Communism Stopped, War Not Ended

Heroes Remember

Communism Stopped, War Not Ended

Transcript

Interviewer: So again, I'm curious about the, the grid, the push up toward the Chinese border. And what was the feeling among all of the troops about moving northward with MacArthur? Well, we knew we had to do that. We had to move north in order to, to stop this wave of, of communism from spreading down into what was not a communist country. We knew we had to come up with support, let along with the rest of the, the rest of the military that was there from different countries. They were doing the same thing, and . . . so, we, we knew that we had to take part in this. Interviewer: When you . . . When the allies, the United Nations Forces, reached the Chinese border, did you know, did you fellas on the ground know where you were, at the Chinese border? No, not really, until we hit the Yellow River. They should have went, should of kept going then, but they didn't. And, and to us it didn't really matter which way we went. But we, as a, as a group thought we should continue and get rid of whatever was on the other side of this thing, that was causing all this problem. But we had orders to come back, so we had to follow the United Nations orders. And that's exactly what happened, I suppose. Interviewer: Now, as you were pulling back, were you thinking about the fellows that died on the push forward? Yes. Interviewer: Tell me about that. Tell me what you're thinking about that. Well, sometimes you wonder if it was worth the push forward, because of some of the guys that were shot and some of them that were wounded badly and, and some of the guys that were killed. It makes it . . . to, to this day, I still wonder if it was worth it. At the time that we were there, we were young and adventurous and we figured well, we had orders and that's what you follow. So, going up or coming back, you're under orders. So, what happened on the way up, if somebody got killed on the way up or, or the way back, it was all part of life I guess. I don't know. I really can't describe that part in there. Like, the United Nations were there as a, as a body to try to stop this, but once the truce, the truce was signed, nobody won. Nobody gained. To me, I think it was, what the United Nations wanted to do, was to continue forward. But when we had to come back, what did the lives that were lost, were actually lost in vain as far as, as far as, as not holding that position. When we got there, we had to back up. And it does happen in, in different battles in that, the same thing happens. But, but once we got there, if we could have had the support of everybody else, we would have stayed right there and, and there would have been no division in, in Korea as of today, so . . .

Description

Mr. Gowing discusses the pushing toward the Chinese border, only to fall back and voices his discouragement with how the war ended with Korea; divided the same way it had been in the beginning.

Gerald Edward Gowing

Mr. Gowing was born in 1931 in Listowel, Ontario. At the age of nine, Mr. Gowing was taken in by the Stratford division of the Children's Aid Society because his mother had passed away and his father was unable to take care of him. Looking for adventure, and to take part in something with purpose, Mr. Gowing joined the army in October 1950, requesting to serve in Korea. Sent to Calgary, Alberta, for basic training at the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) barracks, he was only there a few weeks before shipping overseas in January 1951 as reinforcement Bren gunner for the 2nd Battalion PPCLI. Mr. Gowing saw heavy action in Korea, including the Battle at Kapyong (Hill 677) for which the entire battalion was later presented with a Presidential Citation medal, the highest award granted by the United States, outside of the US. Reluctant to return to Canada, Mr. Gowing left Korea in May 1952, after his tour had ended. He left the military in November of 1952, but returned in November of 1955, to serve as a signaller for three years before being discharged for good.

Meta Data

Medium:: Video
Owner:: Veterans Affairs Canada
Duration:: 04:27
Person Interviewed:: Gerald Edward Gowing
War, Conflict or Mission:: Korean War
Location/Theatre:: Korea
Branch:: Army
Units/Ship:: 2nd Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry
Rank:: Private
Occupation:: Bren Gunner

Related Videos

Joining Up

Mr. Gowing attributes part of his ambition to serve Canada, to his learning of war as a child. He then describes how he left his job in the middle of work in order to enlist.

Bren Gun

Mr. Gowing describes the attributes of the Bren Gun.

Under Fire

Mr. Gowing recalls what it was like to be under fire in Korea. He describes taking cover from shells and grenades being rolled down hills, liking it to hell.

Jumpy Nerves

Mr. Gowing describes how although memories don't actually haunt him, events can trigger flashback type memories. He then describes how his jumpy post-war nerves made him a dangerous man to wake up, and recalls how he reacted to a firecracker thrown at his feet weeks after returning from Korea.

Fighting For and Losing Friends

Mr. Gowing describes how the largest motivation on the front line was to protect your friends and comrades, who were doing the same for you. He then describes how hard it was to see friends die.

Waves of Screaming Enemy

Mr. Gowing recalls how the North Korean and Chinese forces would attack in waves, sending thousands of troops against 40 - 50 Canadian soldiers.

Ambush

Mr. Gowing recalls what it was like to be ambushed, describing running into North Korean soldiers in disguise, and being ambushed in a cornfield.

Date modified:: 2019-04-03