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-continued from page one * * * During my tour of duty with the Patricias, many incidents happened that still remain in my memory. One particular incident clearly-stands out, as it relates to the Korean justice system in effect at that time. One evening I detailed two Regimental Policemen to patrol into a local village. They parked their jeep and did the usual foot patrol throughout the village. On return to their jeep they found a group of Koreans mingling around. It appeared to the patrolmen that they were attempting to steal the jeep. One of the patrolmen raised his rifle to his hip, and fired a warning shot. The Koreans scattered, all except one, who was shocked when the bullet grazed his temple. The corporal searched him and discovered he had a pistol. He then disarmed him. This individual claimed he was a member of the South Korean Army and had proper identification. Being unhurt, they allowed him to leave. In haste he forgot his pistol and was gone. When the corporal returned to camp and related his story. I was very upset and relayed this information to the Adjutant. Captain Turnbull instructed me to return the weapon to the ROK Army unit, with our apologies for the incident. My next problem was to locate the unit of the South Korean soldier in question. I visited the nearest civilian police station to obtain information on this unit. I was amazed as I witnessed three individuals on their knees, trust with thin nylon cord around their necks, strung under their arms and tied securely to their feet. Through my interpreter, I asked who these prisoners were, and was informed they were suspected North Korean infiltrators. My next question was, how long do they have to remain in that position. It appeared to me that if those individuals fell over or passed out, they would surely choke to death. I was told that they remained in that position until they confessed they were infiltrators, or were engaging in guerrilla warfare. My remark to the police was to the effect that eventually they would fall over and surely choke to death. His reply: "Then they must be guerrillas or infiltrators and are guilty." "Some justice." I was given the information where the Korean regiment was located, and where I might find the man with the missing pistol. We proceeded to the regiment in question, found their commander, and told our story about the man who was mistaken for a jeep thief, had departed in haste and left his pistol behind when my corporal took possession of it. The commander informed me that the man was a lieutenant in the ROK Army, that he had already been tried by court martial for losing his pistol that morning, and sentenced to six months cell time. The cell was not big enough to stand up in or big enough to lie down. Surely this man will die within six months, was my comment. After all, it was not his fault but ours, that he lost his weapon. No amount of convincing could change the mind of his C.O. He had lost his weapon, it was an offence. The court had placed sentence on him, whether he lived or died was not his concern. Sentence would be carried out! As westerners this type of justice could never be allowed. Justice in Korea, we found out, was swift and final! A very sad incident indeed. "It was their country, they made the rules." My corporal was severely reprimanded for his actions in this affair. After all, we were at war and had our own regulations. William O. Larson is a veteran of the Second World War. He served with the Canadian Provost Corps in England and Continental Europe and remained in the Canadian Armed Forces upon return to Canada in 1946. In 1950 he went to Korea as Provost Sergeant assigned to 2 PPCLI. Bill and his wife, Esther live in Surrey, B.C.
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