Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry in Korea

[pinkeye]

Just before midnight on April 22, 1951, more than 200,000 Chinese and North Korean soldiers began a massive assault on UN troops in the Kapyong valley. During the offensive, designed to break through UN lines and overrun the South Korean capitol of Seoul, most of the UN defenders fell back - the South Koreans, the Americans, the British, even the Australians.

But in the face of 6,000 Chinese attackers on their hill, the 700 Canadians held their ground for three days. "There was so much confusion," Hibbs recalled, "so much firing and the smell of weapons...the dust, the dirt and the fear...I believed that maybe we weren't going to be there tomorrow...that we might go down fighting. In the end, we didn't go down. The Chinese finally abandoned the attack. The front held. Seoul was saved."

While Hibbs survived the Kapyong siege, 33 of his comrades did not. Two weeks later, the entire 2nd Battalion of the PPCLI was assembled behind the lines. A VIP helicopter arrived and Gen. James Van Fleet emerged. The new commander of the Eight US Army inspected the troops and read out the U.S. Presidential Distinguished Unit Citation to the Canadian battalion, the only Canadian unit ever to be so honoured.

[James]

PPCLI was in Afghanistan for Operation Anaconda, no? Is this a regiment or a battalion? As a side question, how is the Canadian Army organized? Divisins? Brigades? Regiments? I am curious. Please advise.

[Ratamacue]

Indeed it is, Tane. Except it's "Kashyyyk," not "kashyyk."

[Schuster]

The Princess Patricias is a regiment.. and like all canadian regiments there are 3 battalions 1 and 2 are mechanized and 3 is light( with air assault and airborne companies). The Army Is Organized into brigade groups. which consist of. an infantry regiment(RCR,PPCLI,R22eR) an armoured regiment(Battalion)(LdSH,RCD,12eRDB) a Combat engineers regiment, and artillery regiment( with 2 M109 batteries and 1 LG1 Mark 2 light 105mm battery) and a service battalion(Field Ambulance,Logistics,ect.). there is also.. the 4th air defence regiment. 4 engineering support regiment, NBC responce team(dunno much about it) Electronic warfare armoured sqn.. some other stuff.. heh.. umm. oh yeah and the Joint Task Force Two.. the estimated man power of the JTF-2 is 250-350.. with the possibility of an increase to 800 iirc.. hmm.. whatever i guess thats enough for now.

[Edit]It was 3 Battalion PPCLI in afghanistan with recce sqn of the lord strathconas horse. 2 Battalion PPCLI is what this is about . [/edit]

[James]

Thanks for the info.

[California Joe]

Unfortunate name for a regiment. Tough as nails though. Cheers.

[[AFSOC]]

Ahaha tru say California, the names of Canada's regiments come from the United Kingdom there names are similar to there's. Such as the Queens Own Rifles, Dragoons, Highlanders, Hussars etc.

CAnada's army is too small have divisions now a days back in WWII Canada had enough Divisions such as the Canadian 3rd ID, 2nd ID who was in D-Day.

[California Joe]

Hehe, I know, it was a joke. I have a great deal of respect for the way the UK/Canada honors tradition in their military. It exemplifies the idea of esprit de corps so necessary in regiments etc.

*Disclaimer* This is not to imply that any other countries do not have this same panache. Any student of American history will find many instances where this is true.

[[AFSOC]]

Its too bad the Chretien government treats the Canadian army like trash. Left overs of the country, I find it weird that many Canadians feel that they dont need a military. Canada has such a great military history especially in WWI, like in Vimy Ridge, the Somme, Paschendale etc.

hmmm maybe things will change? I'd really like to see the Canadian AIRBORNE REGIMENT come back.

[California Joe]

I grew up about, or should I say "aboot", an hour from the Canadian border. My dad was a naturalized US citizen when he was 7. I'm very familiar with Canada, especially Quebec. I think it's bizarre how a lot of the different factions in Canada don't act like their military is important. Like they're Switzerland and they don't need to be involved.

[Schuster]

Canadas Army.. right now is about the size or just bigger than the size of an american division.. sad.. it used to be different.. in the 90's under the french liberals(what i call em) there have been so many cuts.. Money capability, personell... its not even funny.. i hope the next guys better..

[[AFSOC]]

Next guy will be a french guy again no doubt it'll be Paul Martin. Maybe he will live up to his dad's legacy.

[EvanL]

Better or not were most likely always going to be run by liberals. It sucks but its not gonna stop me from serving my country.

[[AFSOC]]

Evan are you in the CF right now?

[Schuster]

i doubt he is..