The Human Cost of War: Soldiers and Psychiatrists in Korea, 1950-1953

Meghan Fitzpatrick

​Fellow, War Studies
Royal Military College of Canada

Abstract

Marred by war and violence, the history of the twentieth century is one of trauma. The Korean War (1950-1953) was a ferocious and brutal conflict that produced over four million casualties. It also represents one of the largest deployments of Canadians in the past hundred years. Throughout the war, psychiatric casualties accounted for one in twenty sick or wounded Commonwealth soldiers. In doing their duty, many of these men would bear permanent scars.

Historian Meghan Fitzpatrick investigates the human impact of the “forgotten war.” This talk will examine how the Commonwealth cared for the psychologically wounded in theatre and assess how successful doctors were in returning servicemen to duty. She will explore the challenges that veterans of politically unpopular or neglected conflicts like Korea face in accessing compensation and care; and also reflect upon how the Korean War experience can inform contemporary policy and underline salutary lessons for the future. 

Biography

Dr. Meghan Fitzpatrick is a SSHRC Post-Doctoral Research Fellow in War Studies with the Royal Military College of Canada. Her recently published book with the University of British Columbia Press is entitled Invisible Scars: Mental Trauma and the Korean War (2017).