Roger Pauwels

Bio

Roger Pauwels was born on August 15, 1929 in Elen, Belgium, which is near Maaseik. He grew up with an older sister, Marie-Louise, and a younger brother, Désiré. His brother,Désiré, would later become a navigator in the Belgian Air Force. At the age of sixteen, he took part in military training at Marche-les-Dames, which was the training center for Belgian paratroopers near Namur. The rigorous training for paratroopers in the battalion included intensive bivouac, temporary camps without shelter, and a practice with a variety of maneuvers followed up with intervals of intensive exercise. Upon completion of the training and an extensive selection process, he was selected for service in Korea on December 18, 1950. Along with several hundred fellow Belgian-Luxembourg volunteers, he boarded the troopship, Kamina, and began a six-week voyage to Korea. After arriving in Busan on January 31, 1951, the volunteers joined US regiments south of the 38th parallel, including the Battle of Imjin River (Imjingang River). Upon completion of a year of service, he was rotated out of Korea and continued to serve the Belgian Army in the garrison town of Hasselt. Shortly after returning home, he met Liliane and settled down to raise a family. A few years after returning home from Korea, he lost his younger brother, Désiré, who’s Avro Canada CF-100 jet crashed while completing a low navigation exercise during bad weather. It was the first time in fourteen years that a Belgian military aircraft crashed in the United Kingdom. Following twenty-five years of service, he retired and transitioned to the role of lifeguard and swim trainer in Vilvoorde. His family describes him as an individual who was always ready to help where he could and have a sense of pride for the decision he made in risking his life with the hope of contributing to peace for the Korean people.

Photos

Sergeant Pauwels in Korea

Ambassador for Peace

View by the Imjin river Well-hidden fort in the foreground Korea 1950-1951

Badges of Honor Korean War

Order of Leopold II Gold medal; Military decoration 1st class; Emblem distinguished Unit Imjin 1951 April 20-26; War Volunteer Medal; Award of the Korean War Service

Cemetary in Korea

Cottage in Korea

Wild Landscape during the War

Cemetary in Korea

Return From Korea

Roger Pauwels and a fellow soldier and reception by family and friends. Roger Pauwels (left), his parents, his younger brother Désiré, his older sister Marie-Louise, and his soldier friend Armand.

Service Hat of Rogers Pauwels