Korea has long been known as “the Land of the Morning Calm.” On
25 June, 1950, the morning calm was shattered when the Communist
North Koreans attacked South Korea in an attempt to reunify the
Korean nation by force. The United States reacted quickly and
immediately committed all available troops in the Far East to
the defence of South Korea. The Americans also appealed to the
Security Council of the United Nations for help. Normally, any
such request would have been vetoed by the Soviet Union,
however, the Soviets were boycotting the Security Council and
the defence of South Korea became a United Nations operation.
Canada immediately created a Special Force, which would become
25 Brigade, to participate in repelling the Communist attack.
All of the combat arms units which were raised for the Brigade
were extensions of existing Regular Army units. The initial
contribution of The Royal Canadian Dragoons was to A Squadron of
the lst and 2nd Armoured Regiment, which was to become D
Squadron, Lord Strathcona’s Ho