Dennis Moore

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The following is from Intergenerational Integrities 2021 Anthology. Intergenerational Integrities involves 18 like-minded, passionate secondary students of British Columbia and Alberta who share a common love for writing, history and learning. Their purpose is to connect youth and seniors, especially during the Covid-19 global pandemic, where many have been physically and socially isolated. For this initiative, each student has been paired with a veteran of the Korean War.

Dennis Moore a native of Ottawa Ontario. In the summer of 1950, The Prime Minister of Canada requested volunteers to join a special military force to aid South Korea in the Korean war. Dennis volunteered and was enlisted into The Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry. He was 19 years old. He sailed for Korea in March 1951. He completed his tour of duty in Korea and rotated back to Canada in May 1952. He remained in the army where he was employed, also in special duties. This took him to most provinces in Canada and other countries such as Germany, England, USA, Belgium and Portugal.  He also played hockey for the then Army national team out of Ottawa Army HQ.  He retired in 1983 at the age of 52.  He is currently living in North Bay Ontario. Life is good.

Hazel Leung is a grade 11 student at Dr. Charles Best Secondary School in Coquitlam BC. When she is not at school, she enjoys watching her favourite shows and singing along to Broadway musicals. She joined Intergeneration Integrities because she loves history and wanted to learn more about the legacy of the Korean War. She enjoyed interviewing and talking with veteran Dennis Moore about hockey on the Imjin River.

Little Angel

By Hazel Leung

What difference did I make?

Decades later, only memories remain

Of a forgotten war, forgotten soldiers

A country still

divided

In bed at night I dream

of her, the little girl

Her bright new shoes

How she leapt

into my arms, no fear

in her eyes

The war nonexistent

in her dreams

Your medals, my shoes

she pointed with such joy

and innocence

And that was when I knew

After decades of doubt

After years of struggle

That I did make a difference