Sergeant Major 2nd Class Joseph Asquin joined the service in 1946 at the age of 15.
His time was served with the military police. He spent several years in Korea and Japan.
“I remember some of my crew and I pulled three trees together to build an observation post where I sat to observe no mans land, next thing I knew out of no where there was a row of Korean children walking our way and then a row of women. Behind them was a row of Korean soldiers who opened fire. The Americans came with their planes and I ended up being shot in my leg,” said Asquin.
Asquin also spent time in Egypt where he saw ships that were sunk intentionally in the Suez Canal.
“I was there when they sunk those ships in the Suez Canal, there were a lot of them,” said Asquin.
Approximately 40 ships were intentionally sunk in the Suez Canal to block shipping lanes, afterward a truce was arranged and the Canal reopened.
Asquin was then sent back to Japan and Korea where he carried out the remainder of his time with the Military Police.
Asquin came back to Drumheller where he was born and has remained here since then.
Joseph’s father Jean Pierre Asquin along with a blacksmith built the Little Church out on Dinosaur trail, one of Drumheller’s historical landmarks.
Joeseph Asquin would rather not think back to those times.
“They take care of me now, my medications are all paid for and I receive my money every month. I am happy about that,”
Asquin will be laying a wreath for Korean Veterans on Remembrance Day, something he does every year.
Lest we forget, Lest we forget.
