MATTERN, Alfred

Alfred was conscripted on 10 March 1949. First, he was attached to the medical staff of the Corps de la Garde before joining the second contingent on 4  February 1952. Besides his status as a soldier, Alfred was also known for his talents as a magician, which he regularly displayed on stage. His nickname “Rex”, initially his stage name, stuck to him for the rest of the Korean deployment. In 1952, he published a column in the Luxembourgish newspaper Lëtzebuerger Journal describing the soldiers’ wartime experiences in Korea. Focussing on the feelings of fear, courage, determination and homesickness, Alfred also highlighted valuable aspects of a soldier’s life such as camaraderie and brotherhood.

Furthermore, he wrote the so-called “Korea Song”, using the melody of the famous British WWII-song “We are going to hang out the washing on the Siegfried Line”. From composer over magician to writer, it is safe to say that Alfred was a talented artist in a wide spectrum of fields.

Following his return from the Korean battlefield, Alfred founded his own dancing group, having several gigs in theaters in Luxembourg. A few years later, Alfred decided to move to Switzerland, where he met his future wife.