1 In Memoriam Dr John Bradley MBBS MRACP MD MRACR FRCR FRACR FRACP, Returned & Services League of Australia Limited, who contributed significantly to the commencement and development of the study, but did not live to see the results of his endeavours. Acknowledgments The Department of Veterans’ Affairs and the study team in particular are grateful to: the members of the Study Scientific Advisory Committee for their guidance; the Australian Electoral Commission; the staff at the Australian Institute of Health & Welfare who ascertained the causes of death and compared the death rates of Korean War veterans with the Australian population; and the staff at the Health Insurance Commission who also did data matching. National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication data Suggested citation Harrex WK, Horsley KW, Jelfs P, van der Hoek R, Wilson EJ. Mortality of Korean War veterans: the veteran cohort study. A report of the 2002 retrospective cohort study of Australian veterans of the Korean War. Canberra: Department of Veterans’ Affairs, 2003. © Commonwealth of Australia 2003 This work is copyright. Apart from any use permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process without written permission from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be directed to the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, PO Box 21, Woden ACT 2606 Produced by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, Canberra ISBN 1 920720 07 3 Publication number: P977 REPATRIATION COMMISSION 21 November 2003 The Hon Danna Vale MP Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Parliament House CANBERRA ACT 2600 Dear Minister I have pleasure in submitting the final report of the Mortality Study of Australian Veterans of the Korean War. This study has investigated mortality rates, both generally and for specific causes of death, among Australian male veterans of the Korean War from their last day of service in Korea to 31 December 2000, and compared these with the corresponding rates for the general Australian male population of the same age. The study has taken a significant time to complete. This was due to the need to develop a Nominal Roll of Australian Veterans of the Korean War required as the starting point for the study, and the complexity of subsequent research to establish whether individual veterans were alive or dead, and the reasons for death. I would like to acknowledge the contribution to the success of the study made by my predecessor, Major General J P Stevens AO. From its commencement, the study was conducted under his direct supervision. His input and guidance continued until late August this year and this helped shape the final preparation of the report. The study, although commenced first, is the second study concerning Korean War Veterans to be completed. The first to reach the report stage was the Cancer Incidence Study of Australian Veterans of the Korean War. You have also approved the conduct of a General Health Survey of Australian Veterans of the Korean War. This is scheduled to commence early in the new year and the results of that study will be published separately. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the members of the Korean War Veterans Mortality Study Consultative Committee for their assistance and cooperation during the conduct of the study. Due to the length of time over which the study was conducted, a number of changes in membership took place. A full list of members, and the ex-Service organisations they represented, is at Appendix E of the report. RADM C S H Harrington AM RAN (Retd) PO Box 21 Woden ACT 2606 Phone: 02 6289 6733 Facsimile: 02 6289 6257 Email: [email protected] The report’s preparation was supervised by the Study Scientific Advisory Committee, the membership of which is set out at Appendix F. I would also like to thank the Australian Institute of Health & Welfare, which did the bulk of the data matching, Dr Keith Horsley, the Director of Research Studies and the other departmental staff who worked on the study. Yours sincerely Simon Harrington COMMISSIONER Chongjin USSR CHINA Hyesanjin CHINA (EAST SEA) R SEA OF JAPAN A Chosan KOREA JAPAN E Fusen Res Suiho Res R Yalu O Chosin Res Iwon Sinuiju K R Taeryong R YELLOW SEA Hungnam Pakchon R Chongchon Sinanju Taedong Yongyu PACIFIC Wonsan SEA OF JAPAN OCEAN PYONGYANG (EAST SEA) Chinnampo R Sariwon Imjin R Kansong 38º00´ Haeju Yangyang 38º00´ Kaesong Cho Do Panmunjom Pukhan Kangnung Haeju Gulf Han River SEOUL Estuary Han Changdong Peninsula Samchok Inchon Wonju Yoju R N Chungju Andong R Yongduk YELLOW SEA Taejon R Kunsan Kum Taegu Miryang Naktong Masan Pusan KOJE DO Mokpo TSUSHIMA DEMARCATION LINE 1953 0 50 100 miles kilometres 0 50 100 The Korean peninsula and the four stages of the war i. Pusan Perimeter – limit of the North Korean iii. Limit of Chinese advance to advance to September 1950 end January 1951 ii. Furthest advance of UN forces to iv. Battle front June 1951 – July 1953 end October 1950 and ultimate demarcation line Professor Priscilla Kincaid-Smith M.D., F.R.C.P., F.R.A.C.P., F.R.C.P.A. Private Consulting Rooms Epworth Medical Centre MEDICAL DIRECTOR & 185-187 Hoddle Street DIRECTOR OF NEPHROLOGY RICHMOND VIC 3121 EPWORTH HOSPITAL Provider No: 209767B Telephone: (+61) (3) 9428 9577 Facsimile: (+61) (3) 9428 8789 PKS/naw E-mail: [email protected] 17 November 2003 Rear Admiral C S H Harrington AM RAN (Retd) Repatriation Commissioner PO Box 21 WODEN ACT 2606 Dear Rear Admiral Harrington I have great pleasure in providing you with a copy of the Report of the Mortality Study of Australian Veterans of the Korean War, which has been completed by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs and the Australian Institute of Health & Welfare. The Scientific Advisory Committee has endorsed this study. Kind regards. Yours sincerely Priscilla Kincaid-Smith AC CBE Chair Scientific Advisory Committee Korean War Veterans’ Medical Studies Chongjin Hyesanjin CHINA R Fusen Res Yalu Chosin Res Iwon NORTH KOREA N Sinuiju R Hamhung Pakchon Chongchon R Chongju Kujin Sinanju Taedong Yongju Pak's Palace PYONGYANG The Caves R Bean Camp Taedong Sunchon River R Estuary Sariwon Imjin Kansong Haeju Maryang San 38º00´ Samichon R 38º00´ Pukhan Kaesong The Hook Yangyang Yongmae Uijongbu Kapyong Kangnung Do Island SEOUL Kimpo SEA OF JAPAN Han Samchok Suwon Wonju (EAST SEA) Chuam - Ni R Andong R Yongduk R Kum YELLOW SEA Pohang Taegu Naktong Pusan CARRIER FORCE KOJE DO TSUSHIMA DEMARCATION LINE 1953 0 50 100 miles kilometres 0 50 100 Australian operational locations 1950 – 1953 Naval Movements POW Camps Airfields Major actions Contents CONTENTS .............................................................................................................................................................. 2 ABBREVIATIONS ..................................................................................................................................................... 5 DEFINITIONS ........................................................................................................................................................... 6 1. Korean war veterans............................................................................................................................... 6 2. ‘Allotted for Duty’ and ‘Operational Service’ ....................................................................................... 6 3. Tours and visits ....................................................................................................................................... 6 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY...................................................................................................................................... 8 IDENTIFYING DEATHS AMONGST VETERANS .......................................................................................................... 9 NUMBER OF VETERAN DEATHS STUDIED .............................................................................................................. 10 FINDINGS .............................................................................................................................................................. 10 Cancer mortality ............................................................................................................................................. 12 Effect of Nature of Service.............................................................................................................................. 13 STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF THE STUDY..................................................................................................... 14 CONCLUSION ........................................................................................................................................................ 15 RECOMMENDATIONS ............................................................................................................................................ 15 CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 16 1.1 KOREAN WAR VETERANS MORTALITY STUDY.......................................................................................... 16 1.1.1 Ethical approval............................................................................................................................... 16 1.1.2 Study Aims .......................................................................................................................................