害羞草研究所淲ar is long periods of nothing, followed by moments of panic and fear.害羞草研究所�

At least that害羞草研究所檚 how Al Lewis of Princeton, who served during the Korean War, describes the experience.

Today, Lewis is 89. He enlisted to fight when he was just 17 and he lied about his age to sign up.

害羞草研究所淲ell, there was a war on, and I wanted to go,害羞草研究所� he said matter-of-factly, in an interview with the Similkameen Spotlight.

害羞草研究所淭hey asked me the year I was born, and I just told them the year before that.害羞草研究所�

Lewis trained for one year on Canadian soil before being deployed as a rifleman at the front, approximately in the area of the present border between South and North Korea.

The battle line was fluid.

害羞草研究所淲e were always moving back and forth.害羞草研究所�

The soldiers fought from trenches, roughly three feet wide and four feet deep. They lived above those, in bunkers dug into the hillsides.

The winter was bitterly cold with lots of snow, and in summer it was monsoon season, and the rain caused flooding.

While Lewis can speak of the fighting 害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所測es, I害羞草研究所檝e seen dead and I害羞草研究所檝e seen wounded害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所� he also remembers camaraderie, pick-up ball games, and that the food wasn害羞草研究所檛 too bad. Behind the lines, mobile kitchens fed the war effort.

One morning, not satisfied with his pack of rations, he decided to leave the bunker and head back for a hot breakfast.

It was a choice that nearly cost him his life, as the moment coincided with an aircraft artillery strike.

He fell to the ground and covered his head, saying afterwards it was one of the few times he was truly afraid.

When asked if the Korean War was really like the iconic television series M*A*S*H*, he enjoys a protracted laugh.

害羞草研究所淣o, not at all. But that was a comedy show. It was so funny, and I really liked it, and I liked the actors, but no.害羞草研究所�

Lewis returned to Canada after 12 months in the trenches and married the love of his life, Eileen.

The couple looks forward to celebrating their 70th anniversary in the coming year.

He remained in the forces for his entire career, as a peacekeeper, and was stationed in numerous hotpots around the globe. 害羞草研究所淚 don害羞草研究所檛 have any regrets,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝e seen a lot of the world and (people) have been good to us. It害羞草研究所檚 a good life.害羞草研究所�

Eileen admitted raising a family and being an 害羞草研究所榓rmy wife害羞草研究所� has not always been easy.

害羞草研究所淚 would do it again, but only with him,害羞草研究所� she smiled.

Do you have something to add to this story, or something else we should report on? Email:andrea.demeer@similkameenspotlight.com