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The Department of National Defence (Canada) was instrumental in signing an agreement with the American Air Force. It permitted RCAF fighter pilots to gain valuable combat experience through time in the Korean War theatre.

This agreement led to the re-enlistment (if that’s the right word) of more than a dozen highly decorated Canadian pilots to serve with the American forces. One of these pilots was Ernie Glover of Niagara Falls, who had been a PoW as he had been shot down in France in World War II. On his indoctrination to the air war, he found that the Americans were “knocking down MiGs in remarkable numbers.

Glover was awarded two Distinguished Flying Cross medals, one Canadian and one American.

Another remarkable story is that of Flight Lieutenant J.A.O. Levesque of Montreal. Omer, as he was known to his squadron mates, was on exchange duty with the United States and joined the 334 Fighter Interceptor Squadron.

Another well-known story was that of Andy Mackenzie of St-Hubert and Ottawa. Mackenzie had been a close friend of Canadian fighter ace Buzz Beurling. Andy, when he arrived in Korea, joined the 51st Fighter Interceptor Wing. A few miles south of the Yalu River, he was shot down and was taken prisoner by the North Koreans.

Joe Liston of Ottawa had been shot down in an air observation craft. He was surrounded by Chinese and captured. Liston, Mackenzie and other Canadians who were PoWs were eventually imprisoned in Manchuria. They spent many terrible months in Chinese prisons, were accused of spying, and were starved and left in solitary confinement for long periods of time. Mackenzie’s story was covered by Canadian media, including his courageous attitude which might be described as saying to his Chinese captors, “To hell with you!”

None of it was fun, but survivors of the Korean War told stories of airlifts by the RCAF and of the exploits of Doug Lindsay (two kills and three MiGs damaged). They included also the contribution by Lieutenant Joe MacBrien, who flew 66 combat missions and was awarded the U.S. DFC… but more of this for future episodes of this blog.

Les Peate’s book, which tells the story of “Canadians in Korea” is an excellent read from a veteran who was there.

The true and almost comical case of an impostor who served in the Canadian Navy in the Korean War gained worldwide headlines back in 1951.

One media story gave an astonishing account of an emergency operation performed on the deck of a Canadian destroyer off the coast of Korea. According to Les Peate, author of The War That Wasn’t, the bogus doctor who performed the surgery was Ferdinand Waldo “Fred” Demara, who began his adult life as a monk in Grand Falls, New Brunswick. He held positions of psychologist, university lecturer, schoolteacher, and even prisoner warden. All of his posts were on the basis of forged qualifications.

Later, he enlisted in the Canadian Navy. His credentials were accepted without verification. His enlistment was under the name of Dr. Joseph Cyr. To his colleagues, he appeared to be a fairly competent medical officer. Demara’s patients apparently survived because, on the doctor’s part, he used penicillin, consultation with medical officers and, as Peate says in his book, a combination which included “sheer luck!”

The so-called “Surgeon Lieutenant Cyr” had been detailed to duty with the HMCS Cayuga in Esquimault, B.C.

The unbelievable story states that he was even forced to act as a dentist, performing work on the Cayuga’s commander. For further details on this remarkable story, it is suggested that contact could be made with Les Peate at jlpeate@sympatico.ca.

The subterfuge was unmasked when the real Dr. Cyr remembered that his medical credentials were missing. Demara was arrested and appeared before a naval board of enquiry and, strangely enough, still using the name Cyr, He was given an honourable release and several hundred dollars in back pay.

I am indebted to my friend and colleague, Les Peate, for the following story. A Korea veteran, Les wrote an outstanding book titled The War That Wasn’t, available through Esprit de Corps’ Web site. Les recounts the following concerning naval participation:

Canadian military enthusiasts are familiar with the well-deserved United Nations Distinguished Unit Citation cited to the 2PPCLI for their stand at Kap’yong in 1951. Less familiar is another unique award gained by a vessel of the Royal Canadian Navy that same year.

On December 21, 1951, it was announced that Syngman Rhee, the President of the Republic of Korea, had awarded a Presidential Unit Citation to HMCS Athabaskan – the only such award to any element of the Canadian Forces.

The citation reads:

“The President of the Republic of Korea takes profound pleasure in citing for exceptionally meritorious service and heroism Royal Canadian Naval Ship (sic) Athabaskan for the award of the Presidential Unit Citation.

This ship has formed part of the United Nations Naval Forces for over one year. It has taken part with great pride in all types of operations including support of the Inchon landing.

In carrying out operations along enemy-occupied coast, this was the first United Nations ship to organize and land raiding parties from its own crew to harry the enemy, to collect valuable information and to make contact with friendly personnel.

The performance of this ship merits the highest praise.”

Les goes on to say in his excellent book, published in 2005:

In all, Athabaskan served three tours of duty in Korean waters. Accompanied by her consorts Cayuga and Sioux, the Tribal-class destroyers left Esquimault on July 5, 1950 – only ten days after the North Koreans had crossed the 38th parallel – and arrived in Sasago, Japan on the 30th of that month.

To their chagrin, the distinction of firing Canada’s first shot in a naval engagement in the Korean War fell to the Cayuga.

Athabaskan’s turn came the following day, on August 16th, when her guns destroyed a number of warehouses and artillery batteries in the port of Kunsan.

Les Peate’s book goes on to talk about further exploits of the Athabaskan, as well as the contribution of the other Canadian ships in the Korean War.

Professor Gerry Cammy is a fixture on Ottawa radio with his long-running Gerry Cammy Show on CFRA Radio. 

I will be taking part in his annual Canada Day show, discussing issues affecting Canada’s veterans. 

You can listen live here from 5 to 7 pm ET.