Colombia participation in the war carried out in Korea
The participation that Colombia would have in the war that was carried out in Korea, when on June 27, 1950 from the request made by the UN Secretary and the United Nations during the government of President Mariano Ospina Pérez in the years in the years 1946-1950 generated great controversy. The United States sought that all Latin American nations had great participation and support, because this would show the interest of the West and the "free world" to face the communism of the Soviets. In this way their casualties would be reduced and war would achieve a true international reach with less cost for the United States. A collective and joint force was expected through the OAS (Organization of American States), or National Special Forces. However, the conditions of each country frustrated intentions and what was thought of by Americans. The majority of Latin American countries did not accept that they had to make the immediate payment for the supply of weapons and teams for a collaboration in a war that was not even so after all, and the United States demanded the contribution of divisions with more than ten A thousand men despite the fact that Latin American countries are "small" in proportion to American nation. Only after realizing what he asked was to accep.
Initially, the president of Colombia Ospina Pérez offered to support Truman President of the United States in the period of 1945 – 1953 arguing that it would be “in the way in which the development of events will indicate it necessary” “for the fulfillment of compliance with The resolutions of the UN Security Council ”, and reaffirmed that the international policy of the United States had its complete support.
However, when the Colombian Foreign Ministry officially received the request for participation, the Minister of War, Evarist He was willing to comply and respond to the UN for his commitments, still this was difficult, but he would do so cost the sacrifice of his own tranquility.
Although Colombia worried about the money that I had to pay for logistics support and tried to convince the United States to reduce the price for its support, Colombia’s position at that time was the same as the other Latin American nations had. So the United States was obliged to solve this and opt for a solution, which consisted of receiving participation from Colombia because it was the priority at that time and then the payment method would be seen.
Colombian’s participation began on June 30 with Decree 3230 of 1950 in the Government of Laurean Decree 3927 of December 1950 by which the creation of the allegedly existing infantry battalion is allowed.1 Colombia, who would be trained for a while in Bogotá, another time in the United States and then joined one of the North American companies in the 61st combat zone, the men who made up the contingent sent to Korea, arrived in Pusan on the 16th of June 1951 and was received by the president of South Korea of that time Sygman Rhee. Lieutenant Infantry Colonel Jaime Polanía Puy. Colombian reinforcements joined the twenty -fourth American division and saw fight for the first time on August 7.
In 1951 the most important fighting was against Chinese communist armies that were the most harmed by having hundreds of casualties and for approximately two years they faced the Red Army or the great Soviet power, in struggles for hills and points that were the more strategic, which would allow them to have advantages before the enemy and thus be able to gain ground.
The operations carried out in foreign territory or battles that had the most impact and recognition for the troops made up of the Colombian combatants were the battle of Climber and the battle of Old Baldy, since in both they got the long -awaited victory, where the Colombian military They were organized in a way that formed a remembered defense in Kumsong located and using strategies without a doubt impressive before the enemy, closing the mouth of many allies which belonged to nations and powers much more developed than Colombia which thought that being a small exercise country They would not make any difference in that war.
In 1953 when the possible end and termination of this war was already observed, the Ministry of War said that it would be possible for the Colombia Battalion to be retired from the war zone because it had already been spent quite a lot on keeping so much personal personnel From this because of the number of lives that had cost this war, for this time the government of the Red Pinilla President and military leader was already in command of Colombia.
However, it was determined that the Colombia Battalion would remain until August 1954 in the Korean Peninsula but not in combat, but that performing surveillance missions in the disarmament zone that was created after the end of the conflict
By the time the battalion withdrew from Korea in October 1954, the count was held and of the 5100 Colombian combatants who took part in the Asian conflict, being of these 111 officers and 590 noncommissioned officers who participated in war operations would have remained a final balance of The war for the Colombia Battalion of 639 combat casualties distributed among 163 dead, 448 wounded, 30 prisoners of war and 60 missing.
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