Koje-Do

Koje-Do, island 40 km southwest of Pusan, South Korea, location of a series of disorders in American-operated POW camps during the KOREAN WAR. Quartered in huge compounds containing as many as 6000 men, the 160 000 North Korean and Chinese prisoners were inadequately controlled, and in May-June 1952 had to be dispersed with the help of tanks after they captured the camp commander and extorted a "confession" of inhuman treatment.

Hoping to distribute POW administration more widely among UN powers, the Americans, without consulting the governments concerned, requested the help of British Commonwealth units. A company of the Royal Canadian Regiment was thus sent to Koje-Do on May 25 and without bloodshed helped to reorganize part of the camp and guard some of the prisoners. Fearing political repercussions at home, however, Ottawa in the meantime had delivered a public diplomatic protest to the US government, officially on the grounds that it was government policy to keep Canadian troops unified under Canadian command. American authorities were accommodating, although privately infuriated, and the RCRs were relieved of their POW duty 8 July 1952.

Author DENIS STAIRS

Links to Other Sites
The Memory Project: Korean War
Listen to interviews with Canadian veterans who provide remarkable first-hand accounts of their military service during the Korean War. See also related digitized artefacts and memorabilia. From the Historica-Dominion Institute.