí dos días y luego seguimos rumbo a Buenaventura, Colombia. Ya aquí, ya aquí seguí en el ejército hasta el año 55 que me retiré porque no, no me gustó mucho el ejército, ¿ve? No, no, no tengo más que informarle porque no fui herido, ¿ve? Estuve en la línea de fuego, pero no fui herido, y la guardia que presté. Y a amenizar y alegrar a mis compañeros con la música que yo tocaba acordeón y formamos un conjunto, y ese conjunto, pues, lo organizamos y tocábamos en los ratos de descanso en reserva y amenizábamos el tiempo para no estar tan tristes, ¿ve? De Corea, pues, en los cuatro tiempos, ¿no? Que se llega, que es el otoño, primavera, invierno y verano, que siempre se le hace extraño a uno porque aquí en Colombia si quiere uno estar en tierra caliente, está, si quiere estar en tierra fría como acá, está uno, pero no hay cambio de, de clima como allá que están los cuatro tiempos. ¿Ve? No, no, no tengo más así que informarle, ¿ven? Porque mi estadía, pues, claro que fue casi un año, pero no, no tuve problemas, ¿ve? Porque siempre que estaba en la línea o algo, me llamaban para ir a tocar a Seúl, a Busan, en Incheon no, no estuvimos en Incheon estuvimos cuando llegamos y no, pues, la pasé más bien, no, no, no la sentí tan fuerte, por decirlo así, la milicia allá. Y el viaje un poco, eh, molesto por la vaina del barco que de, de Panamá hacia, ah, Honolulu son 15 días y uno que no estaba acostumbrado a, a viajar en barco, eso se le, se le llena a uno toda la… Y otros 15 días de ahí a, a… el primer puerto del Japón, de ahí sí en tren a Seúl que eso estaba todo bombardeado, vuelto una nada, estaba pésimo, ¿verdad? En cambio ahoritica en el 2006 que estuve otra vez en Corea invitado por la embajada, eh, está eso excelente, puentes, todo, una cosa muy bonita, ¿ve? Muy maravillosa, en comparación a, a, al 53 que estuve, que eso estaba todo bombardeado, vuelto una nada. Eh, peladitos por ahí pidiendo qué comer, todo eso porque no tenían como alimentarse y había mucha, mucha pobreza, demasiada pobreza. Ahoritica no, ahoritica es un país que está ciento por ciento avanzado en todo, ¿ve? Y esas fábricas de carros, eso de la un, una imagen muy buena a Corea, ¿ve? Y estuvimos también en, a 100 metros de Corea del norte, porque hasta ahí puede uno llegar, pero eso se ve triste, gris, ¿ve? No se le ve ambiente a, a Corea del norte, ¿ve? Pero bueno, estuvimos mirando, ¿no? Estuve en el paralelo 38 en guardia también, pero a Dios gracias no me pasó nada. No tengo más que informarle.
[ACENTO EXTRANJERO]
– ¿Ha visitado a Corea?
– ¿Ah?
– ¿Ha visitado a Corea usted? ¿Visitó a Corea?
– Sí, yo estuve, eh… con mi, eh… Ah, estuve en el Japón también, pero en el Japón en, en… Me perdí en el zoológico de Tokio, esa fue la…
– ¿Recientemente, recientemente?
– ¿Ah?
– ¿Recientemente visitando a Corea? Usted visitando. ¿Visitó a Corea recientemente?
– Ah, sí, en el 2006 estuve visitando a Corea, por eso es que le digo…
– ¿Por qué 2006?
– ¿Ah?
– ¿Por qué? ¿Cómo?
– Me invitó la embajada de Corea.
– Un, guao.
– ¿Ve? Nos invitó a 14 colombianos.
– ¿14?
– Sí, estuvimos en el cementerio.
– ¿Sí?
– Allá en Corea.
– Sí.
– Y esas partes, sus alrededores, y cuando fuimos a, a los 100 metros que le digo de Corea del Norte y hasta ahí podíamos estar, no podíamos pasar más para allá. Eso está lleno de guardias y, ¿ve? Y miramos el, el paralelo 38 casualmente, ¿ve? Hasta 100 metros, ahí de para allá ya no se puede, ¿ve? Y a eso es que le digo que está Corea un ciento por ciento en comparación a cuando la vimos que nos tocó que andar en un tren todo bombardeado, vuelto una nada hasta el campo donde teníamos que hospedarnos, por decirlo así, y de ahí salir a entrenamientos para luego entrar a la línea de fuego, ¿ve?
– Sí.
– Y la pobreza que vimos en ese tiempo era muy, muy cruel. Cuando estábamos en reserva la alimentación que nos mandaba el ejército americano, que era una, una alimentación que la llamaban: Ración C7, lo que nos quedaba se lo dábamos a ellos, ¿ve? Que se hacían, se acercaban por las alambradas, ¿ve? Para pedirnos que le diéramos algo, ¿ve? Porque estaban, pues, muy… sin alimentación, sin nada, muy… Ropa, sin nada, ¿ve? Les dábamos ropa de lo que teníamos por ahí que nos sobraba se la dábamos también. ¿Ve? Entonces a uno le daba, pues, eh, tristeza, ¿sí? Porque aquí en Colombia, pues, obvio, somos pobres, pero procuramos sostenernos de cualquier manera sin, sin tanta… Menos mal que aquí no ha habido guerra, ¿no? Pues, guerras así, pero, guerrillas que llaman, pero era que allá sí estaba eso. Y, y pensar que, que Corea del norte fue la que inició todo, ¿ve? Y se unieron con los, con los, este otro país, se llama… comunista también, con china y otro país no me acuerdo ahoritica el nombre.
[ACENTO EXTRANJERO]
– ¿Rusia?
– ¿Ah?
– ¿Rusia? Ruso.
– Sí, una cosa así. ¿Ve? Se unieron para atacar a Corea del Sur y en ese…
– Ruso… Ruso.
– Rusia.
– Sí.
– Rusia, Rusia. Ellos, se, se unieron todos para atacar a Corea del Sur, ¿ve? Y sin embargo, pues, eh, hay un, eh, un recordaris, por decir así, que el batallón Colombia cuando estuvimos en combate y todo, a raíz de eso se firmó el tratado de paz el 23 de marzo, si no me equivoco, o el 25 de marzo, una cosa así, del año 53, hasta ahí hubo combate, ahí ya se acabó el combate y ya se siguió prestando guardia, pero por prevención, ¿no? Que no volvieran otra vez a molestar.
– Yo quiero que, ah, por su gran honor de sus sacrificio en la guerra de Corea, que, ah, muy pronto, ah, ahí será el tiempo cuando, ah, Coreanos en North Corea, ah, también tienen la paz y… libertad, ¿sí?
– Sí, señora.
– Sí. Y gracias…
– No, señora.
– …abuelo, porque, ah, sin sus contribuciones no… ah, no puedo ser aquí, estar. Gracias.

>> My name is Jolke Rijsdijk. I born in [INAUDIBLE] in 1928 and served in [INAUDIBLE] versus the Korean ... >> Volunteer. >> Volunteer. >> Volunteer >> ... Volunteer in 1950 after 2 years in Indonesia service. I awarded the Medal of Honor from Indonesia and Korea, [INAUDIBLE], the medal of [INAUDIBLE] ... >> United [INAUDIBLE]. >> United Nations. >> [INAUDIBLE] Korean War Medal. >> And I was in Korea in 1950 with about the [INAUDIBLE]. After shooting in the range where there's the American troops, they say to us, "You can come to the front. You are ready for shooting everywhere every day." So we started in 1950 to go to the front line, first to Taegu, afterwards to Suwon and later to [INAUDIBLE]. >> Kusongpo-ri. [FOREIGN LANGUAGE]. >> Above [INAUDIBLE] Hoengsong. >> Hoengsong. >> Hoengsong. >> Hoengsong. >> Hoengsong. >> Hoengsong. >> Hoengsong. >> And [INAUDIBLE] by the Chinese troops. We started to go to help three to five because the Chinese held the North Koreans in force, so on the upper side of the street [INAUDIBLE] died [INAUDIBLE] ... >> Preacher? Preacher? >> [INAUDIBLE]. >> ... priest died, and the paid boss died with 15 other guys, two corporal sergeants and so on. So [INAUDIBLE] little bit. >> What does this mean? Were you an artillerist? Right here. >> Combat rifle. >> Combat rifle. >> [FOREIGN LANGUAGE] >> Several days on the front line. >> Yeah. >> Ah, oh. >> [FOREIGN LANGUAGE] >> If you are 90 days in the front line, you get from the Americans the Combat Rifle. It's the one. >> [INAUDIBLE]. >> Means that you have 90 days on front ... >> Ninety days on the front line, yeah. >> ... on the front line. >> Yeah, yeah, yeah. >> Straight? Ninety days straight? >> [INAUDIBLE]. >> Straight? Ninety days straight? >> Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. >> Straight on the line. >> Yeah, yeah. >> [FOREIGN LANGUAGE] >> Radio man. >> Uh-huh. >> [INAUDIBLE] people I go with in the radio, and afterwards, North Korea, I came back in [INAUDIBLE] 40 years by the [INAUDIBLE] things. >> [INAUDIBLE] things. >> Connections. >> Connections, yeah. Telephone. >> Connections. >> Telephone, ah. >> Radio. >> Wireless operator. >> Oh, wow. >> I was wireless operator ... >> [INAUDIBLE] wired radios. >> ... and made steps in different ranks. >> Wow. In the Armed Forces? >> In the Armed Forces, yeah. >> He stayed there. >> For 40 years? >> Yes. >> For 40 years, yeah. >> Hmm, just like Grandpa [INAUDIBLE]. >> Every 36 years, you get a golden medal. >> Mm. >> Thirty-six years. >> Did he say that he received the Medal of Honor? >> No, that's ... What he's talking about is the medal that you are 36 years in the army. >> Army, 36 years, wow. >> But he stayed longer than that. >> You stayed longer? >> Yeah. >> Wow, so what are you proud about the Dutch in the Korean War? >> Wait a moment. I was in 1998. They came revisit in Korea with my son. >> Mm. >> And he works in Korea with the [INAUDIBLE] ... >> [FOREIGN LANGUAGE] >> ... oil platforms, to build oil platforms. >> In Korea? >> In Korea. >> Wow. >> And he brings it to start ... to Africa and all over the world. >> Does he still live in Korea? >> The Koreans platforms. They build in South Korea. >> So he lived in Korea, your son? >> And now he lives here in [INAUDIBLE]. >> Okay. >> But he goes everywhere with the platforms. He brings it back, and then during the start, they test it the [INAUDIBLE]. >> Wow. >> And the platforms bring to the power of the place. >> So you remember serving with many comrades because you were in the army for 40 years, long time. >> Yeah. >> So looking back, Dutch in the Korean War played a very important role, right? >> Yeah, yeah. >> Name couple that you feel are very important for young people to know about Dutch in Korea. >> Oh, yeah. >> [FOREIGN LANGUAGE] Yeah? [FOREIGN LANGUAGE] Yeah? [FOREIGN LANGUAGE] >> I don't do that, but there are others today do that. They talk in schools, classes, over Korea. >> Mm. >> And now my four [INAUDIBLE] go in ... >> Grandchildren. >> ... go in May to Korea. >> Mm, good. Peacetime ... >> [INAUDIBLE]. Yeah. >> ... to learn ... >> Four. >> ... to learn about the Korean War. >> Going for a week now, Korea. >> Oh, okay. >> It's nice, isn't it? >> Yes. Do you ... Did you go back to Korea? >> No, I not. >> To 1998 ... >> Maybe I go to [INAUDIBLE]. That's far enough. >> You went to Korea with your son ... >> In '98. >> ... in 1998. How about recently? >> No, there were [INAUDIBLE] British over there now. >> Did you go recently? >> [FOREIGN LANGUAGE] >> [FOREIGN LANGUAGE] Yeah. >> And what's the last time? In 1998. >> Yeah, yeah. >> I hope you enjoyed it. >> It was very nice ... >> Very nice. >> ... to be there. >> Well, thank you so much for your service. Thank you. >> [FOREIGN LANGUAGE] >> Yeah. >> [FOREIGN LANGUAGE] >> Oh.