French soldiers return to Korean War battleground

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French soldiers return to Korean War battleground

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Korean War veterans, from left, Claude Pigeon, Serge Cours, Claude Jaupart and Robert Breuil, and lawmaker Patrick Beaudouin were in Korea last week. By Park Sun-young

“I can see that Koreans have worked very hard to rebuild the country after the war,” Claude Jaupart, 83, said with a smile.

“The remarkable development of Korea over the past 50 years is just impressive.”

Jaupart was one of 28 French veterans of the Korean War (1950-1953) who recently visited the country as part of a 120-member delegation.

The group included French Secretary of State for Defense and Veterans Jean-Marie Bockel, members of the French Parliament and war veterans.

They were here last week to participate in the unveiling of a monument in honor of the French Battalion at two major battlefields - Putchaeteul in Hongcheon and “Arrowhead Hill” in Cheorwon, both in Gangwon.

“About two years ago, we discussed a plan to erect a monument at battlefields where French soldiers had fought during the Korean War so that we can remember the historic war and pay tribute to the memory of the war dead,” Patrick Beaudouin, president of the National Association of Veterans of the French Battalion in the Korean War, said in a press meeting at the Sofitel Ambassador hotel in Seoul last Monday.

“Based on such memories of the war, France and Korea have built a friendship and we can further our relations across various fields - in politics, education and culture,” he added.

Beaudouin also serves as the president of the France?Korea Friendship Group at the French National Assembly, a group of lawmakers who endeavor to promote friendly relations between the two countries.

Over the three years of the Korean War, three battalions of 3,400 French soldiers were sent to Korea as part of United Nations forces.

Of them, 1,008 were injured and 262 died, including 18 Koreans who had been assigned to the French forces.

The battlefields in which the French Battalion were engaged include well-known, hard-fought battles such as Twin Tunnels, Chipyong-ni and Putchaetul. The battle of Arrowhead Hill is particularly memorable.

The French Battalion there defended their position to the last during a fierce battle with Chinese soldiers for five days from Oct. 6, 1952. This contributed significantly to the Korean Army’s historic victory over the Chinese at the nearby White Horse Hill.

“This is my first time visiting Korea since the war more than 50 years ago,” said Serge Cours, 78, one of four veterans of the French Battalion who were present at the press conference Monday.

“I’m deeply moved by the development of Korea over the last 50 years as I see Seoul has now grown into a metropolis,” he added.

“My participation in the Korean War is one of the most meaningful experiences in my life as I fought for freedom against the spread of communism.”

The veterans of the French Battalion gave their youth to the fight for Korea’s freedom. The majority of the soldiers joined the Korean War at the young age of 20.

And the Korean people have not forgotten their meritorious deed.

Claude Pigeon, 78, recounted a touching story he heard from a fellow Korean War veteran.

When he was walking down the street in Itaewon, in Seoul one day during his visit to Korea a few years ago, a 50-something Korean man came up to him and said, “Thank you for what you have done for my country.”

“He had recognized my war brother by a veteran’s badge he was wearing. The episode made me reconfirm the friendship between our two countries,” Pigeon said.

“It [the Korean War] was the most memorable time in my life as I recall.”



By Park Sun-young Staff Reporter [spark0320@joongang.co.kr]





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