Retired servicemen from across far north Queensland have been presented with Ambassador of Peace medals by a representative of the South Korean government, in recognition of their service during the Korean War.
During a visit to Cairns, South Korean Consul General Whie Jin Lee presented 15 medals to retired Australian servicemen in appreciation of the sacrifices they made for his country during the war.
“Almost 17,000 Australian soldiers came to Korea. Many of them were injured and about 340 passed away,” he said.
“Without Australia’s support and sacrifice, Korea would have been in a very difficult situation.”

Among the recipients of the Ambassador of Peace medals was Atherton man Ron Walker, who was only 19 when he went to war.
“After all that time it’s nice to have a little bit of recognition from the country that we served in,” Mr Walker said.
As a machine gunner for the Australian Army’s 2nd Battalion, Mr Walker spent more than a year in Korea.
“We were supposed to serve a 12-month period, but the Queen came out to Australia and the 1st Battalion, who were supposed to relieve us, had to stay behind and do all the guard duties,” he said.
“We were there when the ceasefire occurred on the 27th of July, 1953 and it was a relief to get out of the trenches — away from the rats and the stink.”
Cardwell resident Walter Raleigh, who was also just 19 when he served with the RAAF in Korea, also received a medal.
“The Korean government over the years have shown their gratitude for the service that the Australian contingent gave and have been pretty consistent in supporting us,” Mr Raleigh said.
“They’re an incredible people and they’re very grateful for what they received.”
Now aged 81, Mr Raleigh said his memories of the Korean War were starting to become “pretty dim”.
“What I do remember, was that it was bloody cold, it was one of the coldest places on earth,” he said.
Aside from the cold, Mr Raleigh said the sheer numbers of troops on the ground still stood out in his mind.
“I was with the 5th Air Force, the Americans, and they were just there in the thousands,” he said.
Often referred to as the ‘forgotten war’ in Australia, Mr Walker and Mr Raleigh said recognition of Australia’s effort during the Korean War had likely reached its peak.
“Unless they’re related to a Korean War veteran, I don’t think many people know much about it at all,” Mr Walker said.
“It’ll never be recognised in the same way as the Vietnam War or the Second World War,” Mr Raleigh said.
“It’s nearly all over these days; most of us are getting too old.”
From Mark Rigny, ABC online, http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-10-30/korean-war-veterans-commemorated/6899214