Parisans

[Ed Evanhoe <evanhoe@arbuckleonline.com>]

Don,

> >>Please tell us what it was like to be a partisan fighter in North Korea 
> so we can compare "how good the American GIs had it."      <<

They had it pretty tough -- hiding or running most of the time, living on 
what friendlies could give them and, if caught, torture and execution. 
Almost no medical support if wounded.

> >>I'm confused with your use of the word "partisan."  Where you a South 
> Korean who enlisted/joined to be a "partisan" in North Korea, or were you 
> a North Korean who joined an "anti-Communist" partisan group in North 
> Korea? If you were a South Korean, did the US recruit you?<<

Partisans were North Koreans fighting the communist government INSIDE North 
Korea.

Prior to the war, the partisans generally operated in very small groups 
close to their home areas and received limited support from South Korea 
intelligence.  They cam out of the hills and took over their towns from 
communist-appointed administrators during the UN advance into North Korea. 
Then fled to offshore islands after UN forces were driven from North Korea, 
leaving behind agents and small groups who served as "anchor" points during 
later operations.  When they first arrived on the offshore islands, they 
still were under the loose control of ROK intelligence but in Feb 1951, 
command & control passed to 8th Army G3 Miscellaneous Group, 8086th 
AU.  Command & Control passed to Guerrilla Division, United Nations 
Partisan Force, Korea, 8240th AU on 10 Dec 1951.  The 8240th AU was the 
administrative cover for Combined Command Reconnaissance Activities, Korea 
(CCRAK,)  thus were part of US forces in Korea, albeit never recognized as 
such despite being supplied, fed, armed and paid by the U.S. Army.  Command 
and Control of the partisans transferred to the ROK after the cease-fire, 
who quickly drafted most able bodied men into the ROK Army.

The "recognition" thing comes about because ROK does not recognize 
partisans as having served during the Korean War, thus they are not 
eligible for any of the veterans benefits accorded Korean veterans by their 
government.  This includes former partisans drafted when the partisans were 
disbanded after the cease-fire. For these men, their service begins the day 
they were drafted.

To make the cheese binding for these guys is ROK says any benefits or 
compensation should come from the U.S. since they fought under U.S. command 
and control during the war.  The U.S. says it is ROK responsibility since 
ROK took command and control from the U.S.  In other words, a reall "Catch 
22," for these guys.

Ed
Ed Evanhoe, PO Box 916, Antlers, OK, 74523-0916
Author: DARKMOON: Eighth Army Special Operations in the Korean War
Life Member: Special Forces & Special Operations Associations
Web site:  http://www.korean-war.com