Older Veterans’ Memories from the Korean War: a Qualitative Study

Volume 2 - Issue 1

Deidre Wild*

Received: November 28, 2019;   Published: December 10, 2019

DOI: 10.26717/CTBB.MS.ID.000129

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Abstract

Interviews with 7 Korean War (KW) veterans were conducted to explore and add to the key findings from a related survey of the health and social well-being of 994 veterans of the Korean War and who are members of the British Korean Veteran Association (BKVA). This qualitative part of the ‘mixed’ method employed by the study proved to be particularly useful when survey outcomes were either unclear or they needed further information to enhance understanding. The veteran interviewees represented a range of war-time military roles and were deployed in different years over the duration of the war. Through the creation of themes and subthemes, the comments give credence to the overall conclusion that for those with psychological symptoms arising from distressing memories, these form a ‘willing’ rather than an ‘unwilling’ psychological burden. Combatants were more likely to carry this burden than non-combatants and stress that they they survived because they were hardy and resilient as a consequence of their austere and often frightening upbringing in World War 11.

Keywords: Korean War; veterans; memories; resilience; remembrance

Abstract| Introduction| Summary of Relevant Findings from the Parent Study| Related Literature| Methodology| Findings from the Interviews| Theme 1 Survival Qualities Brought to the War (Sub- Themes - Resilience, Hardiness and Coping, and Expectations).| Theme 2. The Return Home from the War (Sub Themes: Media; Military, and Society’s Interest in Kw, and Post War Support)| Theme 3. Life-Long War-Related Physical Injury and Mental Illness| Theme 4. Distressing Memories from War-Time Experiences: Sub-Themes: War-Zones’ Conditions; Intrusive and/or Avoidance of Thought, And Moral Injury.| Theme 5. Long-Term Social Support (Sub Themes: The Role of Spouses; and BKVA Membership)| Theme 6. Military Culture (Sub-Themes: Professionalism and Comradeship)| Theme 7. Remembrance (Sub-Themes: Closure and Burden)| Discussion| Limitations| Conclusions| References|