Remember the phrase: “It was or it will be like in Korea.” This saying captures the immense chaos of the Korean War. We stand before the Korean War Memorial in Athens. This memorial honors the Greek soldiers who fought in that far-off conflict.
Greece’s participation in the Korean War might surprise some. Many young Greeks are unaware of their country’s contribution. In fact, a survey revealed that most young Greeks don’t know about the war or the memorials dedicated to it.
Greece joined the war in November 1950. They remained involved until December 1954. Greece was the fifth largest contributor of armed forces among the 16 U.N. countries. They sent an infantry battalion and a transport aircraft formation.
In total almost 5,000 Greek soldiers were deployed. Tragically, 738 casualties were recorded. 192 were killed in action. 543 were wounded. Three were taken as prisoners of war.
The Korean War Memorial in Athens is elegant. It features simple Doric columns. The marble structures are engraved with the names of the fallen. Look closely and you’ll see a jug. This jug contains soil from Korea. It marks where the dead are buried.
The average Greek person knew little about Korea before the war. However, Greece felt a connection to the conflict. Greece had just experienced its own civil war. This war ended in 1949. The Korean War was viewed as another case of Communist aggression.
Participating in the Korean War also helped Greece. It solidified their position in the Western Bloc. Greece wanted to join NATO. This would protect its borders and provide financial support. Some saw it as gratitude to the U.S. for help during the Greek Civil War.
Greek forces were attached to American divisions. They were known for their bravery. They were skilled with U.S. weaponry. The relationships between Greek and Korean soldiers were positive. Many Greeks felt empathy for the poverty in Korea. It reminded them of Greece after the Second World War.
Greek chaplains also played a role. They revived the Orthodox Church in Korea. The war had disrupted the church. Archimandrite Chariton Simeonides organized Orthodox families in Seoul.
In 1974, South Korea raised a memorial in Yeoju. It honors Greece’s sacrifices. It features a marble stele and a cenotaph. An inscription bears a phrase by Thucydides: “The whole earth is the sepulchre of famous heroic men.”
Another memorial exists in Busan. It says: “From Greece For Her Fallen Sons in Gratitude”. Here at the Korean War Memorial in Athens, remember the sacrifices made. Think about the enduring connection between Greece and Korea.