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UN Korean War Veterans Visit the Republic of Korea on the Occasion of the UN Forces Participation Day
-The ROK Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs invites UN Korean War veterans from 16 nations and the Order of Military Merit and Civil Merit Medal honorees as special guests. -

 
The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs (MPVA, Minister Pi Woo-jin) of the Republic of Korea will invite 108 participants including UN Korean War veterans from the United States, Australia, and 14 other nations, as well as the Order of Military Merit and Civil Merit Medal honorees to Korea for 5 nights and 6 days starting from July 23, 2019 on the occasion of the UN Forces Participation Day. 

The Revisit Korea Program, during which the participants will visit Panmunjom, War Memorial of Korea, and Seoul National Cemetery and attend the Commemorative Ceremony for UN Forces Participation Day, contributes to enhancing Korea’s national image as a country that never forgets the generosity of the UN Korean War veterans.

The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs (MPVA, Minister Pi Woo-jin) said “108 participants including the UN Korean War veterans from the United States, Australia, and 14 other nations and their family members* will visit Korea on the occasion of the UN Forces Participation Day for 5 nights and 6 days from July 23 to 28, 2019.”
* Participants from 16 nations: US (44), Australia (8), Columbia (7), Belgium (4), Ethiopia (4), France (2), Greece (2), India (2), Italy (2), Luxembourg (1), the Philippines (8), South Africa (4), Sweden (3), Switzerland (9), Turkey (6), Thailand (2)

The MPVA will invite special guests including the honorees of the Order of Military Merit (Eulji) and Civil Merit Medal in order to express Korea’s appreciation for their services. In addition, an event will be held to show the remarkable development that Korea was able to achieve thanks to their sacrifice. 

In particular, the Commemorative Ceremony for UN Forces Participation Day will be held on July 27, 2019 to remind ourselves of the significance of the UN Force’s participation in the Korean War which greatly contributed in defending freedom and peace of Korea.  The participants will take a moment to remember the noble sacrifice and contribution of the UN Korean War veterans during the ceremony.

Alexander Charles Norman and Philip Eric Norman, the grandsons of the late Charles Hercules Green, will visit Korea to receive the Order of Military Merit (Eulji) on behalf of their late grandfather who made significant contributions during the Korean War. Furthermore, Constantinos Farros, who participated in the Korean War as a liaison officer, will be specially invited to receive the Civil Merit Medal for his contributions in the construction of the Korean War museum and memorial in Greece.

In particular, the late Lieutenant Colonel Charles Hercules Green participated in the Korean War as the commander of the 3rd battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment and won several battles including the Battle of Yeoncheon and the Battle of Pakchon.
 
❖ The story of the late Lieutenant Colonel Charles Hercules Green   
-On 17 October, 3 RAR, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Green, advanced 8Km toward Hwangju and prepared for the offensive operations of the next day by interdicting the road between Sariwon and Pyongyang. There 3 RAR occupied positions and launched a defensive posture.
- Then, 3 RAR, while executing the mission of interdicting enemy’s northward retreating routes found an unknown number of enemies were moving in that direction. 3 RAR captured 1,982 prisoners without firing.
-The 27th British Commonwealth Brigade and the 3 RAR entered Pyongyang on 20 October, 1950 and continued to advance toward Sukchon-Pakchon-Chongju. Lieutenant Colonel Green, in order to occupy the high elevated areas on the right side, linked his forces with the US airborne troops and killed 150 enemies and captured 239 prisoners
- 3 RAR finally arrived in Chongju on October 30, 1950. However, due to shells fired by North Korean soldiers, Lieutenant Colonel Green was badly wounded and he later died. 

The late Lieutenant Colonel Green was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (Australia) in 1947 and posthumously awarded the Silver Star Medal from the US government in 1951. He is interred in the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Korea and was designated as the Korean War Hero of the Month in November, 2015. Notably, Minister Pi Woo-jin of Patriots and Veterans Affairs expressed her gratitude to Olwyn Green, the widow of the fallen hero, at the Unveiling