Mexico, Puerto Rico, Suriname… Remembering Their Sacrifice in Fighting Alongside South Korea
On the occasion of United Nations Veterans International Memorial Day, nations other than the officially recognized participating countries that sent combat forces to South Korea are being remembered.
The South Korean government stated, “It is our duty and calling to remember and honor them.”
Other than those formally recognized, countries that sent troops to South Korea in the Korean War include Mexico, Puerto Rico, Suriname, Ireland, and Morocco.
In South Korea, there are calls on United Nations Veterans International Memorial Day (November 11) to remember the dedication and sacrifices of these nations’ veterans who sent combat forces outside of the 22 recognized United Nations participants in the Korean War (16 combatant nations and 6 medical support countries).
The official list of United Nations countries in the Korean War recognized by the South Korean government includes 16 combatant nations (United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Netherlands, Canada, France, New Zealand, the Philippines, Turkey, Thailand, South Africa, Greece, Belgium, Luxembourg, Ethiopia, Colombia) and 6 medical support nations (Sweden, India, Denmark, Norway, Italy, Germany).
Regarding this, former curator Yoon Young Mi of the Korean War Memorial Foundation stated, “Soldiers from countries such as Ireland, Puerto Rico, Suriname, and Mexico also fought as part of the United Nations forces in the Korean War. It is our duty and calling to remember and honor these benefactors who fought for South Korea at a time of dire crisis over 70 years ago.”
It is estimated that around 100,000 Mexicans and Mexican Americans participated in the Korean War. There is testimony that a unit composed of Mexican soldiers served in the 35th Infantry Regiment of the U.S. 25th Division. However, since they served as part of the U.S. military, the exact number of Mexican and Mexican American participants, as well as the count of the dead and wounded, remains unclear.
Approximately 61,000 Puerto Rican soldiers, also serving under the U.S. military, fought in the Korean War. The 65th Infantry Regiment, composed entirely of Puerto Rican soldiers and named the Borinqueneers after the indigenous Taíno name for Puerto Rico, arrived at Busan Port on September 23, 1950. They joined the Nakdong River front lines on September 28 and, over the next month, inflicted approximately 600 enemy casualties and captured 921 prisoners. General Douglas MacArthur praised their achievements, noting that they displayed exceptional ability and indomitable courage in their operations, and expressed pride in having them under his command. Puerto Rican soldiers also participated in key battles like the Chosin Reservoir, the Hungnam evacuation, and the Iron Triangle. A total of around 750 Puerto Rican soldiers were killed and 2,300 were wounded in the war.
From Suriname, 115 soldiers fought as part of the Dutch military, engaging in battles like the Hoengseong and Inje battles, where they sustained 2 deaths and 20 injuries. It is reported that these soldiers returned to Suriname with little recognition from the Dutch government, and many suffered from poverty and illness until their passing.
Approximately 10,000 young men from Ireland are thought to have participated. The British 29th Brigade’s Royal Ulster Rifles and C Squadron of the Irish Hussars, mainly composed of Irish soldiers, fought in the Happy Valley battle (also known as the Goyang Battle) in January 1951. Irish soldiers also suffered significant losses in the Battle of Seolmari (Jeokseong Battle), where the British experienced their greatest casualties since World War II. During the Korean War, about 100 Irish soldiers were killed, and an estimated 300 were wounded.
Reports continue to surface about the involvement of other nationalities in the Korean War. Kim Yoon Joo, an Army Major in the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff Inspection and Readiness Office, who located many Mexican veterans during his time as the Defense Attaché at the Korean Embassy in Mexico, said, “I heard about Honduran soldiers who fought in the Korean War and met descendants of a veteran before returning to Korea.” Jung Ki Yong, the climate change ambassador at South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who discovered evidence of Moroccan soldiers’ involvement during his time as Ambassador to Morocco, commented, “Recently, the British Ambassador to South Korea mentioned that soldiers from Nepal and Lithuania also fought in the Korean War.” He added, “We must continue to recognize and remember the sacrifices of these veterans who laid the foundation for the Republic of Korea as it stands today.”
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