The title KATCOM was applied to Korean troops who were attached tothe 1st. Commonwealth division. These soldiers were usually very youngand very 'green', in other words; barely trained.Some of them had a slight knowledge of English, most had to learn byexperience as they went along.

These men were scattered throughout the Division, serving with the assortednational units who made up 1 Com Div. They were deployed all the way alongthe line, from Div HQ through to the infantry sections.

The majority of these soldiers settled in well, despite living in aforeign environment trying to understand a foreign language, eatingstrange food, and putting up with strange people.

Many of these lads fought alongside the Australians, quite a few werekilled; many were wounded in action. The majority conducted themselves asworthy soldiers, in the face of adversity and discomfort.

The general conduct of the KATCOMS could not be faulted. Once they learntthat their Australian comrades stood and fought, so did they.This gives the distinct impression that the panic retreats, so oftenencountered with early Korean divisions, had mostly to do with poor leadershipand poor training, and the destruction of the ROK core divisions north of the Handuring the initial NK surprise attacks. The quality of the men who became KATCOMsoldiers left nothing to be desired.

In later years, these veteran KATCOM soldiers were so proud of whom they hadbecome that they formed their own KATCOM association.They function to this very day, and still seek out old Australiancomrades when the chance arises. The Diggers are proud to call them MATE.