Guillermo Rodriguez Guzman
Bio
Guillermo Rodriguez Guzman commanded a platoon in the Colombian Dispatch Battalion from January to December 1952. Before his Korean deployment, while training at a Bogota military academy, an internal conflict erupted in Colombia. Consequently, he was assigned to protect the Ministry of Defense in Bogota. Despite this ongoing domestic strife, Colombia honored its international commitment and sent troops to Korea. Upon his return, Guzman was immediately redeployed to address the internal conflict. Currently, he shares his Korean War knowledge with academic and military institutions and holds leadership positions in ASCOVE, a Colombian Korean War Veterans’ organization.
Video Clips
Impressions of Korea
Guillermo Rodriguez Guzman recalls arriving in a war-torn Pusan in 1952, witnessing widespread destruction and a starving population. However, since 2001, his seven return trips have revealed a drastically different Korea. Specifically, he has observed a nation developed far beyond his initial expectations. Therefore, the contrast between his first and subsequent impressions is striking.
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His Legacy
Guillermo Rodriguez Guzman proudly recounts his Korean War service, emphasizing the dramatic transformation of Korea since 1952. Indeed, he expresses immense satisfaction at witnessing Korea's progress, with his only regret being the hypothetical inability to have contributed.
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Serving in Korea and in Colombia
Despite facing an internal conflict, the Colombian government sent troops to Korea, a sacrifice Guillermo Rodriguez Guzman remembers well. Upon his return, he found colleagues, family, and friends proud of his service. However, the homecoming celebration was brief, as the troops were immediately redeployed to the ongoing domestic conflict.
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