dez000
02-22-2004, 07:32 PM
Prologue
...Further more, to all these Korean veterans, civilians or military, contented or embitered, respected or anonymous, there is one certainly which time wil not erase: whatever may have been each man's initial motivation and the path taken since then, whatever our society's indifference to their actions and memories, no one can taken from them the advantage of having a human brotherhood in which they would like to act as trustees.
Jean-Pierre Gahide
Doktor of Phycologie and lettres
Source: CD Rom "The forgotten war" ABL
From the journal of the 3 US Division : " Frontline "
Belgian joint fight for freedom
( taken over from the front line gazette in camp Pangori Korea )
In January 1951, a group of volunteers comprising the Belgian United Nations Command landed at Pusan, Korea.
The battalion was composed of 750 Belgian men and a platoon of Luxemburg men under the command of Lt- Col Albert Crahay The brown-bereted Belgian and the Luxembourg came as a volunteer to fight in Korea. His fighting religion is " L'Union fait la Force " ( In unity there is strength)
In the months to follow the Belgian force demonstrated the ample cohesive qualities of the United Nations, by gallantry the displayed while serving under American commanders. Their audacity in combat was almost unparallel among troops in Korea.
Battle of IMJIN
The Belgian force again demonstrated its acquired reputation as seasoned combat veterans at the battle of the Imjin river; during the period 20-26 April 1951 the Battalion displayed aggressive action, inflicting more than 30 times their own number of enemy casualties. Communist forces repeatedly conducted assaults which were valiantly repulsed by the Battalion. When the fanatic assaults threatened to overwhelm them, the Belgian launched devastating bayonet counterattacks. Withering barrages of mortar fire, plus effective delaying action by the unit, allowed other friendly forces to withdraw. It was here with the Luxembourg Volunteers and the British Forces, that the heroic Battalion received a PRESIDENTIAL CITATION FROM THE UNITED STATES for his outstanding conduct in battle.
CONSTANT FIRE
The Belgian Battalion left the Commonwealth Division on 20th August. From that time until 30 September, they trained in the 3d DIVISION
area under a Division instruction team after which they were reattached to the 15th INFANTRY.
Later, they were attached to the 1st CAVALRY DIVISION and in the battle of
BROKEN ARROW fought with great skill and determination. Ordered to hold, the Battalion carried on a continuous enemy assault for five days and nights. On the sixth day when the fighting subsided, the position remained in Belgian hands
In June 1952, the unit again joined the 15th INFANTRY and was committed in the IRON TRIANGLE area.
CASUALITIES
During the Korean conflict, the Belgian United Nations Command suffered more than 100 men killed and missing in action. One of the six missing men returned as a prisoner of war. Six of those killed included a combat patrol executed by the Chinese at the Imjin river in April 1951
At the close of the Korean conflict, the Belgian Battalion remained on the alert. Rigorous training programs were conducted to keep the unit at a peak of combat readiness
THE EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM DISPLAYED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE BELGIAN UNITED NATIONS COMMAND THROUGH THE ENTIRE KOREAN CONFLICT REFLECTS GREAT CREDIT ON THEMSELVES AND THEIR HOMELAND
http://czar94.cafe24.com/rpm/Europe/Kingdom_of_Belgium/Patches/images/3para.jpg
The Belgian intervention
The principle adopted by the United Nations was that any intervention of the armed forces of the member states had to reach battalion strength at least. Outside the rearmament of the Belgian army confronting the communist threat in Europe, Belgium therefore also supplied an operational unit for Korea. Since the Belgian constitution does not allow draftees to be sent to an overseas area op of operation, the government decided to raise a unit of volunteers of an infantry battalion strength.
It must be remembered that our supporting measures, which Belgium had decided upon on 22 July 1950, included the participation in the " Pacific Airlift" of 3 DC-4 aircraft. On the other hand several volunteers were transported by Sabena aircraft (Belgian civilian company) either on the onward or on the return journey. These aircraft came back to their country for inspection.
THE VOLUNTEER CORPS FOR KOREA
More than 2000 candidates were examined by the Selection centra of Ghent and Namur, and on the 18th September the officers and the non-commissioned officers arrived at the Commando Training center in MARCHE-LES-DAMES in order to receive their first and rigorous training. Approximatively 700 accepted volunteers came to the LEOPOLDSBURG CAMP on the 2nd October, and at the 7th October, the unit- a slightly modified battalion of a mixed language type - was given the name
"VOLUNTEER CORPS FOR KOREA"
B.U.N.C. Belgian United Nations Command, as the American command knew them.
A platoon, consisting of volunteers from the GRAND DUCHY OF LUXEMBURG also joined.
On the 3rd November 1950, the standard was allocated and presented with due ceremony by the Royal Prince BAUDOUIN (later King of Belgium) on the 8th of November 1950.
A short but very advanced training, due to the realism of the exercises, was given by the instructors of the PARA-REGIMENT and concluded by the award of THE BROWN BERETS later to become so famous.
This beret wears the insignia representing the two Belgian Communities : A GOEDEN DAG (means good day, which is a weapon) for the FLEMISH and a FRANK AXE for the WALLOONS.
The crusade the volunteers were to undertake being symbolized by the knight's helmet of BRABANT over the BELGIAN LION. The sleeves of the jacket wore the " BELGIUM " badge. On the 11th of November, the whole Battalion paraded before the UNKNOWN SOLDIER MONUMENT in Brussels.
The training was concluded in the Camps of ELSENBORN and BRASSCHAAT were exercises were conducted with live ammunition and under barrages. The Belgian- Luxemburg Battalion left Antwerp on the 18th December for the long crossing aboard the less than adequate KAMINA ship...
This battalion now is known as the 3th Para Battalian part of the elite Belgian Para-Commando's...
Source: http://users.pandora.be/belgischbataljonkorea/
During the conflict the Belgian battalion was attached to :
The 1st US corps
The 3rd US div
The 29th British brigade
http://users.pandora.be/belgischbataljonkorea/dia/vdg_a2_XI_006.jpg
http://users.pandora.be/belgischbataljonkorea/dia/vdg_a2_XI_008.jpg
http://users.pandora.be/belgischbataljonkorea/dia/vdg_a2_XIV_018.jpg
http://users.pandora.be/belgischbataljonkorea/dia/vdg_a2_XV_000.jpg
http://users.pandora.be/belgischbataljonkorea/dia/vdg_a2_XVI_029.jpg
http://users.pandora.be/belgischbataljonkorea/dia/vdg_a2_XVII_021.jpg
http://users.pandora.be/belgischbataljonkorea/dia/vdg_a2_XVII_020.jpg
http://users.pandora.be/belgischbataljonkorea/dia/vdg_a2_XVIII_027.jpg
http://users.pandora.be/belgischbataljonkorea/dia/vdg_a2_XVIII_033.jpg
http://users.pandora.be/belgischbataljonkorea/dia/vdg_a2_XXI_004.jpg
http://users.pandora.be/belgischbataljonkorea/dia/vdg_a2_XXII_010.jpg
http://users.pandora.be/belgischbataljonkorea/dia/vdg_a2_XXII_016.jpg
http://users.pandora.be/belgischbataljonkorea/dia/vdg_a2_XXII_017.jpg
http://users.pandora.be/belgischbataljonkorea/dia/vdg_a2_XIV_016.jpg
http://users.pandora.be/belgischbataljonkorea/images/patrouillegroot_padre.jpg
A combat patrol
http://users.pandora.be/belgischbataljonkorea/images/bunkerbigvivario.jpg
Lt-kol Vivario with an American Leutenant, a ROK soldier at the PC of the batalion
During the conflict, the Belgian Battalion and the Luxemburg's detachment were awarded : 4 Belgian and 2 foreign distinctions for their courageous and heroic conduct.
Source:
CD rom " The forgotten war " ABL
http://users.pandora.be/belgischbataljonkorea/
Stories
Par Vander Goten stopped by American M.P.
While Padre Vander Goten was visiting Belgian causalities in a nearby village, he heard that the Belgian battalion was going back into line, so he drove full speed to the battalion CP. During this trip, he was stopped by a very stern American MP who barked at him : "Do you now how fast you were driving?". The padre replied :" I am Belgian and I have to be back in my unit, because they go back in line". The American MP queried : "Are you one of those who came voluntarily to this war?", to which the Padre replied to the affirmative. The reaction of the MP was very typical : " You must be crazy, drive on !!".
Jacky Van Tongerlo at the query of an American
When the Belgians came out of the line, sitting on American tanks, they came through a Korean village. An American soldier asked : "Are these houses like yours in Belgium?" Jacky replied angrily : " I am from GEEL (*), man". The American's reply was : "Is that where the crazy people lives !!!"
*(You must know that Geel is a small town in Belgium, known all over the world for the care of mental patients in local families.
Rik Thijs (+) and Rik Wouters on manoeuvres in TURKEY
When Rik Thijs and his friend Rik Wouters had to reconnoiter a position near the IMJIN, they came in contact with a English captain, who offered them a piece of home-made cake, which they shared amongst them.
Many years later, on manoeuvres with the 3rd Battalion Para they were presented to a British general, who asked them about their military background. They told him that they sometimes encountered Englishmen while on the INJIN (Korea ). The general asked some more details and when they told him about the cake, he replied : " Do you know who that captain was? That was me!!".
Some small world!
Source:
http://users.pandora.be/belgischbataljonkorea/
http://users.pandora.be/belgischbataljonkorea/images/p_gailly.jpg
Lieutenant Pierre Gailly
( Killed in action )
http://users.pandora.be/belgischbataljonkorea/images/ingang_3para.jpg
The barracks of the 3th Para Battalion is named after Lieutenant GAILLY PIERRE (KIA in Korea 1953)
http://users.pandora.be/belgischbataljonkorea/images/3veteranen.jpg
...Further more, to all these Korean veterans, civilians or military, contented or embitered, respected or anonymous, there is one certainly which time wil not erase: whatever may have been each man's initial motivation and the path taken since then, whatever our society's indifference to their actions and memories, no one can taken from them the advantage of having a human brotherhood in which they would like to act as trustees.
Jean-Pierre Gahide
Doktor of Phycologie and lettres
Source: CD Rom "The forgotten war" ABL
From the journal of the 3 US Division : " Frontline "
Belgian joint fight for freedom
( taken over from the front line gazette in camp Pangori Korea )
In January 1951, a group of volunteers comprising the Belgian United Nations Command landed at Pusan, Korea.
The battalion was composed of 750 Belgian men and a platoon of Luxemburg men under the command of Lt- Col Albert Crahay The brown-bereted Belgian and the Luxembourg came as a volunteer to fight in Korea. His fighting religion is " L'Union fait la Force " ( In unity there is strength)
In the months to follow the Belgian force demonstrated the ample cohesive qualities of the United Nations, by gallantry the displayed while serving under American commanders. Their audacity in combat was almost unparallel among troops in Korea.
Battle of IMJIN
The Belgian force again demonstrated its acquired reputation as seasoned combat veterans at the battle of the Imjin river; during the period 20-26 April 1951 the Battalion displayed aggressive action, inflicting more than 30 times their own number of enemy casualties. Communist forces repeatedly conducted assaults which were valiantly repulsed by the Battalion. When the fanatic assaults threatened to overwhelm them, the Belgian launched devastating bayonet counterattacks. Withering barrages of mortar fire, plus effective delaying action by the unit, allowed other friendly forces to withdraw. It was here with the Luxembourg Volunteers and the British Forces, that the heroic Battalion received a PRESIDENTIAL CITATION FROM THE UNITED STATES for his outstanding conduct in battle.
CONSTANT FIRE
The Belgian Battalion left the Commonwealth Division on 20th August. From that time until 30 September, they trained in the 3d DIVISION
area under a Division instruction team after which they were reattached to the 15th INFANTRY.
Later, they were attached to the 1st CAVALRY DIVISION and in the battle of
BROKEN ARROW fought with great skill and determination. Ordered to hold, the Battalion carried on a continuous enemy assault for five days and nights. On the sixth day when the fighting subsided, the position remained in Belgian hands
In June 1952, the unit again joined the 15th INFANTRY and was committed in the IRON TRIANGLE area.
CASUALITIES
During the Korean conflict, the Belgian United Nations Command suffered more than 100 men killed and missing in action. One of the six missing men returned as a prisoner of war. Six of those killed included a combat patrol executed by the Chinese at the Imjin river in April 1951
At the close of the Korean conflict, the Belgian Battalion remained on the alert. Rigorous training programs were conducted to keep the unit at a peak of combat readiness
THE EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM DISPLAYED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE BELGIAN UNITED NATIONS COMMAND THROUGH THE ENTIRE KOREAN CONFLICT REFLECTS GREAT CREDIT ON THEMSELVES AND THEIR HOMELAND
http://czar94.cafe24.com/rpm/Europe/Kingdom_of_Belgium/Patches/images/3para.jpg
The Belgian intervention
The principle adopted by the United Nations was that any intervention of the armed forces of the member states had to reach battalion strength at least. Outside the rearmament of the Belgian army confronting the communist threat in Europe, Belgium therefore also supplied an operational unit for Korea. Since the Belgian constitution does not allow draftees to be sent to an overseas area op of operation, the government decided to raise a unit of volunteers of an infantry battalion strength.
It must be remembered that our supporting measures, which Belgium had decided upon on 22 July 1950, included the participation in the " Pacific Airlift" of 3 DC-4 aircraft. On the other hand several volunteers were transported by Sabena aircraft (Belgian civilian company) either on the onward or on the return journey. These aircraft came back to their country for inspection.
THE VOLUNTEER CORPS FOR KOREA
More than 2000 candidates were examined by the Selection centra of Ghent and Namur, and on the 18th September the officers and the non-commissioned officers arrived at the Commando Training center in MARCHE-LES-DAMES in order to receive their first and rigorous training. Approximatively 700 accepted volunteers came to the LEOPOLDSBURG CAMP on the 2nd October, and at the 7th October, the unit- a slightly modified battalion of a mixed language type - was given the name
"VOLUNTEER CORPS FOR KOREA"
B.U.N.C. Belgian United Nations Command, as the American command knew them.
A platoon, consisting of volunteers from the GRAND DUCHY OF LUXEMBURG also joined.
On the 3rd November 1950, the standard was allocated and presented with due ceremony by the Royal Prince BAUDOUIN (later King of Belgium) on the 8th of November 1950.
A short but very advanced training, due to the realism of the exercises, was given by the instructors of the PARA-REGIMENT and concluded by the award of THE BROWN BERETS later to become so famous.
This beret wears the insignia representing the two Belgian Communities : A GOEDEN DAG (means good day, which is a weapon) for the FLEMISH and a FRANK AXE for the WALLOONS.
The crusade the volunteers were to undertake being symbolized by the knight's helmet of BRABANT over the BELGIAN LION. The sleeves of the jacket wore the " BELGIUM " badge. On the 11th of November, the whole Battalion paraded before the UNKNOWN SOLDIER MONUMENT in Brussels.
The training was concluded in the Camps of ELSENBORN and BRASSCHAAT were exercises were conducted with live ammunition and under barrages. The Belgian- Luxemburg Battalion left Antwerp on the 18th December for the long crossing aboard the less than adequate KAMINA ship...
This battalion now is known as the 3th Para Battalian part of the elite Belgian Para-Commando's...
Source: http://users.pandora.be/belgischbataljonkorea/
During the conflict the Belgian battalion was attached to :
The 1st US corps
The 3rd US div
The 29th British brigade
http://users.pandora.be/belgischbataljonkorea/dia/vdg_a2_XI_006.jpg
http://users.pandora.be/belgischbataljonkorea/dia/vdg_a2_XI_008.jpg
http://users.pandora.be/belgischbataljonkorea/dia/vdg_a2_XIV_018.jpg
http://users.pandora.be/belgischbataljonkorea/dia/vdg_a2_XV_000.jpg
http://users.pandora.be/belgischbataljonkorea/dia/vdg_a2_XVI_029.jpg
http://users.pandora.be/belgischbataljonkorea/dia/vdg_a2_XVII_021.jpg
http://users.pandora.be/belgischbataljonkorea/dia/vdg_a2_XVII_020.jpg
http://users.pandora.be/belgischbataljonkorea/dia/vdg_a2_XVIII_027.jpg
http://users.pandora.be/belgischbataljonkorea/dia/vdg_a2_XVIII_033.jpg
http://users.pandora.be/belgischbataljonkorea/dia/vdg_a2_XXI_004.jpg
http://users.pandora.be/belgischbataljonkorea/dia/vdg_a2_XXII_010.jpg
http://users.pandora.be/belgischbataljonkorea/dia/vdg_a2_XXII_016.jpg
http://users.pandora.be/belgischbataljonkorea/dia/vdg_a2_XXII_017.jpg
http://users.pandora.be/belgischbataljonkorea/dia/vdg_a2_XIV_016.jpg
http://users.pandora.be/belgischbataljonkorea/images/patrouillegroot_padre.jpg
A combat patrol
http://users.pandora.be/belgischbataljonkorea/images/bunkerbigvivario.jpg
Lt-kol Vivario with an American Leutenant, a ROK soldier at the PC of the batalion
During the conflict, the Belgian Battalion and the Luxemburg's detachment were awarded : 4 Belgian and 2 foreign distinctions for their courageous and heroic conduct.
Source:
CD rom " The forgotten war " ABL
http://users.pandora.be/belgischbataljonkorea/
Stories
Par Vander Goten stopped by American M.P.
While Padre Vander Goten was visiting Belgian causalities in a nearby village, he heard that the Belgian battalion was going back into line, so he drove full speed to the battalion CP. During this trip, he was stopped by a very stern American MP who barked at him : "Do you now how fast you were driving?". The padre replied :" I am Belgian and I have to be back in my unit, because they go back in line". The American MP queried : "Are you one of those who came voluntarily to this war?", to which the Padre replied to the affirmative. The reaction of the MP was very typical : " You must be crazy, drive on !!".
Jacky Van Tongerlo at the query of an American
When the Belgians came out of the line, sitting on American tanks, they came through a Korean village. An American soldier asked : "Are these houses like yours in Belgium?" Jacky replied angrily : " I am from GEEL (*), man". The American's reply was : "Is that where the crazy people lives !!!"
*(You must know that Geel is a small town in Belgium, known all over the world for the care of mental patients in local families.
Rik Thijs (+) and Rik Wouters on manoeuvres in TURKEY
When Rik Thijs and his friend Rik Wouters had to reconnoiter a position near the IMJIN, they came in contact with a English captain, who offered them a piece of home-made cake, which they shared amongst them.
Many years later, on manoeuvres with the 3rd Battalion Para they were presented to a British general, who asked them about their military background. They told him that they sometimes encountered Englishmen while on the INJIN (Korea ). The general asked some more details and when they told him about the cake, he replied : " Do you know who that captain was? That was me!!".
Some small world!
Source:
http://users.pandora.be/belgischbataljonkorea/
http://users.pandora.be/belgischbataljonkorea/images/p_gailly.jpg
Lieutenant Pierre Gailly
( Killed in action )
http://users.pandora.be/belgischbataljonkorea/images/ingang_3para.jpg
The barracks of the 3th Para Battalion is named after Lieutenant GAILLY PIERRE (KIA in Korea 1953)
http://users.pandora.be/belgischbataljonkorea/images/3veteranen.jpg