Métis veteran honoured by Korea for re-enlistment after years as a POW in Second World War
CBC
The family of veteran Urban Vermette hopes a recent award will help honour not only his life, but will serve as a reminder of the sacrifices of the countless Métis who made contributions to the Canadian military.
Vermette, who was Métis from Prince Albert, Sask., served overseas twice. First, during the Second World War where he spent nearly four years as a prisoner of war, and then later during the Korean War.
He was honoured posthumously by the South Korean government with an Ambassador of Peace medal "for overcoming pain and suffering" as a POW prior to re-enlisting to join the Korean War.
The medal, which is given to veterans of the Korean War, was presented by Consul General Deuk Hwan Kim during a ceremony last week in Hamilton.
"It is a tremendous honour," said his son Donald Vermette, who attended the ceremony along with his cousins Harvey Vermette and Albert Vermette.
They proudly wore their Métis sashes. The medal presentation came just days before Indigenous Veterans Day, which is observed every Nov. 8 as a way to separately honour Indigenous contributions to Canada's military service.
"Up until the 1970s, being called a Métis in Saskatchewan was a bad word," said Albert Vermette.
"We believe as Métis people, we have to honour our heritage also. This is the way we show respect not only to our culture, but to the Aboriginal people that gave so much in the wars."
Urban Vermette was born in 1922, the youngest of his siblings. He enlisted in the Saskatoon Light Infantry on his 19th birthday, following in his older brothers Walter and Delore's footsteps.
All three of them ended up overseas during the Second World War.
"The brothers joined with the intent in helping their family," said Albert Vermette.
Urban Vermette was a private in the Winnipeg Grenadiers, 1st battalion. He was among 1,975 troops known as "C" Force when the Winnipeg Grenadiers and the Royal Rifles of Canada out of Quebec City were deployed to Hong Kong to reinforce the British colony.
It ended up being the first place Canadians engaged in a battle during the Second World War. The vast majority of the troops had never seen combat before.
On Dec. 8, 1941, Japanese forces invaded and overran Hong Kong's defences in 17 days, killing 290 Canadians.
