The Korean War is sometimes viewed as the forgotten war. At the time, it was described not as a war but a police action. but more than 25 thousand Canadians served in Korea with over 500 losing their lives.
Historian Dr. Andrew Burtch of the Canadian War Museum says the fighting became intense after the Chinese entered the conflict for North Korea with many more soldiers. The battle of Kapyong in 1951 devolved into hand to hand combat complete with bayonet charges.
The United Nations Memorial Cemetery in South Korea has the remains of 378 Canadians who died during the war.
Dr. Burtch says it’s just crushing to read the family correspondence.