HAUFFELS, Gilbert

Registration Nr.:    320968 / V 00929

Birthday:    11.10.1932, Dudelange

Father:    Pierre HAUFFELS

Mother:    Anne GITZINGER

Service entry:    29.05.1951

Contingent:    2^nd

Ranks:    Soldat de 2^e Classe
Soldat de 1^re Classe (1952)
Caporal (1953)
Sergent (1964)

Death: 24.04.2023

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Gilbert was conscripted into military service in May 1951, after having worked for eight months as an apprentice electrician.

During the Korean War, Soldat de 1re Classe Gilbert Hauffels served in the second contingent as an Light Machine Gun (LMG) gunner. In an interview recorded in 2018, Gilbert stated that he was mostly driven by his youthful spirit of adventure as well as ideological determination to oppose communism. Gilbert’s diary is one of the best preserved sources portraying the soldier’s everyday life in Korea, namely artillery duels with the Chinese and seemingly never-ending fortification work in extreme heat.

Upon his return from Korea, Gilbert initially attempted to further his military career but in 1956, he decided to work for the customs (Douanes). During his deployment, Gilbert developed an interest in the country and its culture which led him to visit South Korea on several occasions. From 1981 to 2015, he was the secretary and until now the president of the Luxembourg Korean Association.

Croix d'Honneur et de Mérite militaire en bronze (Lux.)

Médaille du Volontaire de Guerre avec barrette en bronze (Bel.)

Croix de Guerre (Lux.)

Médaille Commémorative des théâtres d'opérations extérieures (Bel.)

Croix de Guerre 1940 avec Lion en bronze (Bel.)

Ambassador for Peace Medal

Médaille du Volontaire de Guerre Combattant avec barrette en argent (Bel.)

United Nations Service Medal (UNO)

Korean War Service Medal (RoK)