Aristiois Zaxarioudakis
Bio
Aristiois Zaxarioudakis enlisted in the Greek Army in 1950. He grew up in Crete during the German occupation and remembers it as a challenging time for his family. When a commanding officer sought volunteers for service in Korea, he eagerly stepped forward due to his awareness of the inevitable suffering the Korean children would be forced to endure during the war. He served on the front lines near the 38th Parallel, directing mortar fire as ordered. Fortunately, he was presented with the opportunity to revisit Korea in 2008 and witnessed the country’s progress since his service there.
Video Clips
Volunteering to Save Korean Children
Aristiois Zaxarioudakis recalls the numerous challenges of growing up during the German occupation of Crete during World War II. He notes these memories motivated him to volunteer for service in Korea, knowing full well the hardships that children would endure during the war.
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Firing Mortars on the Front Line
Aristiois Zaxarioudakis and his unit underwent twenty days of preparation following their arrival in Seoul in May 1952 before being deployed to the 38th Parallel. While he cannot pinpoint the exact location, Zaxarioudakis vividly describes their stationing near two hills and elaborates on his role as a mortar specialist in the Greek Army.
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The Most Difficult Time
Aristiois Zaxarioudakis describes the severe cold and snow as the most challenging aspect of his service in Korea. He recounts instances when it was so cold that they had to resort to using dynamite to make holes in the ground.
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Could Not Believe His Eyes
Aristiois Zaxarioudakis was amazed by the progress the country had achieved when he revisited in 2008. The transformation was astonishing, especially in Seoul, where he hardly recognized the cityscape dominated by high-rise buildings. He remains humble about the part he played in contributing to the country's development.
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