Returning to Civilian Life

Heroes Remember

Returning to Civilian Life

Transcript

They had the band there to greet us and they had quite a few speeches and stuff. And then they took us to the armouries and we each had a free beer and the whole bit. And then they had to rush us to the railway station to catch the train for Calgary, ‘cause it was due to leave right away. Then we‘d go back to Calgary six o’clock at night, nobody there at all. We marched to the armouries. There was a beer there available. You could buy a bottle if you wanted. Our parents were there to meet us, but nobody else. When I first got home, I had an awful time. I couldn’t stay in one place. My folks had moved to their retirement home in town at the time. I was there for a day or so, and then my brother was on the farm. He had me out there for a year or so. I had another brother in Calgary, go down there. One of the young guys from Korea got wounded, had to go to his place. I had a rough time. It’s something that stays with you. I got disability pension for post-traumatic stress, but it doesn’t leave you completely. Some of them had it so bad, they couldn’t take it. They’d take their own lives. It would drive you crazy if you dwelled on it. You just ignore it, think about something else.

Description

Mr. Thorsen reflects on his arrival home and the effect the war has had on his life.

Carl “Herman” Thorsen

Mr. Thorsen was born in 1926 in a small town northwest of Innisfail, Alberta. He grew up in a family with two brothers and five sisters. His father was a farmer and bricklayer. During the Second World War, Mr. Thorsen was not able to participate in the war effort because he was needed on his family’s large farm. In his early 1950s, while still working on the farm and with a seismic company in Alberta, he felt guilty about not taking part in the Second World War and decided to enlist for the Korean War. He enlisted at Currie Barracks, received training and was shipped overseas. After serving in the Korean War, Mr. Thorsen returned to Alberta and raised a family.

Meta Data

Medium:: Video
Owner:: Veterans Affairs Canada
Duration:: 1:39
Person Interviewed:: Carl “Herman” Thorsen
War, Conflict or Mission:: Korean War
Location/Theatre:: Korea
Branch:: Army
Rank:: Gunner

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Returning to Civilian Life

Heroes Remember