News of Norway, July 28, 2003
Norway’s participation didn’t take place on the battlefield, but very close to it. Whenever a soldier or a civilian from either side was injured, chances were that they would be sent to the Norwegian Mobile Army Surgical Hospital.
A total of 90,000 patients were treated at the hospital, of which 14,755 were hospitalized. More than a third of these were American soldiers.
On July 27, fifty years to the day since the signing of the Armistice, Major General Jan Blom attended the 50th anniversary ceremony held at the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. He represented one of 21 nations that joined forces with the United States in the War against North Korea.
The general's company was one of great distinction and diversity. Several thousand Korean War veterans were saluted by representatives from all 22 nations involved in fighting for the South Korean cause. Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz remarked that, "because thousands of brave men and women from 22 nations put their lives on the line, the face of Asia was changed dramatically for the better."
"I'm so pleased to see those countries represented here today. Thanks to our combined action in Korea, the stage was set for the eventual victory in the larger Cold War," he added.
The Norwegian hospital in Korea, established in July 1951, was decommissioned in November 1954. No Norwegians were killed in action during these three years.
Although the war never officially ended, the Armistice signing in July 1953 established the division of Korea on the 38th parallel. The border, heavily guarded on both sides, marks a contrast so great that it is difficult to imagine. Former South Korean president Kim Jong Il received the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo in 2000 for his efforts to ease the tension between the two nations.