Korea Medal (SG 8687 H J O'DELL); Canadian Volunteer Service Medal for Korea; and United Nations Service Medal for Korea (SG 8687 H J O'DELL). Naming is officially engraved on the KM and the UNSMK, the CVSMK is un-named as issued. Court-mounted, edge wear on the KM and UNSMK, very light contact, original ribbons, better than very fine. Accompanied by copies of his Service Records, with many entries "blacked out".
Footnote: Harry Joseph O'Dell was born in 1927, in Hampton, King's County, New Brunswick. He was raised in Saint John, New Brunswick, the youngest of four boys and six girls, his hobbies including carving and drawing. He had a Grade 6 education and had been working for the New Brunswick Power Company for four months, when he signed his Attestation Paper as a Private (G8687) with the Canadian Army at No. 7 District Depot in Fredericton, New Brunswick, on February 24, 1945, naming his next-of-kin as his sister, Mrs. Marjorie Hope of Saint John, New Brunswick, stating that he had no previous military service, that he was Single and that his trade was that of Labourer (Seaman). He volunteered for service in the Pacific Theatre on May 25, 1945 but was declared to have been underage for overseas service until July 23, 1945. Eight months after enlisting, Private O'Dell was discharged at No. 7 District Depot in Fredericton, New Brunswick, on October 25, 1945. For his Second World War service, he was awarded the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and the War Medal 1939-1945. His parents died in 1946, which necessitated a move elsewhere. O'Dell was a resident of Chatham, Kent, Ontario when he re-enlisted as a Private (SG 8687), for service in the Korean War with the Royal Canadian Infantry Corps, at No. 7 Personnel Depot in London, Ontario, on November 28, 1951, naming his next-of-kin as his sister, Mrs. Kathleen Gibbon of Saint John, New Brunswick, stating that he was Single, that his religion was Church of England and that he already had one brother in Korea. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment on December 7th. After six months training, he achieved the status of Leading Infantryman, embarking Canada for the Far East on May 12, 1952 and arriving in the Far East on May 27th. Five days later, he embarked Japan on June 1st, arriving in Korea the following day and was struck off strength to the 1st Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment on the 6th. Private O'Dell would serve in Korea with the 1st Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment for ten months, before leaving the Korean theatre on March 30, 1953 and arriving in Japan the following day. His Korean service now complete, he embarked the Far East on April 9, 1953 and arrived in Canada on April 23rd. For his Korean War service, he was awarded the Korea Medal and the United Nations Service Medal for Korea. He would later be awarded the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal for Korea, on March 13, 1992, the medal having been instituted in 1991. The award is confirmed in a letter from Rideau Hall dated February 2, 1993, signed by Gordon S. Lewis, Director, Honours. Upon arrival in Canada and still with the 1st Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment, he was posted to Petawawa. It was also here that he was admitted to hospital on August 18, 1953, where he would spend ten days, before being discharged from hospitalization on the 28th. Nine months after returning to Canada, he was assigned to the Royal Canadian Regiment in London on January 25, 1954, then posted to the RCR Depot on March 18th. His stay at the Depot would be a short one, as Private O'Dell was struck off strength to the 2nd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment on April 2, 1954 for service in Continental Europe. He embarked Canada on April 9, 1954, arriving in the United Kingdom on the 17th. The following day, he left the United Kingdom, arriving in the Netherlands (Holland) on April 19, 1954 and was posted to the Canadian Army, Continental Europe. In the Fall of 1954, he was hospitalized twice: from October 14th to the 18th and from November 30th to December 3rd, both times at No. 2 Field Ambulance, Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps. After fourteen months in Europe, he returned to Canada, embarking Continental Europe on June 10, 1955, arriving in Canada on June 21st, where he was posted to No. 2 Personnel Depot in Fredericton. SG 8687 Private Harry Joseph O'Dell, Royal Canadian Regiment was discharged from service on July 11, 1955, credited with having served in Canada, the Far East and Continental Europe. Upon discharge, the interviewer noted that "This man is interested in returning to sailing on lake boats; has had some experience along this line and is adequately suited to sailing."