4 years ago
KOREAN VETERANS’ DAY
SHAYNE NEUMANN MP
Tomorrow marks Korean Veterans’ Day, when we commemorate the more than 17,000 Australians who fought to defend South Korea against invading forces from North Korea and China between 1950 and 1953.
Australian soldiers, sailors, airmen and nurses were involved in the conflict as part of a United Nations multinational force and won international respect for their courage, endurance and combat skills in Korea.
This was particularly as a result of significant military victories at Kapyong in April 1951 and Maryang San in October 1951.
More than 17,000 Australians served during the Korean War and in the Post-Armistice peace-keeping phase, including some 50 nurses.
Tragically, 340 died, some 1,500 were injured, 30 were taken prisoner and 43 are still listed as missing in action.
Shadow Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel Shayne Neumann encouraged all Australians to pause and reflect on the service and sacrifice of all the brave Australian men and women who served during the Korean War.
“Tomorrow I will lay a wreath at a Commemorative Service in Ipswich to honour our Korean War veterans. The Ipswich RSL Sub-Branch has also invited Victoria Cross recipient Keith Payne VC AM to attend the ceremony,” Mr Neumann said.
“The Korean War is sometimes referred to the ‘forgotten war’ as it occurred between the Second World War and the Vietnam War, which was the first war to be covered extensively on television.
“Every year on 27 July, we remember all those who served and all those who lost their lives so that these men and women, and their families, know that they are not forgotten. Lest We Forget.”
Australian soldiers, sailors, airmen and nurses were involved in the conflict as part of a United Nations multinational force and won international respect for their courage, endurance and combat skills in Korea.
This was particularly as a result of significant military victories at Kapyong in April 1951 and Maryang San in October 1951.
More than 17,000 Australians served during the Korean War and in the Post-Armistice peace-keeping phase, including some 50 nurses.
Tragically, 340 died, some 1,500 were injured, 30 were taken prisoner and 43 are still listed as missing in action.
Shadow Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel Shayne Neumann encouraged all Australians to pause and reflect on the service and sacrifice of all the brave Australian men and women who served during the Korean War.
“Tomorrow I will lay a wreath at a Commemorative Service in Ipswich to honour our Korean War veterans. The Ipswich RSL Sub-Branch has also invited Victoria Cross recipient Keith Payne VC AM to attend the ceremony,” Mr Neumann said.
“The Korean War is sometimes referred to the ‘forgotten war’ as it occurred between the Second World War and the Vietnam War, which was the first war to be covered extensively on television.
“Every year on 27 July, we remember all those who served and all those who lost their lives so that these men and women, and their families, know that they are not forgotten. Lest We Forget.”