“You couldn’t do more than two winters in a row in Korea,” Korean War veteran Roland Kinnear says.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
In the winter, snow would fill the trenches up to chin height, he said.
The biting cold wasn’t the only unsavory companion in the dug-outs, with rats “as big as cats” another undesirable and constant feature.
There was no reprieve in summer, when dust and biting flies would swiftly replace the chilly weather.
Roland, who served in the conflict from 1952 to 1953, was one of about 10 Korean War veterans present at a commemoration service conducted by the Taree RSL Sub-branch on Wednesday.
“It means a lot to us,” Roland said of the ceremony, held 63 years since the Korean War’s 1953 cease fire agreement.
By his memory it’s the 21st year of Korean War commemorations held by the Taree RSL Sub-branch.
Roland thinks the Sub-branch was one of the first in the country to commemorate those who served in the conflict.
Also present were former Greater Taree City Councillor David West, who spoke of his own uncle’s sacrifices during the war and the plight of South Koreans during the conflict.
Sub-branch president Darcy Elbourne said the commemoration ceremonies are an important part of remembering the sacrifices made by service people, with a thorough school visitation program another key component.
“The relationship between the ex-service community and schools in the Taree community is excellent,” Darcy said.
“It enables us to ensure that the scarifies made by our service people are never forgotten.”
Often referred to as the Forgotten War, more than 17,000 Australians served as part of 21 countries in a United Nations force supporting South Korea after North Korea invaded on June 25, 1950.
More than 300 Australians died in the conflict and 1200 were wounded, with 43 still listed as missing in action.
Since the war, North Korea has been a notoriously private country plagued by internal problems and ruled by the cult-like Kims family.