Generally speaking, because of the circumstances when we first came back from Korea, we didn't even count. It was many a long time before we got the same benefits as World War II veterans. A lot of people lost interest and wouldn't even try to get them.
Of course, when they get older and they have a disability and they're spread all across Canada.... For example, in British Columbia, where I live, the veterans are spread throughout the province. When we have a meeting, it takes some people four days to drive in, get organized, come to the meeting, and go back. So they give up.
First of all, I would say most veterans don't even bother trying to apply because they've been turned down from the early days. I'm not saying it's all bad now. It is trying to change; there's no question about that. It is getting better, so I don't want to say that it's terrible now.
I would also say there's the other factor. The first battalion that I was with that went to Korea, for about six months before the brigade arrived we were Canadian army special force. We joined up for 18 months. Many of them served longer than some of the veterans did in World War II who only fought in Europe, because they did 13 months or so in Korea before they were brought home.
Then they got out of the forces and disappeared into the fabric of society. Now that sounds impossible, but from D-Day until the end of the war, they served longer than people served in World War II in combat. I'm not trying to overstate it. I'm just saying that's a fact. A lot of those people are not even interested. They don't even join KVA. We're not even able to find them to take them back to Korea on a revisit, with half their airfare and all of their expenses paid for by the Korean government.
Remember now, somebody aged 85 to 90 wonders why in the hell should they bother. There's a lot who don't even try, and they should, because there's an amazing number who cannot walk properly now. They've had a couple of hip operations. They've had a knee operation. Their health is not very good. But those who have assistance and do apply.... A lot of service officers who are serving with the Royal Canadian Legion help the Korean veterans, and they are a great help in getting people assistance for some of their problems.
I would support a statement that says not everything that's wrong with them is likely due to the Korean War. But I can tell you right now that almost all veterans, without question, only apply because of the way they look at it. There are things that were caused in Korea, such as climbing a mountain in the ice and the snow and losing a grip and falling 500 feet. Boom, boom, all the way down. I've seen it happen.
Generally speaking, Korean veterans only apply if they have a real problem.
I don't know if I've answered your question the way you—