Peaceful Unification Advisory Council – Southeast North Asia Chapter chair Roh Junhwan (Gilbert Roh) executes a salute after handing Lieutenant Eduardo “Gibson” Aceveda-Roldan, 93, the frame of recognition on Tuesday, Aug. 22, in Baco, Oriental Mindoro for his service as part of the Filipino military units sent to the Korean war in the 1950s. | PHOTO: Baco Public Information Office
CITY OF CALAPAN – A Korean envoy on Tuesday, August 22, awarded a frame of recognition to a 93-year-old Korean War veteran in Baco town, Oriental Mindoro province.
The Peaceful Unification Advisory Council – Southeast North Asia Chapter led by its chair Roh Junhwan (Gilbert Roh) came to the house of Lieutenant Eduardo “Gibson” Aceveda-Roldan in Barangay (village) Alag to give the recognition, according to the Baco Public Information Office (PIO).
Roldan served as a Philippine soldier in the Korean War at 17 years old in the 1950s when the United Nations Security Council asked for combat troops to South Korea, which was being invaded by North Korean forces at the time.
Roldan was among the Filipinos who volunteered and stayed in the Korean peninsula for a year during his first stint then later returned for another tour of duty.
Architect Eldie Roldan, the daughter-in-law of the war veteran, said in a phone interview Tuesday that her earlier conversations with the war veteran revealed that he was part of the 14th and 19th Batallion combat team (BCT).
According to the website of the Philippine Embassy in Seoul, the 14th BCT was named the “Avengers” by then Secretary of National Defense Ramon Magsaysay (later President of the Philippines) because of its splendid record in the anti-Huk campaign. The Huk or Hukbong Bayan Laban sa Hapon, better known by the acronym Hukbalahap, was a Filipino communist guerrilla movement active from 1942 to 1954.
The “Avengers” landed in South Korea on March 26, 1953.
For its efforts, the 14th BCT received the South Korean Presidential Unit Citation in December 1953 and the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation upon its return home in March 1954.
The 19th BCT, also called “Bloodhound,” joined the Korean War from April 1952 to March 1953. Its first contingent landed in Korea in late April 1952 with the last contingent rotating to Korea two months later.
The 19th BCT was the first Philippine Expeditionary Force to Korea (PEFTOK) battalion awarded the South Korean Presidential Distinguished Unit Citation. It also received a Battle Citation from the US X Corps.
Junhwan awarded a frame to the veteran which contains the symbols of Korea, a peace medal, and a peace pin.
Baco Mayor Allan Roldan, who is a relative of the war veteran, thanked the Korean envoy and his staff for the well-deserved recognition.
The war veteran will be 94 years old on October 13, said Architect Roldan.
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