Korean vet faces demons
Korean Anzacs

SBS, April 25 at 8.30pm

Reviewer :: Cpl Cameron Jamieson

This is not a story of medals and victory. Rather it is an enduring tale of the war within that continues long after the war is over.

Korean Anzacs is a documentary that takes the viewer into the realm of post-traumatic stress disorder.

It is an extraordinary emotional and honest story about war, mental illness and the ability of friendship to span the decades.

Ron Cashman was an Australian infantry platoon sergeant during the Korean War, where he pursued his childhood dreams of adventure, heroism and mateship.

He also overcame the rampant racial prejudice of the time to take under his wing two Korean conscripts allocated to his battalion as augmentation forces.

Ron taught these two bewildered and untrained men to become effective combat soldiers who survived the war.

Ron also led his platoon by example, which resulted in him being awarded the Military Medal for bravery under fire.

But post-war his life descended into a mental nightmare as his experiences and feelings of guilt overwhelmed him.

His ability to frankly discuss the matter is combined with his excellent photo collection to tell the story of how he was able to finally confront his demons and make contact with the two Korean Anzacs.

The story that unfolds is not your traditional war documentary, but it is still an exceptional journey because it deals with the realities of war. It makes for excellent Anzac Day viewing.

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