My grandfather returned from the Korean War on December 20th, 1954. He arrived in St John's, Newfoundland at midnight. He and his comrades were looking for a hotel to stay in for the night, but they were turned away at every hotel. They were looked down upon and treated like outcasts when returning from the war. My grandfather said, " Now the people think that the soldiers are great, sending them letters and Christmas presents. We got nothing from anyone except 2 bottles of beer from a Dutch Beer Company. How times change."
Why was the korean war forgotten?
World War ll ended on September 2nd, 1945 and the Korean War started only five years later. The people of the world were probably war weary. World War ll soldiers were treated like heroes when they returned from the war, but the veterans returning from Korea were mistreated because the war ended in a stalemate with no decisive winner. The countries fighting in World War ll and the Vietnam War have come to peace with each other but yet, North and South Korea are not at peace with each other to this day.
But for most Canadians, Korea was far away, both geographically and psychologically. The Second World War had ended just five short years before, and people didn’t feel the emotional and personal connection with Korea that they had with Europe. Consequently, far fewer Canadians served in Korea, so it never touched people at home in the same way as the Second World War (Recalling Canada's Forgotten War).
The Korean war did not affect most of the world, so people basically ignored it and went on with their normal lives. The Korean War is not a big part of education in schools today and that needs to change.
But for most Canadians, Korea was far away, both geographically and psychologically. The Second World War had ended just five short years before, and people didn’t feel the emotional and personal connection with Korea that they had with Europe. Consequently, far fewer Canadians served in Korea, so it never touched people at home in the same way as the Second World War (Recalling Canada's Forgotten War).
The Korean war did not affect most of the world, so people basically ignored it and went on with their normal lives. The Korean War is not a big part of education in schools today and that needs to change.