Alerts near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ)

Interviewer: And you had indicated that you were in a realization that it was a land war, more so than the naval, yet did you have a sense of fear or was there tension in the air, like a fear of an unknown, was there that type of feeling? There was a bit. Where we were assigned to be with those mine sweepers was right near the DMZ on the west coast and so occasionally we would get an alert, go to action stations, because the North Koreans may have violated air space with their fighter planes. And so we would be alerted that they’re there and a threat. And so we would go to action stations but it wouldn’t amount to anything, we weren’t, nothing developed like we were not attacked or anything but we were close to the DMZ line.

Mr. Flett recalls the tension that existed while patrolling near the DMZ.

Victor Flett

Mr. Victor Flett was born September 5, 1928 in Selkirk, Manitoba. He was the youngest of five, with one sister and three brothers. At three years of age his mother passed and he was then raised by his grandmother. Living on “Grandfather’s land” and attending a one room schoolhouse, life for Mr. Flett was challenging although he considers it a great inspiration to his success in life. During his later years, Mr. Flett chose to join the navy and took part in the Korean War holding rank of ordinary seaman on board the HMCS Crusader with an occupation as sonar man. Mr. Flett retired after 33 years of service. He married, raised a family and now resides in his hometown of Sooke, British Columbia.