Achille Ragazzoni
Bio
Achille Ragazzoni served in the Italian Red Cross during the Korean War. He was the Director of Pharmacy for the Italian Field Hospital No. 68. The field hospital was located in Yeongdeungpo, southwest of Seoul, and it served both civilians and soldiers and was close to the front. During one incident, he was in a military caravan bringing supplies to the field hospital when an enemy Mig aircraft attacked the convoy, wounding him. Subsequently, even though wounded, he remained in Korea, working at the Field Hospital. He served in Korea until December of 1954, but the hospital remained open after that time. He was made an Honorary Korean Citizen by President Syngman Rhee. He later revisited Korea, and the transformation amazed him.
Video Clips
Knowledge of Korea
Achille Ragazzoni shares he served as part of the Italian Red Cross in Korea from 1951-1954. He explains how prior to serving in Korea to help the people there, his knowledge of Korea was relatively limited. His son recalls his father talking about learning how before World War II, Korea was part of Japanese Territory. He recounts how after Stalin's death, he realized that, in reality, Korea was more of a victim of the Japanese than a possession.
English translations begin at 14:58 and 16:30.
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Wounded While Serving the Citizens and Soldiers
Achille Ragazzoni explains that with the deployment of Italian troops to Korea, this became the first foreign mission involving Italian soldiers. He recalls how his preparations for deployment to Korea involved learning to treat citizens in addition to the soldiers. He shares he was wounded while transporting medicine and spent some time being treated in an American hospital. He recounts how when offered the chance to go home to recover, he chose to remain in Korea.
English translations begin: 23:52 and 26:20.
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Hospital Work in Korea
Achille Ragazzoni shares he initially arrived in Seoul. He explains there was no Italian embassy in the country as it was covered by the embassy in Tokyo. He shares knew little of the Korean language and recalls how there were many Japanese words used in Korea. He describes working for an Italian hospital which used medicines provided by the Americans and shares that when given days off, he enjoyed traveling around areas in Korea.
English translations begin at 30:50, 32:39, 35:52, and 37:11.
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Memories of Children in the Hospital
Achille Ragazzoni shares stories of the young children brought to the hospital. He recalls how these children were orphaned and, as a Catholic hospital, the facility made sure they were baptized and placed with new Korean families. He recounts how after the war, he received many letters from those families.
English translations begin at 46:30 and 47:27.
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Learning to Understand the Korean People
Achille Ragazzoni shares he saw the importance in learning as much as he could about the Korean people. He comments on how he took advantage of every opportunity to socialize with the Korean people, unlike many of his colleagues. He explains he noticed many similarities between the Korean and Italian people, notably the music. He adds that though he left Korea in 1954, the hospital continued its operation.
English translations begin: 49:23, 50:32, and 50:41.
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Impressions after Return Trips to Korea
Achille Ragazzoni shares he returned to Korea ten or twelve times over his lifetime. He marvels at the improvements made, especially related to the sanitary situation of the country. He expresses sadness that many Korean people had abandoned tradition and history but shares he was impressed with one young woman he met along the way studying a medieval Italian map.
English translations begin: 51:05 and 53:46.
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