The KPA tried to get my dad

[Eichhörnchen]

During correspondence with mako88bs this morning about Korean War reading, I remembered there's a photo of my dad in this book:


Published by Constable & Robinson (2000); ISBN 0-09-480230-0

Here's the photo from his own album, along with a smaller one of him (on the left) in front of his Bedford QL truck:



He drove his NAAFI truck along the Imjin River for the RASC, so he said he was technically an "armed civilian" (he had a .303 rifle in the cab, just in case). He said the Australians painted the name "Ned Kelly" on the front of his truck for a laugh while he was off duty.

Did this conflict involve any of your family? Post here...

[Cybermat47]

I don't think anyone in my family was involved in that war - my maternal great grandfather was in the Army in WWI (when he lied and said he was older) and WWII (when he lied and said he was younger), so I doubt he'd be let back in for Korea, even if he wanted to go through hell again. He barely got out of Tobruk, thanks to a Stuka hitting his hospital ship.

My Pa (paternal grandfather) had been in the Navy in WWII (on a destroyer in the Pacific/Indian Ocean), but he probably left when the war was over. I'll have to ask him when I see him.

My Pop (maternal grandfather) was doing National Service, possibly at the time of the Korean War, but he didn't see combat (as a result he refuses any badges or other such things).

[Oberon]

My grandfather had a scrap against Asian communists, but not in Korea, but next door in Malaya. My mother recalls he once mentioned that the children used to run out to meet the commandos when they arrived at the various villages and the commandos would play with them, unfortunately the communist insurgents worked this one out and started booby trapping the children, which meant that whenever the children ran out to the commandos they'd have to defend themselves with force.

I can't begin to imagine what he went through.


45 Commando Bren Group wading through the jungle


Briefing


My Grandfather on the left and a gentleman identified only as 'Steve', this picture was taken on deployment prior to Malaya...in Palestine.

[August]

Pop made it there for the tail end in 1953.

[Jimbuna]

No actually family but I knew an elderly gentleman who was in the Gloucestershire Regiment during the fighting on Gloster Hill and was one of the fortunates who managed to reach safety.

~SALUTE~

[Sailor Steve]

Great stuff, Eich! My dad joined the Navy right after the end of WW2 (just too young) and was out before Korea started, so he missed any combat experience.

[Aktungbby]

@ Eichhhornchen: If your dad served up American instant coffee or tea from his NAAFI, my dad put it there; he avoided Korea in B29's( after 5 years flying in WWII) as he was "more essential to the war effort" by designing, blending and creating the the essential combat 'soluble' caffein 'cup a' joe'. I have the deferment papers submitted by his employer to get the deferment. Combat Breakfast: two aspirin, two cups of coffee, a quick prayer, a quick puke.
– USMC saying, Korean War

[Commander Wallace]

My Dad and a number of uncles were in WW2, my dad serving in the pacific in the Navy. They had had enough by the time the " Korean Police action " occurred. That term is a joke. The Korean action was definitely a war .

I like the pictures by August, Oberon and Eichhörnchen . The pictures help to put a face on the article.

Nice job on the model BTW Eichhörnchen

[Eichhörnchen]

Originally Posted by Aktungbby

@ Eichhhornchen: If your dad served up American instant coffee or tea from his NAAFI, my dad put it there

Could be what these guys were enjoying! My dad had an "assistant", as he called him, so that must be the bloke inside (dad is seated top right in the photo).

[Eichhörnchen]

Dad relaxing on leave... probably in Kure, Japan

[Eichhörnchen]

RASC (Royal Army Service Corps)... truck driver

[August]

Pop in Korea showing off 1953.

[fireftr18]

I have three uncles who served in WWII. My dad entered the Navy in 1953. Stationed in Pearl Harbor. I still haven't forgiven my mom and dad for moving back after he was discharged.

[Falkirion]

My maternal great grandfather was a truck driver for the Australian army in Singapore when it fell. Survived the war despite taking part in the construction of the Burma railroad and was repatriated at the end of the war. Never got the chance to meet him unfortunately, died before I was born.

One of my wife's great grandfathers was an Aussie Colonel in WW2 commanding a garrison somewhere in the Pacific. Surrendered to the Japanese empire and was raked over the coals for it by those higher up the command chain than him.
Her grandfather fought in Europe against the Germans, I believe as a navigator for RAF bomber command.
*Edit. Lt Colonel John Scanlan, and a quick read up on him reveals that he was in command of the Australian forces at Rabaul when it fell to the Japanese. Bloody lucky to survive the war considering how most of the POWs were treated. He also served in WW1 during the Gallipoli campaign one of the first ashore too.

Oh and my paternal grandfather served in the RAAF band during his lifetime, can't recall the exact dates of his service but nobody else I know of have served time in the armed forces. I considered it but never managed to make the cut during fighter pilot officer testing and didn't want to serve as enlisted fp.

[Sailor Steve]

As I said early in this thread, my dad was just too young for WW2, and was out and had a family by the time Korea began. That said, he was the next-to-youngest of seven brothers and three sisters. I was told that more than one of my uncles was in the army in 'the big one', and two were in the navy, and one of them was actually at Pearl Harbor. All just stories, though, as I never had a chance to talk to any of them about their experiences.