Netherlands Amsterdam (9)
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>> I'm Pete Fond du Lac, born 21st of March, 1927. [FOREIGN LANGUAGE]
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>> [FOREIGN LANGUAGE] Which year?
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>> Went to Korea in October 1950. [FOREIGN LANGUAGE]
>> It was for that, infantry.
>> Infantry soldier?
>> Yeah.
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>> How long did you [FOREIGN LANGUAGE]
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>> You were there for 1 year, came back in November.
>> It was a very difficult winter.
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>> Yeah, [FOREIGN LANGUAGE]
>> Yes, of course, it was a very difficult time.
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>> Cold, very, very cold winters.
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>> Yeah.
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>> Several of my comrades were killed and my foot froze. [FOREIGN LANGUAGE]
>> No.
>> Yeah.
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>> Okay. [FOREIGN LANGUAGE]
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>> PTSS.
>> PTSS.
>> Stress Syndrome.
>> Stress Syndrome.
>> Yeah.
>> Hmm.
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>> Our commander was killed.
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>> When I came back, I was just a civilian. [FOREIGN LANGUAGE]
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>> It wasn't difficult.
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>> Had you not had [FOREIGN LANGUAGE] from the [FOREIGN LANGUAGE]?
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>> We were just the front, so I didn't meet any civilians.
>> What do you remember about the 2nd Infantry Division, your comrades?
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>> I don't remember much about them.
>> Well, show us your ...
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>> I don't know the translation.
>> No, no, no, not American. I said about the Dutch being part of the 2nd Infantry.
>> Yes.
>> I want him to show ...
>> The ...
>> [FOREIGN LANGUAGE] the 2nd Infantry [FOREIGN LANGUAGE]
>> Yeah, show, show.
>> Show, show them.
>> And you were put together with them? Were you in barracks together?
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>> [FOREIGN LANGUAGE] okay.
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>> The Netherlands unit, we were fighting for the same thing, of course, but we fought separately.
>> You volunteered?
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>> Yeah.
>> Why?
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>> I was first in service in Indonesia, and then I came back to Holland, and then I wanted to go to Korea in order to stay in service.
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>> I had a difficult situation at home in my youth, and when I heard that they were enlisting soldiers for Korea, I thought that would be a good chance ...
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>> ... together with Dick Hermanns.
>> But it was a brutal war. It was war, and you were young.
>> It was [FOREIGN LANGUAGE]
>> Yeah, [FOREIGN LANGUAGE]
>> I was 23, 24.
>> Twenty-three years, yeah. [FOREIGN LANGUAGE]
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>> I never went back there.
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>> No, I didn't.
>> Why?
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>> Yeah. He said, "I was never shipped back there. The war was nearly finished anyway, and I experienced enough to want to stay away after that."
>> But did you go back to Korea Revisit Program?
>> No. [FOREIGN LANGUAGE]
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>> I didn't want to go.
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>> I had the chance to go back a couple of times, but I don't feel the need to go and visit the cemetery, and I don't want to go back.
>> But today in Korea, Korea is a very successful country.
>> Korea [FOREIGN LANGUAGE] ...
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>> ... successful land, and that's seen on the television.
>> Yeah. [FOREIGN LANGUAGE]
>> Dick Hermanns told me so because he's been back.
>> Mm-hmm.
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>> I hope that you are at least proud of your sacrifice.
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>> Yeah. [FOREIGN LANGUAGE]
>> Yes, we're very proud.
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>> But I don't advertise the fact. Of course, it is [FOREIGN LANGUAGE]
>> Yeah.
>> Yeah, it's the forgotten war, and he doesn't talk about it often.
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>> He has sort of recurring memories which are too emotional for him.
>> Nightmares?
>> Nightmares?
>> Yeah.
>> Even now? It's been such a long time ago.
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>> When Dick Hermanns comes to visit, he's a good friend, and he comes regularly, then they talk about old times, and he has a difficult time later.
>> Mm, well, I hope that I could bring you some peace because I don't want you to remember the horrors of war, but I am here to show you that thanks to you, I'm here.
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[ Chatter ]
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>> We always get a good reception when we go to the Korean Embassy too, and he understands fully that you are grateful for his services.
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>> He goes once a year.
>> I come here not as just myself but all my family, my friends in America and Koreans all over the world ...
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>> Yeah. [FOREIGN LANGUAGE]
>> ... but not only Koreans but everybody because you defended Korea and the world from the threat of communism.
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>> Yeah, I know it.
>> So I know maybe it's difficult thinking about it, but I will pray that you find comfort.
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>> Okay.