Hug from PM ends years of bitterness for Korean War Vet

by Ian Stuart of NZPA

	Photo Corporal Tim Jordan RNZAF
	David Kinnaird pays his respects to a fallen comrade in the Pusan Cemetery.

For years after he returned from the Korean and Vietnam wars, 33-year army medical veteran David Kinnaird harboured bitterness towards a young anti-war protester.

As he marched off to the Vietnam War, the young woman told him exactly what she thought of the war and his involvement.

On the 25th of July 2003 at a Korean war cemetery that protester-—now the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Helen Clark-—put those bitter ghosts of the past to rest in one of the most moving display of emotion of an already emotional weekend.

The Prime Minister and 30 veterans of the Korean War were in Korea to commemorate the signing of the armistice on July 27, 1953 to end a war, which took 180,000, allied lives and hundreds of thousands of Korean lives.

With tears still in his eyes after standing at the grave of his mate, Lester Humm, Dave Kinnaird approached Miss Clark to thank her for bringing him back to Korea.

She stepped forward and put her arms around him.

A prime minister and a war veteran hugged each other for a long emotional minute.

Neither said anything-—both let the tears flow as Mr Kinnaird's
body shook with 50 years of pent-up emotion.

The embrace also ended the bitterness, which Mr Kinnaird had harboured towards Miss Clark for more than 30 years from when he last saw her when he marched off to the Vietnam War.

"She and her mates were young and radical and they were hailing us down for going to Vietnam," Mr Kinnaird said.

The warm embrace from Helen Clark was as unexpected as it was healing for the former army corporal.

"I didn't expect that-—not from the woman. It changes my opinion of her."

"She was very sincere and how many people would do that-—a prime minister, but she was young and radical with Tim Shadbolt and all the other no-hopers in those days."

Today Mr Kinnaird had high praise for Miss Clark.

"I'm thrilled with that," he said, apologising for letting his emotions take over.

"It's sad, very sad," he said, his voice shaking.

The previous night 2000 veterans from all countries that answered the United Nation's call to repulse the communist North Korean invaders attended a "Salute to Heroes" banquet in Seoul.

On the 25th, Miss Clark and the veterans were at Pusan, in South Korea, for a service to remember the 45 New Zealanders who died of their wounds, accident or disease. The cemetery holds 34 New Zealand graves.

Dave Kinnaird will return to New Zealand and tell the Wanganui family of his mate, Lester Humm-—"a top bloke"-—that his grave is being well-looked after by the South Koreans.

"I will say I have been there and your son's grave is being well-looked after, and that I've laid a poppy on his grave," he said.

Earlier in the service, Miss Clark said New Zealanders were quick to volunteer to help the South Koreans.

"It was out of a sense of outrage at the invasion by the communist North, to follow in the footsteps of relatives who had served in previous wars, or out of a sense of patriotism."

"They found a devastated country and a population that was suffering greatly", she said.

In the battle of Kapyong, in April 1951, they repulsed a force superior in numbers, with a resulting great loss of life from both sides.

More than 6000 New Zealanders served in Korea on land and at sea.

On the 26th of July, 50 years to the day after the armistice was signed, the New Zealand veterans joined thousands of other veterans and VIPs for a ceremony on the 38th parallel on the de-militarised zone.

National Commemorative Service in Wellington

To mark the commemoration of the Korean cease fire, a service was held at the Wellington Cathedral of St Paul on Sunday 27 July 2003. About 200 Korean veterans, diplomatic and NZ government representatives, defence officials and a special appearance by a Korean choir, made this a memorable day. The Dean of Wellington, the Very Reverend Douglas Sparks conducted the service.

		Barry Allison NZ Army News
Pictured left: The Honour Guard provided by members of the 16th Field Regiment. In the foreground is a 25 Pounder field gun as used by 16th field Regiment in Korea. Right: The Korean Choir.