Korean War: 70th Anniversary - Korean War Legacy

The Korean War: 22 Countries

Soldiers from 22 countries fought in the Korean War. As heirs of their legacy, our goal is to preserve and share their stories, educate the public about the War, and come together as a community. Learn more about their experience by exploring the memories of the people who served.

Australia

Australia participated in the Korean War as part of the United Nations Command. Australia was one of the primary contributors of troops and supplies during the Korean War, entering the fray in the first week of North Korea invading South Korea. Over 17,000 Australians served in the Army, Navy, or Airforce over the duration of the war from September 1950 to February 1954. Australians proved invaluable at the Battles of Kapyong and Maryang San. Maryan San was part of Operation Commando that solidified the stalemate portion of the Korean War. An underestimated part of the Australian participation was the neutral diplomatic and policy leaders in tandem with the United States, China, and the USSR.

Belgium

Belgium participated in the Korean War as part of the United Nations Command. Belgium sent an all-volunteer command of over 3,000 soldiers over the duration of the war. This command served in combination with Luxembourg from August 1951 to June 1955. When the war broke out, there was a Belgian political conflict regarding the war between the Koningskwestie in Belgium with then King Leopold III and left-leaning Communist labor parties. Eventually, the King abdicated the throne and the Prime Minister supported combating Communism throughout the world, including Korea. Belgian soldiers proved invaluable at the Battle of Imjin River, halting a retreat by other UN Command nations. Their valor earned them the US Presidential Unit Citation.

Canada

Canada provided significant military support to Korea during the Korean War. Over 26,000 soldiers served in the War from February 1951 to Armistice in July of 1953. Canada served independently until late 1951 when it joined forces with the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and India as part of the Commonwealth Division. Most of the ground units served between Seoul in the South and Chorwon, North Korea in the North. One of their significant engagements was Operation Killer that pushed the Chinese out of Seoul for the final time. The Canadian contingent also included naval units and air support. The last of the Canadian soldiers left in June of 1957.

Colombia

Colombia participated in the Korean War as the only contingent from Latin America. Colombia wanted to foster relations with the US after it’s support of Germany during WWII as part of the Mutual Defense Assistance Act. Between June of 1951 and October 1954, Colombia sent over 5,000 soldiers to Korea. Colombians served in the major engagements of Old Baldy and Kumsong. Colombia also sent their only frigate, the Almirante Padilla. Today, Colombia has erected a Korean War Memorial in Bogota.

Denmark

Denmark provided a modern hospital ship, the MS Jutlandia, to Korea during the Korean War. Denmark’s strategic location as the gateway to the Baltic Sea and St. Petersburg’s access to the open ocean created a complex issue. The superpowers of the East, the USSR, and West, the United States placed Denmark in the middle of the Cold War. Denmark wanted to help the United Nations and receive economic and defensive aid. The decision was made to provide a medical ship that would treat civilians and soldiers alike in Korea. The MS Jutlandia, located in Busan, gained a reputation for treating the most complicated and needed surgeries. Later the Jutlandia was outfitted with a helicopter deck and moved to Incheon, closer to the front.

Ethiopia

Ethiopia participated in the Korean War as part of the United Nations Command. Ethiopia’s history of being occupied by an invading army and receiving economic aid from the UN contributed to troops being sent to Korea. A little over 6,000 Ethiopians served from 1951-1954 as part of the famed Kagnew Battalion. These soldiers helped maintain the “stalemate” portion of the Korean War along the 38th Parallel. The Ethiopian military has two heroic distinctions during the Korean War: Ethiopia never surrendering and never having a soldier taken as a Prisoner of War. In addition, they were the only country on the African continent to send troops to Korea.

France

France was engaged in Indochina, eventually known as Vietnam, at the same time as the Korean War. Already committed to action elsewhere, France nonetheless provided a volunteer unit in support of Korea during the Korean War. The French contingent of volunteers for the Korean War totaled over 1,000 soldiers. The soldiers arrived in Busan in November of 1950 during the Busan Perimeter phase of the war. The French soldiers engaged the Communists many times during the Offensive Phase of the War that saw action in North Korea. The French Battalion left Korea upon the signing of the Armistice and went to Indochina.

Germany

Germany, known as West Germany during the Korean War, announced the addition of a hospital aimed at helping civilians at Busan in 1953. The hospital Deutschen Rotkreuz Lazarett, flying under the UN flag, became operational in 1954 after the Armistice. However, Germany had demonstrated intent to operate this civilian supporting hospital during the war, which led to recognition from the Republic of Korea in 2018. Roughly 1,200 German men and women served at the hospital during its operation until closure in 1959.

Greece

Greece provided a significant number of soldiers to protect South Korea from the threat of communism. Greece, before the Korean War, was entangled in a Civil War from 1946-1949. Eventually, a government supported by the United Kingdom and the United States defeated leaders supported by the communists. Greece, war-torn, sent troops to help out another nation invaded by communists in the Post-WWII era. Overall, Greece supplied almost 5,000 soldiers as part of the Greek Expeditionary Force, the fifth most from any one country. The first soldiers arrived in December of 1950 and remained until after the Armistice, May 1958. Greek soldiers fought near the front lines and received many accommodations.

South Korea

The Korean peninsula was a quagmire following WWII, divided along the 38th Parallel as occupation zones by the US and USSR. The Republic of Korea (South Korea) was invaded on June 25, 1950, by the communist Democratic Peoples’ Republic of Korea (North Korea). North Korea, after the invasion, quickly pushed South Korean forces south to Busan. South Korea, along with the UN forces, pushed out North Korean forces just two and a half months later. They pushed the communists not just out of the South, but to the Yalu River. After Chinese intervention, a fixed-front developed along the original dividing line of the 38th Parallel. Millions of civilians were caught in the chaos of the Civil War and lost their lives. Roughly 600,000 South Koreans served during the Korean War. An Armistice was signed on July 27, 1953, preserving what became one of the leading democratic countries in the world today. The economy of South Korea today vastly betters that of North Korea by every measurement.

Italy

Italy participated in the Korean War as the only non-United Nations member on behalf of the UN. Italy sent volunteers to show the world they were adhering to democratic principles following World War II. Italy established Red Cross Hospital #68 near Yongdongpo, a suburb southwest of Seoul. The hospital saw its first patient on November 16, 1951 and operated until January 17, 1955. Over the duration of the war, 128 doctors and nurses treated primarily civilians for various poverty-related diseases. The background of the patient, hailing from the North or South, did not matter. The hospital operated under the command of the US 8th Army Command.

Luxembourg

Luxembourg participated in the Korean War as part of the Belgian United Nations Command. Luxembourg was an original member of the United Nations and felt pressure to live up to the UN Doctrine. Also, they had added pressure because they were a NATO member and located in the middle of Western Europe. The goal of NATO was to suppress communist expansion, which leads to Korean involvement. The population of Luxembourg was roughly 300,000 in 1950. Seventy-eight Luxembourgers volunteered for service, which consisted of ten percent of their entire military. These volunteers arrived in August 1951 and served until June 1955.

Netherlands

The Netherlands was one of the first to provide support to South Korea. The Netherlands sent the HNLMS Evertsen shortly after the North Korean invasion, and their naval force later totaled six destroyers. After WWII, the Netherlands joined NATO, a strategic defense pact with the US, aimed to safeguard freedom against communist aggression. After pressure from the United Nations and US-led NATO, the Dutch sent a little over 5,000 soldiers that eventually served in the war against communist North Korea. The first Dutch soldiers arrived in October of 1950 and remained until after the Armistice, and returned home in December of 1954.

New Zealand

New Zealand participated in the Korean War to achieve the acceptance of ANZUS, a defensive treaty with Australia and the US. New Zealand, frustrated by British defense help during WWII and creating legislative autonomy from Britain, needed US backing. New Zealand engaged North Korea very early in the Korean War by sending two frigates to combat by August 1950, followed by another four by the end of the war. New Zealand also sent a volunteer force and a later detachment of Royal New Zealand Artillery, for over 6,000 soldiers. Many of the sailors were boys, under the age of 16, that received secondary education on board as part of their service. The Kiwis, affectionately named, proved invaluable at the Battle of Kapyong, Maryang-san, and winning back of Seoul.

Norway

The Secretary-General of the United Nations during the start of the Korean War was Trygve Lie, a Norwegian born military officer, which led to Norwegian participation. Norway participated in the Korean War as part of the United Nations Command from 1951 – 1954. Norway established a Norwegian Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (NORMASH) that treated soldiers and civilians. NORMASH originally operated at Uijongbu, fifteen miles north of Seoul, and later moved to Dongducheon, forty miles north of Seoul, approaching the 38th Parallel. Over the duration of the war, 623 men and women served with NORMASH, treating over 90,000 patients.

Philippines

The Philippines became an independent nation in 1946. The country sent troops to protect the sovereignty of South Korea in August 1950. Parallel to South Korea, the Philippines were also facing an insurgency from the Hukbalahap, a socialist/communist movement. The Philippines sent 1,468 troops known as the Philippine Expeditionary Force to Korea (PEFTOK). The Filipinos served as part of the United Nations Command and fought in the major engagements of Operation Tomahawk, Battle of Imjin River, and the Battle of Heartbreak Ridge that won back land south of the 38th Parallel.

Sweden

Sweden participated in the Korean War by establishing the Swedish Red Cross Field Hospital. The Field Hospital was established near Busan on September 25, 1950, shortly after the Battle of Inchon moved the front further north. Over the duration of the war, 1,124 Swedish men and women served at the Red Cross. Sweden was strictly neutral; attending to both UN and North Korean soldiers alongside civilians. The Swedish Red Cross stabilized soldiers and treated civilians for various poverty-related diseases such as tuberculosis. Following the Armistice, Sweden was selected for the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission that oversaw compliance with the Armistice agreement.

South Africa

South Africa answered the UN call for troops to support South Korea by sending over 800 soldiers. The beginning of Apartheid posed a problem for South Africa. South Africa ceased supporting anything associated with Great Britain, which supported the South Koreans during the war. However, a US treaty in the region would be beneficial to South Africa. South Africa sent a contingent of 243 members of the No. 2 Squadron SAAF, the “Flying Cheetahs,” that flew many ground attack missions. When the war first started, missions were using propeller planes, in the end, they had transitioned to jet fighters. South Africa served in the war from November 1950 to December 1953.

Thailand

Thailand participated in the Korean War, like many other countries, to gain economic aid from the US. Thailand served as part of the UN Command. Thailand did declare war against the US and the allies during WWII, supporting anti-Imperialism in the area. After WWII, Thailand wanted closer relations with the United States. Thailand sent food and almost 12,000 Thai soldiers from the Army, Navy, and Air Force to Korea from August 1950 to March 1955. Thai soldiers served along the front, near the 38th parallel, and were part of the Battle of Pork Chop Hill and the Third Battle for Seoul. Due to their commitment to battle, Thai fighters earned the nickname of “little tigers.”

Turkey

Turkey participated in the Korean War as part of the UN Command from November 1950 to July 1953. Turkey was the second nation to answer the UN call for help, behind only the US. Three separate infantry battalions of Turkish soldiers served in Korea, totaling nearly 35,000. Turkey was the only nation to represent an Islamic nation in the war. The most significant battle for the Turkish soldiers was the Battle of Kunu-ri. This battle was the first significant engagement for Turkish soldiers since WWI and revered as the archetypal Turkish victory.

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom was one of the countries that provided a significant amount of support to the South Korean cause during the Korean War. The United Kingdom’s influence in world affairs pre-and post-WWII cannot be understated. After WWII, the UK’s leadership, along with the US, in keeping countries from becoming communist was paramount. British troops were among the first to arrive to aid the Republic of Korea in August of 1950. British soldiers eventually created the British Commonwealth Forces that consisted of Australia, Canada, India, and New Zealand. Almost 60,000 troops, behind only South Korea and the US, served in Korea. The United Kingdom provided Commonwealth soldiers, the Royal Navy, and Royal Air Force support.

United States of America

The United States’ participation in the Korean War starts with the end of WWII in 1945. The Korean Peninsula was divided at the 38th Parallel following WWII by the United States, establishing a border that lasts today. The Korean War started on June 25, 1950, when North Korean forces pushed South Korean forces to the Busan Perimeter. Once halted, the US initiated a harrowing offensive at Incheon Harbor, outflanking the North Korean military and changing the course of the war. After several volleys over the peninsula, a stalemate developed. Eventually, an Armistice signed on July 27, 1953, divided the Korean peninsula along the original border of the 38th parallel. Roughly 1.8 million US men and women served in the Korean War theater throughout the military branches.

India

Becoming an independent nation in 1947, India had a policy of non-alignment in combat duties before the Korean War. India participated in the Korean War by sending the 60th Parachute Field Ambulance Platoon (PFA) in November of 1950. The PFA aided the UN in Operation Tomahawk treating soldiers that pushed the Communists away from Seoul. A total of 346 men served for over three and a half years until February of 1954, the longest tenure of any unit in the war. Following the Armistice, India oversaw the Neutral Nations Repatriation Commission that saw the repatriation of POW’s.

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