Luke Gosling (Solomon, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Last month a contingent from the Australian Army, including the Chief of Army and some members of 'Old Faithful', the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment, were honoured to join the Green family to attend the internment ceremony of Mrs Olwyn Green OAM. Mrs Green was the widow of the late Lieutenant Colonel Charles Green DSO, US Silver Star, who was the commanding officer of the 3rd Battalion when he was killed in action during the battle of Chongju during the Korean War in 1950. The internment marked the reunion of Olwyn and Charlie after their lives were separated by the tragedy of war.

Olwyn was an amazing advocate for the veterans of the Korean War, and her efforts to preserve their legacy were recognised by her being granted an Order of Australia Medal, such was the scale of her historical, scholarly contribution about the war and about our veterans.

The internment ceremony at Busan was enormously supported by the army of the Republic of Korea, which is another example of the continued recognition of our strong connection that was forged through battle during the Korean War.

We all pay respect to the sacrifices that our defence families endure, and we should never forget them. Lest we forget.