Korean War
- See also Battles of the Korean War involving the Netherlands (Category)
The Van Heutsz Regiment was incorporated into the Nederlands Detachement Verenigde Naties (NDVN) (English: Netherlands Detachment United Nations) which also included the Dutch Naval component sent to Korea. 16,225 people volunteered for service in Korea of whom only 3,418 men were accepted and sent to Korea. Because 516 men volunteered twice and 38 men three times a total of 3,972 men served in Korea. 2,980 of those participated in the actual war, as the units that arrived after the armistice (July 27, 1953) did not participate in any fighting.
The Van Heutsz regiment was only recently raised when the Korean War battalion was formed on October 26, 1950, but took the detachment as its first battalion. The regiment has the battle honor Korea 1950–1954 on its colors. In Korea, the Van Heutsz troops (being understrength) were re-enforced by South Korean "KATUSA" troops. The Dutch served at three key battles, all around the Iron Triangle sector between 1951 and 1953.
Since the Van Heutsz Regiment did not have its colors in 1950, a Dutch flag that was used in Korea as the battle flag of the Nederlands Detachement Verenigde Naties became the regimental colour. This flag now has official status and is shown on every parade and function of the regiment. American and Korean battle streamers, representing the US Presidential Unit Citation, are attached to this flag.
The Regiment suffered 116 Dutch and 20 attached-Korean soldiers killed in action, three soldiers are still MIA, while one Dutchman was taken prisoner and died in a North Korean POW camp. A total of 381 soldiers were wounded.
Read more about this topic: Regiment Van Heutsz
Famous quotes containing the word war:
“A sergeant of the lawe, war and wys,
That often hadde been at the Parvys,
Ther was also, ful riche of excellence.”
—Geoffrey Chaucer (1340?–1400)