Captivity testimonies

Prisoners’ Testimonies

On 23 September 1951 volunteers DUBOIS STAELENS and are surprised by an enemy patrol while they make a fetching water:

"... Hands are tied ... we walked for eight days, from village to village, with the apprehension of being killed at any time. We beat the rice to eat our hunger. One night we escaped but we have been taken over by Chinese who were forced to carry supplies from their base to their positions. They have traveled to North Korea, after two days, tied up without food or water, and beaten with rifle butts we reached a camp where we were treated like animals and subjected to intense Communist propaganda, but in English ... "

On 6 October 1952, the Pioneer Section of the French battalion which included Sergeant BESAMAT was overwhelmed by the magnitude of an enemy attack. Wounded by grenade fragments, he was taken prisoner:

"So began for him a long and painful ordeal by cold weather. During the first journey on foot and by truck to Camp No. 3 "in the north of the Korean Peninsula, and everything was about to receive shots for his injuries, accompanied by beatings. In this camp, the sergeant first undergoes interrogation "muscular." Then came the daily indoctrination to the communist cause. The service of enemy propaganda going to give prisoners the French newspaper "L'Humanité". The sergeant was made of his wounds 64 days after being taken prisoner, without anesthesia. The diet was limited to rice and a bowl of soya in the evening, in the best case a piece of bread, with hot water as a beverage. "

On 28 August 1953, following his release agreements Pam Munjom, BESAMAT weighed more than 53 kilograms, having lost 21 in 11 months in captivity. He continued his career in Algeria as a helicopter pilot. [1]

The prisoners had the opportunity to meet some French civilians interned, including the charge d'affaires in Seoul, Jean Meadmore, who honorary ambassador, is a member of the Alumni Association of Korea.