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PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATIONS
On 6 September 1951, the BUNC received the US Presidential Unit Citation - As I had to translate this citation from Flemish, the wording of the actual citation will differ ...
By decision of the President concurrent with the dispositions of the execution order 9396 (Sec. I, War Department Bulletin 22, 1943) etc. ... , the following unit is mentioned on the daily order as a public testimonial of deserved honor and distinction.
Citation : The Belgian battalion with the Luxemburg
detachment of the UN Forces in Korea is mentioned for exceptional execution of its
missions and for its remarkable heroism in its actions against the enemy on the Imjin,
near Hantangang, Korea during the period from 20 till 26 April 1951. The Belgian battalion
with the Luxemburg detachment, one of the smallest units of the UNO in Korea, has
inflicted thirty-fold losses on the enemy compared to its own, due to its aggressive and
courageous actions against the Communist Chinese. During this period considerable enemy
forces, supported by fire by machine guns, mortars and artillery, repeatedly and heavily
attacked the positions held by the battalion but, Belgians and Luxembourgers have
continuously and bravely repulsed these fanatic attacks by inflicting heavy losses to the
enemy forces. When the Chinese troops had succeeded in occupying positions endangering the
liaison with the allied neighboring units, The Belgian battalion with the Luxembourg
detachment launched furious counter-attacks with the bayonet. The enemy, surprised by the
tenacity of these attacks became disorganised and withdrew in disorder. Finally, the
Belgian-Luxembourg battalion withdrew by order of higher authority, evacuated its wounded,
was resupplied and requested to be put back in the line. Having arrived at the frontline
again, numerous enemy infantry and cavalry units were observed heading south. When the
enemy was sufficiently close, the Belgian-Luxembourg battalion launched a rain of mortar
shells with the devastating effect that its front area was covered with bodies. When the
Chinese communists continued to bring in fresh troops in the attack, the
Belgian-Luxembourg troops fought a successful delaying battle which enabled the adjoining
positions to be methodically evacuated with minimum losses. The Belgian battalion with the
Luxemburg detachment has shown so much proof of courage, decision and esprit de corps in
the accomplishment of its missions during these actions in difficult and hazardous
circumstances, that it has to be placed above any other units participating in these
actions. The extraordinary courage shown by the members of this units during this period
has bestowed extraordinary honor on their country and on themselves
On 1 March 1952, the South Korean President, Syngman Rhee, added his own Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation to the honours of the BUNC. Translated, the citation reads :
The President of the Republic of Korea has the great pleasure to award the Presidential Unit Citation to the Belgian Battalion and the Luxembourg Volunteer Detachment for Korea of the Armed Forces of the United Nations in Korea for their excellent performance of duties and their remarkable heroism.
These units are cited for the extreme excellence with which they have fulfilled their missions and the remarkable courage they showed in their actions against the enemy on the Imjin, near Hantangang in Korea, during the period from 20 to 26 April 1951. The Belgian Battalion and the Luxembourg Detachment have, by their aggressive and brave actions against the Chinese communists inflicted thirty-fold casualties compared to its own. During this period, enemy forces, supported by machine gun fire, mortars and artillery, vigorously and repeatedly attacked the positions of the Belgian Battalion and the Luxembourg Detachment but they bravely and continously repulsed these fanatic attacks and inflicted serious casualties to the enemy troops. When the Chinese communists managed to occupy positions which threatened their own lines of communications, the Belgians and Luxembourgers counterattacked valiantly with the bayonet. Surprised by these brave attacks, the enemy lost heart and fled in disorder. On orders from higher authority, the Belgian Battalion and the Luxembourg Detachment finally withdrew, evacuating their wounded and were resupplied whereupon they asked to be returned to the lines. As soon as they were back in the frontline, enemy infantry and cavalry units were observed. When these had approached closely enough, our allied forces opened up with devastating mortar fire which had such a destructive effect that the whole sector was covered with bodies. As the Chinese communists kept advancing in increasing numbers, the Belgians and Luxembourgers fought valiant and successfull delaying battles which allowed adjoining units to withdraw methodically with a minimum of losses in men and material. The Belgian Battalion and the Luxembourg Detachment showed such bravery, determination and esprit de corps when accomplishing these tasks that they have to be placed above any other units that took part in this action. The extraordinary heroism shown by the members of these units during that period greatly honors their country and themselves. This citation allows every combattant of the Belgian Battalion and the Luxembourg Detachment who took part in the battles in Korea in the aforementioned time period to weaar the ribbon of the Presidential Unit Citation.
By order of Syngman Rhee
A second Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation was awarded for the Haktang-Ni battles. Do contact me if you have the text of this citation ...
Honour and Military Merit Cross of the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg
In 1993 the government of the Grand-Duchy decided to bestow the gilt class of this decoration on the Korean Volunteer Corps - see document
The decoration itself was instituted in 1951 in three classes (gilt, silver, bronze). The obverse has the shield of the Grand-Duchy with four swords pommels and "HONOR VIRTUS PATRIA" as text. The reverse shows "CC" beneath a crown. The ribbon is blue with three sets of narrow white, red, white stripes spaced across it.
My thanks to Megan Robertson for the above picture from her website "Medals of the World".
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