Remains of Korean War Veteran William Chrysler Returned
On the 21st, the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs will hold a ceremony to return the remains of the late William Chrysler, a veteran of the Korean War, at the arrival hall of Incheon International Airport's Terminal 2.
The ceremony, starting at 5:30 PM under the theme "From Here, the Republic of Korea Will Serve," will be attended by Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Kang Jeong-ae, Canadian Ambassador to South Korea Tamara Mowat, and family members.
The ceremony will take place with the Defense Ministry's honor guard standing in formation, followed by the presentation of the urn and its transfer by the escort vehicle.
Veteran Chrysler volunteered at the age of 20 and served as a private in the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Canadian Infantry Regiment from August 1950 to March 1952 during the Korean War.
He fought particularly in the Battle of Gapyeong, and in April 2024, he was invited to Korea to attend a Commonwealth ceremony commemorating the Battle of Gapyeong, hosted by the British Embassy in South Korea. Unfortunately, he passed away later that year in November due to health issues.
Historical Significance of the Battle of Gapyeong and Burial Schedule
The Battle of Gapyeong was fought from April 23 to 25, 1951, where over 2,000 troops of the Commonwealth's 27th Brigade engaged in fierce combat against Chinese forces that outnumbered them by more than five times. The victory in this battle provided a crucial opportunity for the ROK Army and UN forces to establish a new defensive position.
The burial ceremony for Veteran Chrysler is scheduled to take place on the 22nd at 11 AM in Busan's UN Memorial Park. Family members plan to honor the sacrifices of the late Chrysler and other Commonwealth veterans by attending the commemorative ceremonies for the Battle of Imjin River and the Battle of Gapyeong until the 24th.
The late veteran’s spouse, Kyungja Chrysler (70), expressed her special feelings towards Korea.
She stated, "This is the place where my husband fought in the 1950s and where he was assigned in the 1970s when we got married. Now, I am happy that he will be laid to rest in the Republic of Korea, a land where our only son and grandson currently live, as he wished."
Image source: Late William Chrysler, Korean War veteran / Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, Late William Chrysler assisting a wounded comrade during the Battle of Gapyeong / Embassy of Canada to South Korea
