Jeff Liebregts
Bio
Jeff Liebregts volunteered for the Royal Netherlands Army in 1949. He attended the Royal School for Police Officers, which is now the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee. After reading about the war in newspapers, he felt compelled to help Korea and volunteered to serve three tours with the Netherlands Detachment for the United Nations. He took part in the securing of Hill 325 during the Battle of Hoengsong and sustained injuries during the Battle of Imjin River. Because he felt people did not understand why he went to Korea, he did not begin sharing his experience during the war until many years later. Yet, he is extremely proud of his service and feels Korea is his second homeland.
Video Clips
Maybe She Helped Spring Korea Forward
Jeff Liebregts shares his experience of saving a baby while walking with his friend after the Battle of Hoengsong. He describes walking along the road and all of a sudden being under fire. As they took cover, he recalls hearing a baby crying and seeing a child strapped to a mother who had expired. For fear that the child would die from exposure, he shares how he extracted her and delivered the child to the medical station. When he sees people on the street, he wonders if any of them are the child that he saved. He hopes she was part of the generation that helped Korea become successful.
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We Finally Took Hill 325
Jeff Liebregts does not recall knowing if they were fighting Chinese or North Korean soldiers at Hill 325. He explains that before the third attempt to take the hill it didn't matter what job you had. You were given a gun and sent up the hill. He shares details about being afraid and if someone says they were not, they are joking. After taking the hill, he remembers feeling tired and lying down near body bags. He recalls waking up to someone kicking him to check if he was alive.
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You Saved My Life Baby
Jeff Liebregts elaborates on his experience protecting the bridge in Hoengsong and saving the life of a colonel. While monitoring the replacement bridge, he remembers hearing something approaching. He describes seeing a weapons carrier with mortars crossing the bridge and readying his weapon. As he assessed the situation, he recalls seeing a colonel exit the car looking completely out of sorts. After providing protection for the colonel, he describes opening the vehicle and finding four deceased soldiers.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAEXg0R1tRk&start=1645&end=1757
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https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/jeff-liebregts#clip-3
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Waking Up in Tokyo
Jeff Liebregts recounts being injured at Imjin River while tending the radio. He explains how all of a sudden someone started shooting at his vehicle. As a result of this, he shares his driver was killed, and the vehicle crashed into the valley. He remembers waking up with multiple broken bones and no memory of how he ended up in Tokyo. While in Tokyo, he shares he was given a Purple Heart but returned the medal because only Americans can earn Purple Hearts.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAEXg0R1tRk&start=1843&end=1952
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https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/jeff-liebregts#clip-4
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