By GEORGIA WESTGARTH
JOHN Laughton never had to pull a trigger or launch a missile but for 219 days he sat in readiness on board a Naval ship on the South Korean coast line.
Now at 87 years of age the former peacekeeper with the Royal Australian Navy was recognised for the third time by the South Korean government.
John said the Ambassador for Peace Medal, which was awarded as an expression of appreciation from the South Korean people, was “particularly special to him”.
“The Korean Government treats us spectacularly well,” John said.
“I was invited as a guest of honour a few years ago and it was the first time I had been back to Korea since I was 24 years old and working as a radio electrician with the Navy.
“People on the street would come up to me and shake my hand and say ‘thank you’ and I’ve been to many countries and I’ve never been treated as well as I was in Korea.”
He was among 10 other Australian peacekeepers who were awarded the medal on Tuesday 24 November.
“I didn’t realise I was going to get a medal. It was a big surprise for me but such a great honour,” he said.
John now holds three medals very close to his heart.
“I’ve got three, one is a 60th anniversary of the Korean War and the other was a thankyou medal from the government that represents all the nations that fought in Korea. It’s quite unique,” he said.
“I’ve scanned my medals and want to frame them and put them up on the wall.”
