Chae Byong-duk
{{Short description|South Korean general (1916–1950)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Chae Byong-duk
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| image = Lt gen chae.jpg
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| birthname =
| birth_date = 17 April 1916
| birth_place = Heian'nan-dō, Korea, Empire of Japan
| death_date = 27 July 1950 (aged 34)
| death_place = Hadong, South Korea
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| nationality = Korean
| alma_mater = Imperial Japanese Army Academy
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| allegiance = {{flag|Empire of Japan}} (1933-1945)
{{flag|South Korea}} (1948-1950)
| branch = Imperial Japanese Army (1933-1945)
Republic of Korea Army (1948-1950)
| serviceyears = 1933–1950
| commands = Chief of Staff of the Republic of Korea Army (1949-1950)
South Gyeongsang Province Defence Command (1950)
| battles = World War II
Korean War
- Battle of Hadong{{KIA}}
| rank = 20px Lieutenant General (Posthumously)
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}}
Chae Byong-duk ({{Korean|hangul=채병덕|hanja=蔡秉德}}; 17 April 1916 – 27 July 1950) was a South Korean army general.
Early life
On 17 April 1916, he was born in Heian'nan-dō, Korea, Empire of Japan (now South Pyongan Province, North Korea). In 1933, he entered the Imperial Japanese Army Academy.[https://n.news.naver.com/mnews/article/023/0003552427?sid=103 광복을 위해 배우자”… 日육사 출신 한국인의 고뇌와 배신]
Military career
During World War II, he served as an officer in the Imperial Japanese Army.
After the liberation of Korea, he joined the Republic of Korea Army.
In April 1950, he started a second term as a Chief of Staff (Rank: Major general).
Following the outbreak of the Korean War, the Republic of Korea Army collapsed rapidly.
On 30 June 1950, Chae Byong-duk was dismissed and he transferred to South Gyeongsang Province Defence Command.
On 27 July, he was killed in action in the Battle of Hadong.[https://n.news.naver.com/mnews/article/001/0008494464?sid=102 "논에 군인 시신 많아 농사를 짓지 못했지"]
He was posthumously promoted to Lieutenant General after his death by the South Korean government.
Awards and decorations
- Eulji Order of Military Merit (1952-05-20)
- Chungmu Order of Military Merit (1950-12-30)
Legacy
He is the only South Korean Army General who was in killed in action during the Korean War. (There are some South Korean Army and Air Force Generals who were killed by accident and during the Korean War.[https://www.konas.net/article/article.asp?idx=11919&rep_idx=32085 휴전 54년의 추억])
There is a memorial in Hadong County.[http://www.knnews.co.kr/news/articleView.php?idxno=334182 `이제야 떳떳이 장군을 뵙습니다` 채병덕장군 전사비 제막]
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://digitalarchive.wilsoncenter.org/people/chae-byong-duk Chae, Byong Duk 1916- 1950 Wilsoncenter.Org]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Chae, Byong-duk}}
Category:South Korean generals
Category:South Korean military personnel killed in the Korean War
Category:Chiefs of staff of the Army (South Korea)
Category:Imperial Japanese Army personnel of World War II
Category:Imperial Japanese Army officers
Category:Imperial Japanese Army Academy alumni
Category:Koreans in the Imperial Japanese Army
Category:Recipients of the Order of Military Merit (South Korea)
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