After Korea, An Army Career

Heroes Remember

After Korea, An Army Career

Transcript

I served in United Nations, Cyprus, Egypt, the Congo, and that and it's just, it's a big waste of money and a whole lot of people making big bucks and that's the end of it. Interviewer: These Peacekeeping operations that you were involved in, did you, do you believe they did good? No, I think all they done was supported the economy of the country that we happened to be in. The only one that done any good and they pulled them out of there too quick was the Congo. And it's right back, this present day, they're in exactly the same deal right now. But Cyprus was just a futile, all you were was a, a bullet shield between Greek Cypriots and the Turks. And when the Turks finally got fed up with it then they, they took the biggest part of Cyprus and they haven't give it back since. Interviewer: You were there as a Peacekeeper in Cyprus? Yes. Interviewer: Where else were you a Peacekeeper? Egypt. Interviewer: What do you recall about the Peacekeeping in Egypt? Same thing. Interviewer: You don't believe any particular good was achieved there? Not at all. Interviewer: Where else were you a Peacekeeper? The Congo. The only thing that, I figure in the Congo, it achieved some, it was total chaos in the, in the Congo, and that. They just out and out murdering people and everything a and missionaries and everything else. And, at least it stabilized it enough that a, a government could take over and try to sort it out afterwards and they pulled the UN out.

Description

Mr. Nickerson's one-year tour of duty with the UN Force in Korea ended in late 1951. He returned to Canada and remained in the Canadian Army until 1968. He recalls some of the peacekeeping missions he took part in, with some critical words regarding the United Nations at the end of the 20th century.

Ray Nickerson

Mr. Nickerson's father was a farmer and Veteran of the First World War. Mr. Nickerson was the second youngest of 10 children. Three of his older brothers served in the Second World War. He left school at the age of 16 and enlisted in the army with the PPCLI. His parents were not happy with this. After enlisting, Mr. Nickerson went to Curry Barracks in Calgary for basic training. He did his advanced training in Curry and in Wainwright, Alberta. In November 1950, his battalion was told they were going to Korea to serve with the U.N. force. Mr. Nickerson saw action near Pusan, Seoul and at Kapyong. While in Korea, Mr. Nickerson was wounded by a land mine. He was hospitalized for nine weeks. After his recovery, he returned to the front . Mr. Nickerson's tour of duty ended late in 1951 and he returned to Canada. He remained in the Canadian Army until his retirement in 1968.

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