Volume 71, Issue 2 Spring 2017 Published Online May 25, 2017

Taro Leaf

24th Infantry Division Association The Official Publication of the 24th Infantry Division Association - Founded 1945

WWII Cover Story Page 4

Volume 71, Issue #2 SPRING 2017 President Editor Dear Taro Leafers First to Fight Victory! In February, Gene Spicer and John Dunn met with Fort Stewart 24th Divi- This issue of the Taro Leaf features sion Desert Shield/Desert Storm veter- stories from our World War II veterans. ans at their annual meeting. Gene and Unfortunately, the passage of time is John enjoyed their hospitality and inter- slowly taking our WWII vets and rob- est in our Association and invited them bing us of their memories. And those to our reunion September 11 through memories are important. 15 in Pooler, GA, (near Savannah and Fort Stewart). JW Stern- Those memories are important for our Association and important ickle, Taro Leaf editor, sent several copies of the Taro Leaf win- for us as a nation. Tom Brokaw called the veterans of WWII, “The ter edition to help with recruiting. John said that 15 new members Greatest Generation.” We must remember their service and sac- joined our Association. rifice. As long as we preserve their memories and stories, they will never be truly “gone.” That is true of all our 24th ID vets, but Tom Appler just let us know that the Medal of Honor plaque has especially for those from the WWII and Korean War eras that time shipped to New York to be finally mounted on the granite monu- is taking from us. ment. Gene Spicer will transport the completed monument to Fort Stewart, and it will be installed in time for our reunion. A special Every year we lose more and more of our Taro Leaf brothers. This thanks goes to Dan Rickert for covering the shipping costs to get issue of the Taro Leaf lists more than 20 names in our Fallen Com- the plaque to New York. rades section. It is the mission of the Taro Leaf to tell their stories and preserve their memories. But the only way to do that is with Complete reunion details will be available on our website your help. (www.24thida.com). Highlights, in addition to our Memorial Ban- Please continue to send in your stories and photos. Share your quet, will include a tour of Savannah, a Savannah riverboat cruise, wartime, and peacetime, experiences in the 24th Infantry Division. a tour of Fort Stewart, and the dedication of our Medal of Honor I need stories from all eras: WWII, the Occupation of Japan, Korea, monument near the 24th Infantry Division Desert Storm Memorial. Germany, Fort Stewart, Desert Storm, and our time at Fort Riley. I am glad to get any account, including lesser-known stories about The registration form for the 2017 Reunion is on page 24. We hope deployments to Lebanon or Somalia. I would even be happy to to have full details about the reunion tours posted on the website. hear about exercises at Graf in Germany or your trip to the Na- For those who cannot access the website, you can contact me tional Training Center in California. or George Vlasic. Our phone numbers and e-mail addresses are listed inside the front cover of the Taro Leaf. If you don’t see your story submission right away, don’t worry. Sto- ries are being spread out across four issues throughout the year. Please look for the Verbeck Award nomination information in this My goal is to provide a good balance of stories, and for all our issue and send your nominations to Don Brunner. members to be represented in some way, in every issue of the Taro Leaf. But, that means if I have too many stories about a particular The Association needs to elect a new slate of officers in Savannah. era like Korea, or Desert Storm, then I might have to hold your I can only finish this current term as President due to other commit- story until a future issue. I can never receive too many stories and ments. Don Brunner and John Dunn would like to end their tenures photos. as Vice President and Secretary/Treasurer, respectively. I look forward to seeing your stories soon. We look forward to seeing y’all this September in Georgia. JW Sternickle Best wishes, Editor Editor - The Taro Leaf Don Maggio 21541 Wolf Lake Court President Crest Hill, IL 60403 Email - [email protected]

SPRING 2017 - 2 - Volume 71, Issue #2 Officers, Directors & Staff 24th Infantry Division Association In This Issue President: Don Maggio: 24th Admin, Germany & Fort Riley 411 Concord Rd. Fletcher, NC 2872-9734 President’s Message ………...... 2 ph (828) 684-5931, [email protected] Editor’s Message ...... 2 Vice President: Donald Bruner: A Co/2nd Inf, Germany Cover Story: 24th ID During WWII ...... 4 2510 Homestead Loop, Enid, OK. 73703 ph (580) 233-3898 (H), (580) 977-4037 (C) WWII – A Personal Look Back ………...... …... 7 [email protected] Names on the Flag (WWII) ...... 8 Secretary/Treasurer: John A. Dunn: 2nd Inf Medal of Honor Project ……………...... …… 9 9150 Hwy. 51, Westover, AL 35147-9527 ph (205) 678-6165, [email protected] Vet Survived Tiger Death March ……...... …… 12 Flak Kaserne in Germany ……...... ….…. 12 Board of Directors Dir.-At-Large: George Vlasic, 21st RGT, (910) 287-5618 Letters ……...... … 13 Dir.-At-Large: John Burgess, (954) 923-0358, FL Fallen Comrades ……...... … 14 Permanent Board Members (Past Presidents) Donors …...... ….… 17 Thomas M. Appler (2014-16), 24th S&T Bn, (410) 861-7950, MD Sal Schillaci (2010-12), 24th RECON, (716) 837-1635, NY TAPS ………………………...... …… 18 Melvin L. Frederick (2008-10), 19th RGT New Members …………...... … 18 Summer (507) 455-1639; Winter (760) 772-7909 Gene E. Spicer (2006-08), 19th RGT, (812) 521-2324, IN A True Warrior …...... 19 Wes Morrison (2003-06), 21st RGT, (831) 883-2156, CA Q & A ...... 20 Vincent Gagliardo (1993-94), 5th RCT, (415) 279-1982, CA Albert McAdoo (1991-92), 5th RCT, (813) 837-2728, FL Membership Application/Renewal ………...... 21 Donald C. Rosenblum (1987-88), Div. HQ, (912) 233-6717, GA Verbeck Award Nominations …...... 21 Warren C. Avery (1986-87), 21st RGT, (203) 239-3406, CT Donald C. Williams (1968-69), 34th RGT, (586) 566-4627, MI North to the Yalu ...... … 22 Reunion Information …...... 24 Taro Leaf Editor: JW Sternickle, HHC, 24th ID, Desert Storm 21541 Wolf Lake Court, Crest Hill, IL 60403 Honor Our WWII Veterans …...... 25 ph (815) 436-4786 (Please leave a message.) Desert Storm Cruise …...... 27 Associate Editor: Melanie Hansen, ph (630) 788-9001 Reunions ...... … 27 Review Editor: Heidi Edgar, [email protected] Names Added to Desert Storm Memorial ... 28 Historian: George Z. Padar, A Co. 5/32nd Armour, Germany 3508 Moylan Dr., Bowie, MD 20715 Children of Yesterday (WWII) ...... … 29 ph (301) 466-7536(C), [email protected] History Help Needed ...... … 29 Membership: John Burgess, 1/13th Artillery, Germany Next Issue ...... … 31 P.O. Box 21085 Ft. Lauderdale FL 33335 ph (954) 923-0358, [email protected] Verbeck Award Nomination Form ...... … 31

Quartermaster: John Walters, 1st Bde Taro Leaf, Volume 71, Issue 2, Spring 2017 313 Heritage Overlook, GA 30188 The Taro Leaf is the official quarterly publication of the ph (954) 328-5344, [email protected] 24th Infantry Division Association and is published by and for its members. Opinions expressed or implied are solely those Chaplain: Darrell Williams, Chaplain 3/15th Inf, Desert Storm of their author(s), and not necessarily those of the Editor, the 1341 Hickory Lane, Morristown, TN 37813 Association, or the Department of the Army. ph (423) 312-4752, [email protected] The Taro Leaf is printed in Jacksonville, Florida, and mailed Webmaster: Darrell Williams from the Jacksonville, Florida U.S. Post Office. ph (423) 312-4752, [email protected] Taro Leaf, Summer, Issue 3, Vol. 71 COMING Deadline for submissions: 07/01/2017 Association Website - www.24thida.com UP NEXT Delivered to members by: 08/15/2017

Volume 71, Issue #2 - 3 - SPRING 2017 The 24th ID During WWII he 24th Infantry Division traces its line- nance Company, the 24th Quartermaster Com- age to Army units activated in Hawaii. pany, the 24th Reconnaissance Troop, the 3rd TThe “Hawaiian Division” was activated Engineer Battalion, the 24th Medical Battalion, on March 1, 1921, at Schofield Barracks, Oahu. and the 24th Counter Intelligence Detachment. The division’s insignia is based on the taro leaf. Taro is a staple of the native Hawaiian diet and WORLD WAR II at the core of the Hawaiian culture. Hawaiians The 24th Infantry Division was among the first believe the taro plant to be sacred. US Army divisions to see combat in World War II and among the last to stop fighting. The di- Between August and September, 1941, the Ha- vision was on Oahu, with its headquarters at waiian Division was reorganized to form two Schofield Barracks, when the Japanese launched divisions: The 24th and 25th Infantry Divisions. their attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. Hawaiian Division headquarters was redesig- The unit suffered casualties during the attack. nated as Headquarters for the 24th Infantry Di- Among these casualties were Sgt. Paul J. Fadon, vision on October 1, 1941. Pvt. Walter R. French, Pfc. Conrad Kujawa, Pvt. Torao Migita, and Cpt. Theodore J. Lewis (Lewis was the 24th Infantry Division’s first soldier killed during WWII).

The division was then charged with the defense of northern Oahu, where it built an elaborate system of coastal defenses throughout 1942. In July, 1942, the 299th Infantry Regiment was replaced by the 298th Infantry Regiment. One year later, this regiment was replaced by the 34th Infantry Regiment from the Hawaiian De- partment Reserve. The 34th Infantry remained with the 24th Infantry Division until the end of the war. As an active component unit, the 34th was easier to deploy than the reserve component units, which were less trained.

HOLLANDIA In May, 1943, the 24th Infantry Division was alerted for movement to Australia, and it completed the move to Camp Caves, on the eastern coast of Australia, by Sept. 19, 1943. Once de- The division was centered around three infan- ployed, it began intensive combat training. Af- try regiments: the 19th Infantry Regiment and ter training, the division moved to Goodenough the 21st Infantry Regiment from the Active duty Island on Jan. 31, 1944, to prepare for Operation force, and the 299th Infantry Regiment from Reckless, the amphibious capture of Hollandia, the Hawaii National Guard. Also attached to the Netherlands New Guinea (now Jayapura, Papua division were the 13th Field Artillery Battalion, province, Indonesia). the 52nd Field Artillery Battalion, the 63rd Field Artillery Battalion, the 11th Field Artillery Bat- The 24th ID During WWII talion, the 24th Signal Company, the 724th Ord Continued On Page 6

SPRING 2017 - 4 - Volume 71, Issue #2 Cover Story

Major General Aubrey S. “Red” Newman rallies his troops during the landing at Leyte. Newman commanded the 34th Infantry Regiment of the 24th Infantry Division during the Philippines Campaign in World War II. His cry of, “Get the hell off the beach! Get up and get moving! Follow Me!” at Leyte rallied his troops and has inspired American infantrymen for decades. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the Army’s second-highest award for bravery, for his actions during this battle.

“I have returned.” General MacArthur returned to the Philippines on Oct. 20, 1944, at Red Beach, the 24th ID’s Leyte landing site. The iconic photo of the event is re-created in 10-foot tall, larger-than-life bronze statues at the MacArthur Landing Memorial National Park. Also known as the Leyte Landing Memorial Park, this is a protected area in the Philippines that commemorates the historic landing of MacArthur in the Leyte Gulf at the start of the campaign to recapture and liberate the Philippines from Japanese occupation.

Volume 71, Issue #2 - 5 - SPRING 2017 The 24th ID During WWII zon. Elements of the 24th Infantry Division ef- Continued From Page 4 fected a landing on Marinduque Island. Other elements supported the 11th Airborne Division The 24th landed at Tanahmerah Bay on April drive from Nasugbu to Manila. 22, 1944, and seized the important Hollandia Airdrome despite torrential rain and marshy LUZON terrain. Shortly after the Hollandia landing, The 24th Division was among the 200,000 men the division’s 34th Infantry Regiment moved of the Sixth Army moved to recapture Luzon to Biak to reinforce the 41st Infantry Division. with the help of regular and constable troops of The regiment captured Sorido and Borokoe air- the Philippine Commonwealth Army and Phil- dromes before returning to the division on Hol- ippine Constabulary. The division’s 34th Infan- landia in July. try Regiment landed at San Antonio, Zambales, on Jan. 29, 1945, and ran into a furious battle on The 41st and 24th divisions isolated 40,000 Jap- Zig Zag Pass, where it suffered heavy casualties. anese forces south of the landings. Despite resistance from the isolated Japanese forces in the On Feb. 16, 1945, the 3rd Battalion, 34th Infan- area, the 24th Infantry Division advanced rap- try took part in the amphibious landing on Cor- idly through the region. In two months, the 24th regidor and fought the Japanese on the well-de- Division crossed the entirety of New Guinea. fended island. The rest of the division landed at Sablayan, Mindoro, on Feb. 19 and cleared the remainder of the island and engaged in numer- The division’s 34th Infantry Regiment ous mopping-up actions before moving south to ran into a furious battle on Zig Zag Pass, attack through Basilan. where it suffered heavy casualties. On April 17, 1945, the division landed at Mind- anao, cut across the island to Digos, stormed LEYTE into Davao on May 3, and cleared the Libby air- After occupation duty in the Hollandia area, the drome on May 13. Although the campaign offi- 24th Division was assigned to X Corps of the cially closed on June 30, the division continued Sixth United States Army in preparation for the to clear up Japanese resistance during July and invasion of the Philippines. On Oct. 20, 1944, the August, 1945. division was paired with the 1st Cavalry Divi- sion within X Corps, and the two divisions made The 24th Infantry Division and the Philippine an assault landing at Leyte, initially encoun- Commonwealth Military patrolled the region tering only light resistance. Following a defeat until the official surrender of Japan ended the at sea on October 26, the Japanese launched a war. On Oct. 15, 1945, the division left Mindanao large, uncoordinated counteroffensive against for occupation duty on mainland Japan. It oc- the Sixth Army. The 24th Division drove up the cupied Kyūshū, the third largest island of Japan, Leyte Valley, advanced to Jaro and captured from 1945 until 1950. Breakneck Ridge on Nov. 12, 1944, in heavy fighting. Four soldiers were awarded the Medal of Honor during their service with the 24th Infantry Di- While final clearing operations continued on vision during World War II. They were James H. Leyte, the 24th Division’s 19th Infantry Regi- Diamond, Charles E. Mower, Harold H. Moon, ment moved to Mindoro Island as part of the Jr., and Francis B. Wai. Members of the 24th In- Western Visayan Task Force and landed in the fantry Division also won 15 Distinguished Serv- San Jose area on Dec. 15, 1944. There, it secured ice Crosses, two Distinguished Service Medals, airfields and a patrol base for operations on Lu- 625 Silver Star Medals, 38 Soldier’s Medals, 2,197 Bronze Star Medals, and 50 Air Medals.

SPRING 2017 - 6 - Volume 71, Issue #2 Company G -A Personal Look Back By Howard J. Piehl 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th ID was 91 years old when I decided to write down some of my memories of my experi- Iences as a soldier in the US Army during WWII, serving in the Southwest Pacific Area.

I have forgotten some of the details, but the memories of the tough times, the battles, invasions and the loss of fellow soldiers remains viv- idly in my mind.

I was drafted in the Army on February 7, 1942. I was a member of the Army Infantry, a foot soldier. Everything we did and accomplished was on foot. One step after another.

After a short basic training at Camp Walters, Texas, I was sent to Hawaii for more training and joined the 24th Infantry Division.

WWII - A Personal Look Back Continued On Page 26

US troops come ashore in New Guinea. The 24th ID fought its way across the Pacific, hopping from island to island.

Volume 71, Issue #2 - 7 - SPRING 2017 THE SPOILS OF WAR - US troops display enemy flags captured during the island-hopping campaign in the Pacific. The “Names On The Flag” n 1999, Debbie Anthony’s husband, Cliff, was The veterans who signed the flag were all from given an old Japanese flag, dating back to the 34th Infantry Regiment of the 24th Infantry IWorld War II, that contained the signatures Division. It is unknown exactly when or where of 189 U.S. soldiers. The soldiers who signed they signed it. Most of the men were from I that flag were from the 24th Infantry Division. Company, some were from K and C Companies.

Anthony’s husband was delivering auto parts to The flag originated in the Philippines then a garage in Limestone, NY, when he first came traveled to Japan. According to Anthony, this is across the flag. The garage owner, while talking proven by the fact that some men who signed to Anthony’s husband, started to rip up a box of the flag were stationed only in the Philippines, rags. At the bottom of the box was a 3 ½ foot by some were in both the Philippines and Japan, 5 ½ foot Japanese flag. and some were stationed only in Japan. Cop- ies of discharge papers and family records help The garage owner unfolded the flag and asked prove this theory. How and when the flag got to if anyone wanted it. If not, he was going to burn the United States is still unknown. it. Anthony’s husband rescued the flag before it went into the fire. That was just the beginning of the flag’s long journey from the Philippine Is- Names On The Flag lands back to the soldiers who signed it. Continued On Page 10

SPRING 2017 - 8 - Volume 71, Issue #2 Medal of Honor Project Nearing Its Completion The final stages of the 24th Infantry Division’s Medal of Honor project are underway. The hope is to dedicate the monument at Fort Stewart, Georgia, during the 24th Infantry Division As- sociation reunion in September, 2017.

The memorial’s plaque was shipped in March from storage in California to the Stone Art Memorial Company in Lackawanna, NY. Mounting holes have been drilled in the memorial’s granite base, and the base and plaque have been re-packed for ship- ment to Savannah, GA. The plan is for BG Gene Spicer to travel This photo was taken at the public preview of the MOH plaque to Lackawanna, NY, to pick up the monument and plaque and held at the Saddleback College Gallery. (From left) Artist David deliver them to a monument company in Savannah. Freda, Bill Nihan, (Board of Trustees, Saddleback College), Dan Rickert (24th IDA), Project Coordinator Larry Jones, and Mar- The 24th IDA is working to place the monument permanently at sha Miltecher (Board of Trustees, Saddleback College). Fort Stewart, Georgia, near Savannah. Talks with post officials “It was a pleasure to be involved in the 24th Infantry Medal of are ongoing. Fort Stewart was the home of the 24th Infantry Honor project,” said Jones. “It was an honor to recognize the 14 Division from 1975 to 1999. Medal of Honor recipients.” The MOH monument specifically recognizes the 14 soldiers of The beautiful bronze plaque for the monument was primarily the 24th ID who were awarded the Medal of Honor. Of those crafted by David Freda. He is a professional jeweler, silver- 14 Medal of Honor recipients, four were from World War II and smith, and educator. Freda designed one-of-a-kind enameled ten were from Korea. The 24th ID received the most Medals of orchids, butterflies and sea-oriented brooches for Tiffany and Honor out of any unit in the U.S. Army serving in Korea. Company in New York from 2003 through 2017. Many people have been involved in the project, but two people Freda integrates the art of taxidermy with traditional metal- have played key artistic roles in bringing the Medal of Honor smithing techniques including mold-making, casting, fabrica- monument to fruition. These artists are Larry Jones and David tion and enameling. He developed a technique for firing high Freda. temperature glass enamels onto aluminum. Larry Jones, a professor at Saddleback College of Sculpture in Freda has also taught and lectured at many universities and art California, volunteered his services to be the coordinator for the centers. His work is in permanent private collections, museums Medal of Honor project. Jones was born in Los Angeles, CA, and art centers across the country and around the world, includ- and served two years in the US Army from 1964 to 1966. ing: the Victoria and Albert Museum in the UK, Mengei Interna- Jones studied art at East Los Angeles College, Cal State Uni- tional Museum in San Diego, the Museum of Art and Design in versity - Long Beach, and Cal State University at San Jose. He New York, the National Gallery of Australia, and The Enamel has a Master’s Degree in fine arts and specializes in ceramic Arts Foundation, Los Angeles, CA. shell casting and sculpture art foundry. Information provided by Tom Appler.

We Need Your Stories! Send your Photos and Letters to: The TARO LEAF EDITOR 21541 Wolf Lake Court, Crest Hill, IL 60403 Or Email Information to: [email protected]

Volume 71, Issue #2 - 9 - SPRING 2017 Names On The Flag Continued From Page 8 All this information is thanks to the efforts of Debbie Anthony, who decided in 2014 to track down the families of the 189 soldiers who originally signed the flag. As of this story’s writing (April, 2017), Anthony has located 177 of the 189 families.

“My daughter and I wrote all the names and addresses that were on the flag, taking close- up pictures of each,” Anthony explained. “The more pictures I took, the more connected I felt and the more I knew that these men and their families needed to be found.”

There are a total of 189 soldiers’ names on the flag. Some have complete addresses, some have just names. To make things more interesting, Anthony learned that some addresses were for family,” said Anthony. “Some days we found as a soldier’s hometown, while other addresses many as three or four families, some days we were where a solider enlisted. found none.”

With the help of a few military sites, internet Anthony and her daughter first did an alphabet- searches, online phone records, ancestry.com, ical order search. But many of the names were newspapers.com and other sources, Anthony common, like Jones and Smith, and that made located 167 families in her first 17 months of searching difficult. So they changed tactics and searching. Thirteen veterans were found alive. looked for the more unique names on the flag. In speaking to the WWII vets that were still “Some days a name just pops out at you and you alive, Anthony explained they all said they think this is the day I will find this man and their signed many flags. Two of the living men recalled possibly signing this flag along with other Japanese flags during the war.

Anthony found that many families had smaller flags signed by both Japanese and US service men. When the Japanese soldiers went into battle, they carried a small flag in their breast pock- et that was usually written with well wishes from their families. Many Americans took the flags as spoils of war.

But Anthony has done more than just find the “names” on the flag; she has worked to reunite the flag with the soldiers who originally signed it, as well as their families. The flag has been put on “tour,” traveling across the country, passing from family to family.

SPRING 2017 - 10 - Volume 71, Issue #2 “It’s been blessed in churches, it’s been in a couple of VA centers, it’s been in a VA hospital, and The Names On The Flag at family reunions, and at weddings, and every place in between,” said Anthony when asked These are 12 “Names” on the flag that are still a mystery. about where her historic flag has been. James L Adams: RT 2, Goodwater, AL

One of the people that Anthony contacted Ed J. Bradley: Castleberry, AL about the flag was Case VanderMaas. His fa- Rex Cummings: Key West, FL ther-in-law was one of the soldiers who originally signed the flag. Robert W. Griffin

William G. Holecheck: 235 So. 53rd Street, Tacoma, WA “She called us on the phone and asked if we were (Anthony made contact with a family member twice, but did relatives of Gerald Idema. From there she told not receive any return calls.) us what she had found, how it came to be. And Harry G. Johnson: Rte #4, Box 15, Milaca, MN from there, it just kind of snowballed down,” said VanderMaas.”My father-in-law never once Thomas A Munsey: Hansonville, VA spoke of the war. To get him to talk about it was (Anthony was told that there was a feud in this family over moonshine. Many of the brothers and sons parted ways in very, very difficult. Never, once, did he say any- the 1940’s, and some changed the spelling of the name. thing about signing any flag. To be able to see Anthony was told that all the Munsey’s were related in that that flag, and to touch it and to see where he town, but after the feud many left and were never heard from signed it - it brings back a lot of memories.” again.) John N. Noriega When families receive the flag, they keep it for a (In paperwork Anthony received from other families, this couple of weeks and then send it off to the next man’s address was 1606 29th Ave, Tampa, FL) family on the list. VanderMaas said that passing Joseph Rodriguez it along is a bittersweet thought. Herman Snoek: Rte 7, Box 5570, Sacramento, CA (A relative had made a couple comments on Anthony’s Face- “I understand it’s been around to about 50-plus book page, but would not answer her in a private message. families already, and so we’ve had our turn and About a year ago, Anthony tracked down the family in the let’s let somebody else have their turn,” state of Washington. She left several messages but received no return calls.)

Daniel W. Thompson: 625 Barrett Avenue, Louisville, KY

Elmer E. Westbrook: 535 Street, MI (Name in the red circle of the flag and very hard to read.) If you have any information about these soldiers, please contact Debbie Anthony.

Email: debbie1670101@gmail,com Home Phone: 814-368-4785 Cell Phone: 814-596-2628 Address:189 Hedgehog Lane Bradford, PA 16701

VanderMaas said. “Just to see a piece of history Anthony currently has a Facebook page where families can like that - not many people get that chance, and share their stories and photos and learn more about the flag. it’s a good reminder that freedom isn’t free.” Search for “Names on the Flag” on Facebook for more info. She is also planning on creating a full website devoted to the “Names on the Flag” project. Information provided by Debbie Anthony

Volume 71, Issue #2 - 11 - SPRING 2017 Memories of 1960’s Flak Kaserne in Germany I was stationed with the division headquarters company at Flak Kaserne in the early 1960s. When I visited Germa- ny in 2006, a large part of the Kaserne had been leveled. It is my understanding it is now completely gone.

I have no idea when this pho- to was taken. The thing that amazes me is the incredible length of the barracks building. I recall looking down the main hallway when all the doors were opened and you could barely see the end. Larry Romo 24th ID Vet Survived Tiger Death March Lupe G. Rodriguez was a 17-year-old farm boy when he joined Living in Karnes City, Rodriguez was just along for the ride when the Army in 1948. Sent to work as a medic in Japan, Rodriguez he traveled to San Antonio with friends who were going to join was deployed to South Korea in 1950 after the Soviet-backed the Army. When invited to sign up by the recruiter, Rodriguez North Koreans crossed the 38th parallel, sparking a war. did so and was soon in basic training at Fort Ord in California.

“He was with the 24th Infantry Division,” his son, Daniel Ro- Trained as a medic, which suited his desire to help others, Rod- driguez, said. “At first they were successful, but as more and riguez was working in a hospital in Japan when the Korean War more Koreans joined the fight, they were pushed back. He was started. His division, the 24th Infantry Division, was the first to captured before they reached the Pusan Perimeter,” where arrive in Korea. a major battle between U.N. forces and North Koreans was fought. Captured by the North Koreans, Rodriguez survived what was later named the Tiger Death March. He was one of fewer than Rodriguez, a prisoner of war for almost three years, endured 200 American soldiers to return from the POW camp in 1953. captivity under the command of The Tiger, a North Korean of- Rodriguez received a medical discharge around 1961. ficer who was notoriously brutal. Even though he survived to return home, marry and start a family, Rodriguez remained “My dad received three Bronze Stars for each year he spent haunted by his experience for the rest of his life. there,” Daniel Rodriguez said. Rodriguez also received a Pur- ple Heart for the torture he endured in the camp. “He always told me, “You never know when things are going to end for you - pursue what you want to do, make yourself hap- Rodriguez passed away Jan. 18, 2017. He was 86 years old. py,” Daniel Rodriguez explained. “I think he was thinking about the war, the people he had known; after seeing what he saw.” Story by Mary Mills Heidbrink Born into a family of migrant workers, Rodriguez dropped out of San Antonio Express-News school in the ninth grade to help support his family.

SPRING 2017 - 12 - Volume 71, Issue #2 Letters And Items From The Internet SO MUCH I WOULD LIKE TO FORGET more dismounted operations. My first company commander I was in New Guinea, Leyte, Somalia, Mindoro, Luzon, and was Captain Tom Baker. Him and 1st. Sgt Witfield were two of Mindanao in Regiment 19, Co. L. There are many things the best soldiers I ever met. I hope I spelled Top’s name right. I could write, but so much I would like to forget. Don’t want to be in the front leaning rest at my age.

The 3rd Battalion was sent to Luzon to relieve part of the Phil Mammina 82nd Airborne. We found there were 1000 enemy outside Ft. Top of the Rock, First to Fight McKinley. They were given the opportunity to surrender but would not.The battle started at 7 A.M. and was finished at 1 P.M. In our company, we started with 210 men and came I THOUGHT IT WAS ALL OVER FOR ME! out with 96. All enemy were dead. While serving in the Korean War, we were building a road After leaving the service, I became a Baptist preacher and through the mountains due to the muddy existing roads. I was have been one for 67 years. I am still active at the age of 92. in my jeep delivering plans to our foreman. The road is only one and a half lanes wide with turnouts. James Edge A tank turned a corner about 300 feet ahead, coming towards me. The tank was gaining speed toward me. I thought it was all over for me! However, the tank shot up on the bank, FORT STEWART, GEORGIA missing me by inches. I’ll bet they’re still laughing. REMEMBERING “CAMP SWAMPY” I was stationed at Camp Swampy near Hooterville from May When I returned to base, I looked up the chaplain. 1983 until July 84. I was in C Co., 3/19 Infantry. I don’t have any war stories to tell because it was peace time, the Cold Roland H. Tremblay War. We did train like we were going to war. Cypress, CA

It’s funny that we trained for Desert Storm seven several years before it happened. Our focus was fighting the Russians or Iranians. The Iraqis were the good guys cause they were kill- WORLD WAR II - THE SOUTH PACIFIC ing Iranians and Saddam was our buddy. Gen. Schwarzkopf Our outfit was the 24th ID, 34th Battery. We were in Australia. was our division commander Gen. McChrystal was command- I’d just arrived in the 34 when we left Hawaii. I didn’t know any er of A Co., 3/19 Inf and Gen. Petraeus was a staff officer at of the men, so I kept to myself. I got a lot of comments from Div. HQ. I think Petraeus may have left before Schwarzkopf the guys about being a loner. I survived. took command, not sure of that. Once in Queensland, Australia, I began to get acquainted. At that time we rode in the M113A1 tracks and tankers rode in Unfortunately, I began talking too much. I said something to the M60A3 Patton tanks. Our attack helicopters were Cobras, Al Jorgensen (a corporal) and we were ready to fight. Our fists but we did have Blackhawks for air assault ops. We spent a lot were clenched, we moved around each other looking for an of time tearing up the landscape with our tracks. Metz DZ was opening. A crowd gathered and shouted for a fight. the main AO for training. I worked with many hard charging young troops who were very patriotic and could soldier with You know what? No fight was made, and Al and I became the the best. Yes, we did have our duds too but they didn’t last best of friends, even after we were home in the good old USA. long. I’m now 93 years old, in good health, and I still drive my old Pontiac. Before my ETS date we started training for combat in Central America. We used Mech tactics similar to the Vietnam era Bill “Jr.” Vickers, for jungle ops. Was very interesting because we conducted Life Member

Volume 71, Issue #2 - 13 - SPRING 2017 Fallen Comrades Primitivo C. “Junior” Harley H. Joseph, 89, of Miami, FL, passed away Cardon, Jr., 84, of Las February 23, 2017. He served in the 24th Division in Ja- Cruces, NM, died Oct. 29, pan (1947-48) and was a member of several military or- 2015. Mr. Cardon proudly ganizations. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, San- served his country during the dra. Condolences may be sent to the family at 10644 Korean War with two enlist- Kendale Blvd., Miami, FL 33176. ments, first with the Army LIFE MEMBER and then with the Marine Corps. He served in the Mary L. Brown, 84, of Muskegon, MI, passed away 24th Infantry Division, 28th February 17, 2017. She is survived by her husband of 66 Battalion, C Battery and years, a Life Member of the 24th IDA, George M. Brown. the 5th Regimental Combat SPOUSE OF MEMBER Team. During his military service, Mr. Cardon was Rodney F. “Rod” Stock, 86, passed away on March awarded numerous medals, including the Bronze Star 7, 2017 in Fernley, NV. He will be buried in the Fernley Medal, Korean SVC Medal w/3 Bronze SVC Stars, Veterans Cemetery in a private ceremony. Rod served Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal with Tank Company, 343th Infantry, in Korea during the and Korean PUC. period 1955-56. He is survived his wife, Carol. Condo- Mr. Cardon was an avid boxer during his military service lences may be sent to the family at 204 Quail Run Rd., and became the Armed Forces Boxing Champion. He Fernley, NV 89408. also worked at the White Sands Missile Range Stallion LIFE MEMBER Site. Mr. Cardon loved to attend military reunions to stay in touch with his fellow combat veterans, and he espe- James S. Reed, 88, of Memphis, TN, died on April cially loved returning to San Diego, California, where he 19, 2006. He was a 1st Sgt and was the recipient of the had been previously stationed while in the military. He Silver Star for Gallantry in Action in 1945. was a member of the U.S. Marine Corps League-El Per- LIFE MEMBER ro Diablo, as well as other local military organizations in Las Cruces, NM. LIFE MEMBER Eugene L. “Gene” Greenwalt, 88, of St. Charles “Charlie” William Wagner, 88, of Wash- Libory, NE, died Saturday, ington, DC, died January 16, 2017. He was drafted into Feb. 11, 2017. He served the United States Army on February 21, 1951. He served in the United States Army during the Korean War from February 21, 1951 to Janu- during the Korean War from ary 28, 1953, and obtained the rank of Corporal. Charles March, 1951, until his dis- was a life member of The Veterans of Foreign Wars, charge in Dec., 1952. In Post Number 482 in Forestville, MD, and served as Post Nov., 1951, Gene received Commander 1964-1965. He was also a life member of the Purple Heart after being the Non-Commissioned Officers Association and AM- wounded in battle. He was a VETS National Headquarters in Lanham, MD. He was member of Knights of Co- a member of the 24th Infantry Division Association, Na- lumbus Council No. 1918 tional Museum of the United States Army, Army Histori- of St. Paul, Mickelsen Larkowski American Legion Post cal Foundation, Commanders Cub, Disabled American 241 of Dannebrog, Military Order of Purple Heart USA Veterans, and Korean War Veterans Association, Inc. No. 0632 and the Platt-Duetsche, both of Grand Island. Charlie received the Honor Degree of Veterans of For- He is survived by his wife, Helen. Memories and con- eign Wars – Military Order of the Cootie on January 1, dolences may be shared with Gene’s family by visiting 1977. www.petersfuneralhome.net. MEMBER LIFE MEMBER

SPRING 2017 - 14 - Volume 71, Issue #2 James Leon Davenport, Florentino “Flo” Gonzales, 88, died on March 2, 90, Maj. (ret), of Blairsville, 2017, in Irapuato Mexico. Flo was a member of Com- GA, passed away on Janu- pany B, 21st Infantry Regiment of the 24th Infantry and ary 5, 2017. Leon served of Task Force Smith. Task Force Smith was rushed from in World War II, the Korean Japan to Korea in early July, 1950. It consisted of 540 War, the Vietnam War, and men, including medical and artillery, to meet the onrush- the Cold War. During his ing force of 100,000 North Koreans. distinguished military career, which began in 1944, he Flo volunteered to stay behind with the wounded after his rose through the ranks from unit was overrun by the NK Army and became a POW private to major, receiving on July 5, 1950, spending more than 37 months in brutal a battlefield commission in captivity with the Tiger Survivors group. 58% perished Korea in 1953. He was a in captivity. member of the 24th Infantry Division. Leon is survived by his wife of 63 years, Barbara. Leon will be interred in Flo was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA, in May, 2017. two Purple Heart Medals, as well as many other medals. LIFE MEMBER A suggestion was made to proceed with recommenda- See Story Page 19 tions to upgrade his DSC to the Medal of Honor, but Flo did not want to do that. He is the highest decorated of the Tiger Survivor Group. He served in Vietnam and attained Lupe G. Rodriguez, 86, from San Antonio, TX, died the rank of Master Sergeant. He then retired from the January 18, 2017. He joined the Army at the age of 17 Army for 15 years before serving again and then retiring and was trained as a medic and sent to work in a hospi- for a second time. tal in Japan. Lupe was deployed to South Korea in 1950 when the Korean War broke out. He was with the 24th Howard W. Struecker, Infantry Division, the first division to arrive in Korea. Just 92, of West Bend, IA, before the 24th ID reached the Pusan Perimeter, the passed away on January 24, location of a major battle between the U.N. forces and 2017. He served his country North Korea, Lupe was captured by The Tiger, a North in the United States Army Korean officer who was notoriously brutal. He was one from 1944-1946. Howard of fewer than 200 American soldiers to return from the was a proud member of the POW camp in 1953, having survived the Tiger Death United States Armed Forces, March. He received a medical discharge around 1961. where he was awarded Lupe received three Bronze Stars for each year in Korea. many citations, including He also received a Purple Heart for the torture he en- Combat Infantry Badge, dured in the camp. Lupe is survived by his wife, Maria. Good Conduct Medal, See Story Page 12 Victory Medal, Army Occu- pation Meritorious United Award, Asiatic Pacific WW II Victory Combat Action, Philippines Defense Occupation Robert Ray Service, Philippines Liberation, Marksman MI Rifle, and “Bob” Smith , 85, of the Bronze Star Medal. He was preceded in death by his Livermore, CA, died wife Eunice. on Saturday January MEMBER 21, 2017. At the age of 16, he enlisted in the US Army. After Basic Training, he was sent to Japan, Thomas Petso, 94, of Aurora, CO, passed away Feb- where he was stationed ruary 6, 2017. Tom was an intelligence platoon sergeant with the 19th Infantry with the 24th Infantry Division during WWII and a Pearl Regiment, 24th Infantry Harbor survivor. He received a military funeral at Fort Lo- Division. At the outbreak gan National Cemetery, Denver. He is survived by his of the Korean War, he wife, Katherine. was sent to Pusan. See Photo Page 25

Volume 71, Issue #2 - 15 - SPRING 2017 Howard J. Piehl, 99, Donald “Don” R. Pierce, 84, of Baraboo, WI, passed of Bismarck, ND, died Jan- away on July 5, 2016. At the age of 18, he enlisted in uary 8, 2017. He was the United States Army. Don served as a sergeant in the drafted into the US Army 24th Infantry during the Korean War and was honorably on February 7, 1942, at discharged. He is survived by his wife, Patricia. Fort Snelling, St. Paul, LIFE MEMBER MN, and served in WWII. While serving with the 21st infantry, 24th Theodore S. “Ted” Division in the South Jansen, 87, of Leesburg, Pacific, Howard was FL, passed away on January engaged in numerous 23, 2017. Ted served as a combat missions, in- Corporal on the front lines in cluding Goodenough Island, New Guinea, Leyte, and Korea from 1951-53 with the the Mindoro-Mindanao invasions in the Philippines. 24th Division’s 19th Infantry Howard was highly decorated, and he was most proud of Regiment, 4.2” Heavy Mor- his Bronze Star. He was honorably discharged on Nov. tars Company. He was a 7, 1945, at Fort Lewis, Tacoma, WA. He was a lifetime member of the 24th Infantry member of the 24th Infantry Division, the American Le- Division Association and the gion, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Amvets, and the FL 24th Group, the Korean NARFE (Federal retirees’ organization). Howard is sur- War Veterans Association of vived by his wife of 70 years, Eleanor. Lake County Chapter 169; member of the Korean War LIFE MEMBER Veterans Association of America, and Board Member of See Story Page 7 Veterans Memorial at Fountain Park, Leesburg. Ted was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Marilyn. MEMBER Harold “Hal” Huffman Foley, 88, 1st Sergeant (retired), of Ocean Isle Beach, NC, passed away February CORRECTION: The Winter issue of the Taro Leaf had 5, 2017. He joined the military out of high school, where the date wrong and name spelled wrong in one of the he continued his college education. He served honorably obituaries. Donald B Perrin passed on January 5, in the US Army for 20 years, many of those in Korea, 2017 (not Donald B. Perin, January 4, 2017). plus two tours of Vietnam. Upon his death, he received a full military service. Hal is survived by his wife, Carolyn. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.bruns- Cruz Hernandez, Jr., wickfuneralservice.com 84, of Phoenix, AZ, passed MEMBER away February 15, 2017. Cruz served in the US Army from 1949 to 1953. During that period, Pvt. Hernandez Eddie Ko of Tampa, FL, served with the 1st Battalion, died on March 2, 2017. He 21st Infantry Regiment and served as Pfc with Hq Co, was assigned to Task Force 5th Tank Battalion. Eddie Smith in Korea. Pvt. Hernan- immigrated to the US and dez was among the first of was drafted into the US American Soldiers to fight in Army on August 3, 1956, the Korean War. On May and released from Active 30th, 1974, he enlisted in the AZ Army National Guard Duty on June 26, 1958. as a SP4. He was assigned to the HHD, 1120th Quarter- Condolences may be sent master Battalion in Phoenix, AZ. After serving 18 years, to his wife Joanna Ko and SFC Hernandez became the Petroleum Operation Ser- family at 5823 Bowen Daniel geant. SFC Hernandez retired after 21 years of distin- Dr, Unit #802, Tampa, FL guished military service. He served in the Korean War 33616-1474. and Desert Storm. He is preceded in death by his wife LIFE MEMBER Nieves.

SPRING 2017 - 16 - Volume 71, Issue #2 James Martin Pierce, Sr., 91, Lt. Col. (Ret), of Midlothian, VA, passed away on May 17, 2015. PLEASE SEND James had an extensive military career spanning 35 OBITUARIES TO years and three wars in the U.S. Army, where he had been wounded multiple The Taro Leaf Editor times and was highly decorated. He was assigned to 21541 Wolf Lake Court G Co, 19th Inf. in mid Dec- ember, 1950. On Jan 1, Crest Hill, IL 60403 1951, he was severely wounded during the Chinese New (Please include a photo if available) Years’ offensive. He was evacuated to the states and did not return to Korea. He was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara. Information can Gochi Tamaye died on April 9, 2016, in Hawaii. Gochi was a Pvt, RA, and a member of Company M, 21st Infan- also be emailed to try Regiment of the 24th Infantry Division. Gochi went to [email protected] Korea from Japan with that unit in early July, 1950, and was captured on July 5, 1950. He was a member of Task Force Smith, the first American unit to fight the North Ko- reans. Gochi was with the Tiger Survivors group while a POW for more than 37 months of brutal captivity. Be- cause most Koreans at that time spoke Japanese, Go- chi was pressed into service as an interpreter. The North Koreans hated the Japanese and Gochi was repeatedly Donors beaten. He was released from captivity on August 28, 1953. Among his many awards is a Bronze Star for his Hanning, David Div Hq $100.00 Taro Leaf service as an interpreter. A marker has been placed in Kyle, Reginald 21st Inf $10.00 Taro Leaf his honor at the Punch Bowl of the Pacific in Hawaii and Schofield, David 24th Adm $20.00 Taro Leaf his ashes are interred in an urn in a niche there. Zimmerman, Harvey 24th Med $25.00 Taro Leaf Clifford Yarnell, 59, passed on February 21, 2017. Boatman, William 34th Inf $100.00 Taro Leaf Clifford served with Company D, 92nd Engineer Battal- Donovan, Robert 52nd FA $10.00 Taro Leaf ion at Fort Riley, KA, from 1979-80. Condolences may be sent to his mother and family at 621 Frederick St., Lock Freshour, Robert 19th Inf $10.00 Taro Leaf Haven, PA 17745. Stiner, Billy 19th Inf $10.00 Taro Leaf LIFE MEMBER Sugg, Charles 24th Med $15.00 Taro Leaf Kolb, Richard 1/5th ADA $5.00 Taro Leaf Hibbert “Buckie” “Opa” Manley, 88, of O’brien, George 1/41 FA $5.00 Taro Leaf Wahiawa, HI, passed away Busby, Lon 124MI $5.00 Taro Leaf December 11, 2016. He was retired from the United Spero, John 34th Inf $10.00 Taro Leaf States Army, a Korean War Delpizzo, Julius 19th Inf $20.00 Taro Leaf veteran, and the recipient of Janca, Frank 3rd Eng $10.00 Taro Leaf three Purple Hearts. He is survived by his wife, Yates, Olen 52nd FA $5.00 Taro Leaf Brunhilde. Domenosky, Eugene 34th Inf $10.00 Taro Leaf LIFE MEMBER

Volume 71, Issue #2 - 17 - SPRING 2017 Taps From The Secretary’s Report Cardon, Primitivo P.O.Box 531, Las Cruces, NM 88004 26th AAA Korea

Davenport, Leon 241 Town Mountain Rd., Blairsville, GA 30512 21st Inf, Co A WWII-Japan

Jansen, Theodore S. 1507 W Lancaster Ave., Leesburg, FL 34748 19th Inf Korea

Piehl, Howard J. 1112 Pioneer Dr., Bismark, ND 58501 21st Inf WWII

Pierce, Donald R. 13613 E Grace Street, Mereinace, WI 53561 21st Inf Korea

Shelton, Delbert T. 84 Boyd Street, Scottsboro, AL 35769 21st Inf, H&H Korea

Stock, Rodney F. 204 Quail Run Road, Fernley, NV 89408 34th Inf Korea

Wagner, Charles W. 14182 Ridge Road, King George VA 22485 19th Inf Korea

New Members

Hession, Paul J. 3rd Eng, Hq New Lifetime Member Witt, David L. 52nd FA, Hq New Lifetime Member Komsa, Leon F. 21st Inf, Hq New Lifetime Member Thomason, Barry V. 1/24th Avn, Co A New Lifetime Member Shattuck, Timothy P. 1/41 FA, Co C New Lifetime Member Verheyn, Albert W. 1st Brigade, HHQ New Lifetime Member Hall, Paula J. 24th Spt Bn, Co A New Lifetime Member Godfrey, Warren J., Jr. 2/34th Inf, Co B New Lifetime Member

Addison, Carl E. 518 Trans Germany 59-61 Ford, Dean 1/41st FA, C Batt Stewart-Storm 85-92 Shults, Johnny 724 Maint, Co C Stewart 78-80 Stewart, Sam 1/24th Avn Stewart-Storm 87-92 Kolb, Richard 1/5th ADA, HHQ Stewart-Storm 88-91 O’Brien, George 1/41st FA, C Batt Stewart-Storm 88-92 Busby, Lon 124 MI, Co A Shield-Storm 90-91 Reid, Delroy 3/15th Inf, Co B Shield-Storm 90-91 Nolde, Bobby 3/15th Inf, Co A Stewart-Storm 89-92 Reynaude, Wilfredo 3/15th Inf, Co B Shield-Storm 90-91 Schumacher, Michael P. 3/7th Inf, Co B Stewart-Storm 90-92 Norquist, Mark 1/41st FA, C Batt Stewart-Storm 89-92 Tayar, Fred 1/41st FA, C Batt Stewart-Storm 87-91 Du Fosse, Peter 13th FA, C Batt Korea 53-54 Don’t Miss An Issue of the Taro Leaf Stoddard, Donald F. Div HQ, AG Sec Korea 51-52 Please look at the back cover of your current Taro Leaf Strickland, Arnice E. 3/19th Inf, HHC Germany 69-71 magazine. If the date shown above your printed name Kinser, John P. 46th ARB Germany 59-61 and address has passed, your membership has expired. Houdart, Michael R. 24th Adm Germany-Riley 67-68 Please pay the past due amount and one year forward. Please send your payments to John Dunn at the Jeser, Paul Div HQ Germany address shown on the back page of the Taro Leaf. Friedly, Cayce D. Associate Member

SPRING 2017 - 18 - Volume 71, Issue #2 A “True Warrior” Held 24th ID Close to Heart ajor James “Leon” Davenport (US Army, retired), age According to an article in The Stars and Stripes, Pacific Edition, 90, passed away on Jan. 5, 2017, in his hometown of Dec. 3, 1949, The 24th Infantry’s “Regiment of Champions” MBlairsville, Georgia. Leon served in World War II, the completed an undefeated, untied season in the Division Foot- Korean Conflict, the Cold War, and the Vietnam War. ball League when they defeated the 34th Infantry “Dragons” at Camp Wood, Kumamoto, Kyusha, Japan. Leon played both During his 22 year military career, Leon served a total of 131 offense and defense while playing for this team, wearing jersey months overseas. He rose through the ranks from private to numbers one and six. The coach was John Hefling and Colo- major, receiving a battlefield commission during his second tour nels Dabney and McKay were regimental commanders. in Korea, in 1953. Leon was home on leave when the Korean Conflict broke out, and he had just purchased a 1950 Ford Coupe from the local Ford dealership. The vehicle originally was being driven by the dealer’s daughter. Because the dealer always gave preferential treatment to servicemen, the dealer sold it to him, much to his daughter’s dismay.

Leon drove the Ford Coupe as far as Texas, but decided a train would be faster to get to his ship in California, so he sold the vehicle in Texas and boarded a train. In 1953, when home again on leave from Korea, Leon married the young lady from the car dealership (Barbara), and they remained happily married for 63 years! Leon was stationed in the Philippine Islands (1945), Japan (1945-1950), Korea (1950-1951 and 1952-1953), Germany During the Korean Conflict, Leon volunteered to retrieve a tank (1962-1965), and Vietnam (1968-1969). After his first ten years that was mired in mud. During the mission, he was injured by in the Army, Leon returned to Blairsville in 1955, remaining in shrapnel and a helicopter was called in to evacuate him. He the US Army Reserves. In 1961 he was recalled to active duty was placed in a basket on the side of the helicopter to be air- during the Berlin Crisis. He then spent eleven more years serv- lifted to a nearby MASH unit, regained consciousness during ing his country. transport, and recounted later that he thought briefly that he was on his way to heaven! Following basic training and infantry training at Camp Blanding, FL, Leon boarded a troop train for Camp Anza, CA. Then, on to During the Vietnam War, Leon served as military advisor to a San Francisco to board a troop ship for the Pacific. The trip took South Vietnamese regiment. He became a favorite of General 31 days - with a salt water shower every four days. Creighton Abrams, Commander of Military Operations in Viet- nam from 1968-1972. In an official evaluation report, General Several years ago, Leon recounted that, “We pulled into Manila Abrams stated there were only three words needed to describe Bay (in the Philippines) and we saw literally hundreds of sunken Leon - “A True Warrior.” Leon received three Silver Stars during ship masts (Japanese) sticking out of the water, saw the re- his one tour in Vietnam. mains of an old Pan American clipper on the beach.” Although Leon served in many capacities and was affiliated Leon’s first assignment was to the 11th Field Artillery Battalion with many Army units during his military service, when asked of the 24th Infantry Division. Following the war, Leon was as- by his daughter Cayce several years ago which group meant signed to the 21st Infantry Regiment (24th ID) at Camp Wood, the most to him, Leon replied, “The 24th has always been near- Kumamoto, Japan. In Japan, Leon enjoyed playing football for est and dearest to my heart.” the “Gimlets,” the 1948 and 1949 Regimental Football Division Information provided by Cayce Friedly Champions. Daughter of James Leon Davenport

Volume 71, Issue #2 - 19 - SPRING 2017 Q&A Memories From Our Members QUESTION: What was the funniest thing that happened to you in the service? VOLUNTEERING GONNA FIX IT firing full auto and drill sergeant went OFF Volunteering to recover a training bundle Ah, one long day in the sandbox fixing when I started firing down range. Looked for our Air Force liaison officer from a low a vehicle that defied any attempts at re- like a laser beam coming from my M-16. altitude delivery, only to realize it was in pair. Eventually was forced to attend an All the while Top stood there laughing his the middle of a peat bog. 4 hours later, impromptu concert by a travelling USO ass off! lol me and the sergeant that was helping me had not one, but three vehicles stuck in gospel group nearby. Their first song was Dave Burrier the peat bog, to include one that I would pretty much a direct prayer request on be using to deploy in two days to another our behalf, “Jesus is Gonna Fix It.” Sadly, training exercise. Jesus was not a good mechanic that day. IT’S ONLY ROCK AND Bob Carruth Barry Setser ROLL, BUT I LIKE IT I loved being in my tank when they fired A TEACHABLE MOMENT LIKE A LASER BEAM the 105 main gun right over my head. But Having a WO (warrant officer) make a Top loaded a full mag of tracers for me to I know for a fact that’s why I can’t hear teachable moment of a testicle concern use on a night fire exercise when I was sh*t outta both ears… And maybe a little I had during sick call. At least 12 different in basic. Should have known better as bit because of the rock-n-roll I listen to at medics fondled my nutsack that day. we were supposed to be loading our own top volume on my stereo. Paul Jones with every 3rd round a tracer. We were Dana Tucker

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SPRING 2017 - 20 - Volume 71, Issue #2 24th Infantry Division Association Membership □ Annual Dues - $15.00 □ Life Member - $200.00 (Life membership payable in one sum or 5 yearly payments of $40.00 each.)

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PLEASE SEND PAYMENTS TO THE ADDRESS BELOW AND MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO: 24th Infantry Division Association John Dunn, Secretary/Treasurer, 9150 Hwy 51, Westover, AL 35147-9527 Time For Verbeck Nominations September 1, 2017, is the final date for you to excellence and encourage others to emulate the nominate the member you feel most merits the As- values of William Jordan Verbeck. sociation’s prestigious Verbeck Award. Please use Initially, the awardee’s names were engraved on the the form printed on page 31 of the Taro Leaf to sub- bowl itself. But eventually the capacity for the bowl mit your nomination. to carry more names became limiting. In 2007, the The Verbeck Award is presented to the Association Association’s Board of Directors approved the addi- member who best displays the ideals of Bill Verbeck. tion of a wooden base to support the original silver The late Major General William Jordan Verbeck was bowl and provide an attractive and efficient means a commander of the 21st Infantry Regiment and to carry the names of future award winners. onetime Division Chief of Staff. He demonstrated The Verbeck Award is not awarded every year. It is an unparalleled love for and devotion to the Victory only awarded sparingly, on the vote of the Executive Division. Committee, because of the unusual quality of performance required to earn it. The award is not intended to reward popularity, but to acknowledge hard work in helping to make the Please contact award chairman, Donald Bruner, if Association more successful. you have concerns about your nomination arriving on time. Bruner can be reached at (580) 233-3898 The award is symbolized by a large silver bowl, the (home phone) or (580) 977-4037 (cell phone). You “Verbeck Bowl,” which was conceived to promote can also email him at - [email protected].

Volume 71, Issue #2 - 21 - SPRING 2017 This is a continuation of a story published in the Winter 2017 issue of the Taro Leaf (Vol. 71, Issue 1). Chapter XIII, “The Enemy Flanks Eighth Army in the West,” continues… The late Roy E. Appleman’s book, written for the Center of Military History, has been called the most accurate and complete review of what happened during the early months of the Ko- rean War. Appleman (1904-1993) entered the U.S. Army as a private in 1942 during World War II. After completing Officer Candidate School in 1943 he was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant and was sent overseas to the Pacific Theater in 1944. During both WWII and Korea he served as a combat historian. His other books include Okinawa: The Last Battle and Ridgway Duels for Korea. He received the Army Commendation Ribbon in 1945 for performance of duties as combat historian in the Okinawa campaign and his contribution to the Okinawa book. Appleman retired from the Army in 1954 as a lieutenant colonel. infiltrate the 1st Battalion’s position. But it wason Chinju Falls to the Enemy terrain hard to attack, and the enemy effort failed. Continues... The North Koreans in front of the 1st Battalion withdrew before dawn, apparently veering off to the hile this battle was in progress, Captain northwest. Barszcz received radio orders to move to WChinju. He took his company north over After daylight, 31 July, Colonel Rhea, on orders from high ground and then circled eastward. On the way Colonel Moore, began moving his battalion ten he picked up stragglers and wounded men from miles eastward on the Masan road to occupy a de- E, F, and H Companies, 19th Infantry, and K Com- fensive position at the Chinju pass. The 1st Battalion pany, 29th Infantry. By daylight his group was two withdrew to this position without enemy contact or three miles northeast of Chinju. Around noon, and went into defensive perimeter there astride the Barszcz joined Colonel Moore and elements of the road before nightfall. 19th Infantry east of the town. During the night, G Company had suffered about 40 casualties, but of Within Chinju itself, Colonel Moore, shortly after this number it brought approximately 20 wounded daybreak, prepared to evacuate the town. By 0600 through the hills with it—10 were litter cases. enemy small arms fire was striking in its western edge, and six North Korean armored vehicles, which The 1st Battalion, 19th Infantry, also had come un- Colonel Moore believed to be three tanks and three der attack during the night. It held a strong defen- self-propelled guns, were in Chinju firing at Ameri- sive position below the Nam River on high ground can targets. At 0640 Moore ordered heavy equip- four miles south of Chinju, overlooking the Sach’on- ment withdrawn from the town. Fifty minutes lat- Chinju road near its juncture with the road east to er the 13th Field Artillery Battalion (less A Battery) Masan. and B Battery, 11th Field Artillery Battalion, started to displace and move eastward. Enemy mortar, ma- Colonel Rhea and his men at dusk on 30 July could chine gun, and small arms fire fell in Chinju during clearly see North Koreans out in the open going into the withdrawal. Enemy snipers were also inside the position, but they were forbidden to fire because town. a ROK Marine battalion attack was scheduled to sweep across in front of them. But the ROK’s nev- By 0745, 31 July, Maj. Jack R. Emery, regimental S-4, er entered the fight there, and the enemy used this had dispatched eastward out of Chinju the last of three-to four-hour period unmolested for maneu- five trains totaling twenty-five cars evacuating the vering against the 1st Battalion. 19th Infantry supplies. Colonel Moore and his command post stayed in Chinju until about 0800. That night, enemy mortars and selfpropelled weapons supported efforts of the N.K. 15th Regiment to The withdrawal from Chinju was relatively orderly,

SPRING 2017 - 22 - Volume 71, Issue #2 although slow and laborious, with refugees, animal- A ROK Army source reported that North Koreans drawn wagons, and American and ROK foot soldiers had secured Chinju at 0900, 31 July. This may very intermingled in the streets. There was some tenden- well have been true for the main part of the town cy to panic, however, and Colonel Moore himself north of the Nam River, but it was not true for that had occasion to stop some cars that started to “take part south of the Nam, where 1st Lt. Samuel R. Fowl- off” east of Chinju. er and fourteen enlisted men still stayed by three M26 Pershing medium tanks. The main highway bridge over the Nam at the southern edge of Chinju was under enemy fire and The Three Pershing Tanks at Chinju considered unusable. In the withdrawal, therefore, One little drama was enacted in Chinju on 31 July the 2d Battalion followed the road north of the Nam after the 19th Infantry withdrew from the town that to Uiryong, where it assembled on the evening of should be told. It is the story of the first three medi- 31 July. The regimental command post moved east- um tanks in Korea and their brave commander. On ward out of Chinju, crossed the Nam about 3 miles 28 June, the fourth day of the war, Col. Olaf P. Win- northeast of the town, and then went east on the ningstad, Eighth Army Ordnance chief, found three Masan road to Chiryong-ni, a small village 12 air M26 Pershing medium tanks at the Tokyo Ordnance miles east of Chinju and 1 mile beyond the Much’on- Depot in bad condition and needing extensive re- ni-Masan road fork. pairs, including rebuilt engines.

Moore told him that if the enemy overran the The repair work began at once and was completed on 13 July. The three tanks were shipped to Pusan 19th Infantry positions on the northwest side of where they arrived on 16 July, the first American medium tanks in Korea. With them were Lieuten- Chinju and he could not evacuate the tanks un- ant Fowler and fourteen enlisted crew members. der their own power, he was to destroy them and Trained to operate M24 light tanks, they were now expected to become familiar with the Pershing tank. evacuate his tank crews by truck. The tanks gave trouble because of improper fan belts that would stretch and permit the motors to The artillery, accompanied by the 3d Battalion, 29th overheat. Belts made in Japan were either too short Infantry, withdrew from Chinju north of the Nam or too long despite emergency orders for correc- River, crossing to the south side at Uiryong, and tions in them. went into an assembly area at Komam-ni (Saga) shortly after noon. There it received an airdrop mes- Eighth Army hoped to use these tanks to help stop sage from General Church ordering it to return to the North Korean drive in the southwest. It sent the vicinity of Chinju. During the afternoon the five them by rail to Chinju where they arrived at 0300, 28 105-mm. howitzers of B Battery, 13th Field Artillery July. They were unloaded at the Rail Transportation Battalion, and the eight 155-mm. howitzers of B Bat- Office on the south side of the Nam River where the tery, -11th Field Artillery Battalion, rolled west and rail line terminated. There they awaited new belts. went into position at the Chinju pass in support of When the N.K. 6th Division entered Chinju on the Colonel Rhea’s 1st Battalion, 19th Infantry. morning of 31 July, these tanks took no part in the battle. The 19th Infantry estimated enemy strength in the Chinju area, when the city fell on the morning of 31 Flatcars from Pusan to evacuate the tanks passed July, as 2,000 troops, with an unknown number of through Masan the morning of 31 July but never got tanks and artillery pieces. American aerial strikes beyond Chungam-ni, about twenty-five miles short on Chinju during the day left it in flames. Late that of Chinju. Snarled rail traffic caused by evacuation night a Korean source sent a message that 4,000 en- of the 19th Infantry supplies blocked the way. emy troops were in Chinju setting up communica- tions and weapons. North To The Yalu Continued on Page 30

Volume 71, Issue #2 - 23 - SPRING 2017 SPRING 2017 - 24 - Volume 71, Issue #2 24th IDA Reunion September 11-15, 2017 Pooler, Georgia Association members attending the 24th IDA Reunion this September will enjoy a Savannah Riverboat Cruise, a tour of Savannah, a tour of Fort Stewart, and the dedication of our Medal of Honor For full details about the 2017 Reunion Tours, please visit our website - www.24thida.com. Plaque. Please fill out and If you are not able to use the internet, please call one of the following officers for more information. mail in your registration President: Don Maggio, phone (828) 684-5931 Dir.-At-Large: George Vlasic, phone (910) 287-5618 form soon - don’t delay. Honor Our WWII Taro Leaf Veterans

Howard J. Piehl Thomas Pesto

Alex Horanzy

We must honor our WWII veterans and preserve their stories for future generations. Many of those stories are preserved in the pages of the Taro Leaf. Pearl Harbor survivor Thomas Pesto’s story was in the winter issue of the Taro Leaf (Vol. 71, Issue 1). Howard J. Piehl’s story is featured in this issue (Page 7). Alex Horanzy’s story will be featured in the next issue of the Taro Leaf (Summer, 2017). If you are a World War II vet, we want your story too! Please contact the Taro Leaf editor to share your stories and photographs.

Volume 71, Issue #2 - 25 - SPRING 2017 WWII - A Personal Look Back We left Hawaii in September, 1943, to train in Australia. Four days prior to departure from Hawaii, we were issued winter clothes. This Continued From Page 7 was to confuse any spies who may be observing our actions into be- I was assigned to the 21st Infantry Regiment of the 24th Division, lieving that we were going to a cold climate. The day before departure which was a regular Army Division and was garrisoned in the Hawai- the winter clothes were turned in and we were issued warm weather ian Islands during Pearl Harbor. The 21st Infantry was known as the clothes. Gimlets. After training in Australia, our Division was sent on my first invasion My pay as a recruit was $21.00 a month. I had to pay for my laundry into New Guinea. The real stuff! What were my feelings? Fear, anxi- and insurance, which left me $7.00 for the month. When I was over- ety, knowing I was facing death. I thought of home, of family, of my seas, the pay was increased to $32.00 a month. I had no place to faith in God. I thought of an enemy jumping into my foxhole. Who spend money, so I put money in a government deposit for veterans. would survive? Him or me? When I returned home, I had enough saved to pay for one half of the farm I purchased. After New Guinea, other invasions followed. The toughest time of my life came with the invasion of the Philippines. This was jungle As a recruit, I was titled Private. While training in Hawaii, I became warfare; hot, humid, mosquito-infested terrain. The battle on June 18, the company clerk because I knew how to type, and I became a Tec. 1945, in Omak Valley, Philippines (the 63rd day of continuous action Corporal. During the invasion of the Philippines, the company First against the enemy) was one of the worst. Sergeant was sent back to the states, and I was promoted to his position and became the company First Sergeant. The man sent back Two hundred men were in my Company and 30 remained after the was an old soldier and I had been doing most of his work for several battle. Why was I spared? Memories are haunting. My fortitude came months. from family, friends, and my faith in God. I was the First Sergeant of Company G (21st Infantry Regiment). My After Omak Valley, my Company was sent on a combat mission to buddies and I were together during training in Hawaii and through the Village of Dipolog. When our mission was completed, we camped the years of combat missions. We shared a camaraderie that will last in Dipolog and spent the weekend there waiting for planes to take us forever. back to Mindoro. I was under the command of the Company G’s captain. Sometimes On Sunday we attended a worship service in a rundown building. The my duties were not pleasant as casualties occurred. Frank Hart, a people had just returned from fleeing into the hills. The Japanese had fellow soldier, was killed in action. I packed up his personal items and destroyed their church. sent them to his family with a note. His family was so appreciative and we corresponded until their deaths. We learned that the people had fled to the mountains during the battle, taking their hymnals with them. After the battle, the people re- These men became my close friends: Aubrey Jones, Charles Kroh, turned to find the sign identifying their church torn down. They braced Paul Nelson, Glenn Rison and Frank Shaw. Each of these men were it up and opened the door for worship. Sergeants in ther specialty. As I write this account, these men have all died. Before their deaths, they and their wives spent many visits and Seeing their tattered hymnals, we all pitched in money for new hym- reunions with Eleanor and me. nals for them. The people welcomed us and invited us into their homes for Sunday dinner. This poor little church, far away from home, Aubrey Jones was a cook, and one day he got into an argument with brought such a wonderful feeling of brotherhood with fellow Chris- his Lieutenant. He quickly lost his Sergeant stripes and was demoted tians. to Private. Knowing Aubrey, I think he was in the right. Later, he was restored to Sergeant. I served my country almost four years, continuously, without a fur- lough. I became infected with Malaria and had re-occurring attacks Charles Kroh was in charge of suppplies. He was a congenial guy for many years. and we all knew him to be really generous in giving out supplies. He did not require proof of lost items as the other Sergeants did. I was happy to be Honorably Discharged, First Sergeant Howard J. Piehl to Civilian Howard Piehl. I am proud to be a veteran of WWII Paul Nelson and Frank Shaw carried 30-caliber rifles. A heavy weap- and in awe as to why I was spared. on with a clip of shells. Paul was wounded in action and became completely blind. He had to be sent to the States to recover. Frank re- Howard J. Piehl, 99, passed away January 8, 2017. Howard fought in mained with the Company for the duration. He was a special person. numerous campaigns in the Pacific, including Goodenough Island, New Guinea, Leyte, and the Mindoro-Mindanao invasions in the Philippines. Glenn Rison was a big man. He carried the huge BAR weapon. He Howard was highly decorated, and was most proud of his Bronze Star. was wounded in action and had to be sent back to the States to re- He was a lifetime member of the 24th Infantry Division. cover. The men sent back were sorely missed in our Company.

SPRING 2017 - 26 - Volume 71, Issue #2 Taro Leafers Cruise “Desert Storm Style” uring Desert Shield in 1990, the Pentagon contracted Chaplain Darrell Williams (3/15th Inf.) and Scott Mills (24th ID). with the British Cunard Princess cruise ship for selected One of the features of this year’s cruise was a full day of activi- DUS service members to enjoy three-day R&R trips. Of ties in Costa Maya, including: swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, course, most troops of the 24th ID had no such luxury, although tubing and laying around in hammocks under the palm trees. some did get a day at a recreation place in Saudi called, “Half During the event, Desert Storm vets received a personalized Moon Bay.” thank-you certificate from the Minister of Defense of Kuwait commemorating their service in liberating Kuwait. Fast forward, 26 years later, and some 24th Infantry Division Desert Storm veterans remedied that lost cruise time by cruis- The highlight of the trip was a special memorial service remem- ing with the National Desert Storm Reunion Cruise (NDSRC). bering and honoring the 383 fallen heroes of Desert Storm. The The national reunion cruise includes Desert Storm veterans service also recognized all veterans of Desert Storm who have from all five service branches and their families for 6-7 days died from Gulf War Illness and all other causes of death since of cruising, spending time with each other, telling stories and the war. During the service, 383 American flags were displayed, remembering the fallen. each flag with the name of one who did not make it back home after the war. The service was a very moving, as well as a heal- The first national reunion cruise took place in 2015 and marked ing, experience for many who attended. the 25th anniversary of Desert Storm. The 2015 cruise traveled to Belize, Honduras and Mexico. This year’s reunion cruise, in The next planned cruise is September 2018. The cruise will be February, 2017, sailed to the Grand Cayman Island, Cozumel a seven-night Alaska Southern Glacier Cruise onboard Celeb- and Costa Maya, Mexico. rity’s Millennium from Alaska to Vancouver. For more information, visit www.desertstormreunion.com. The 24th Infantry Division had five Taro Leaf troops participating in the cruise, including: Bobby Nolde (A Co, 3/15th Inf.), Ger- Information provided by K. Darrell Williams ald C. Paggi (197th Inf.), Roger Hostetter (724th Support Bn.), 24th ID Association Chaplain and Webmaster

Reunions Korean War POW/MIA Family & Friends Reunion July 27-30, 2017 Sheraton Lakeside Chalet, 191 Westport Plaza, St. Louis, MO 63146 For more information, contact Cindy Chapman, [email protected], ph (575) 642-5546

Mention the Chalet and Korean War POW/MIA Family & Friends to receive the special hotel rate of $119/night plus tax. Rooms are limited, so book early to ensure a room at the discounted rate. All rooms must be booked by July 7, 2017 to receive the discounted rate. Call (888) 627-7066 for reservations.

7th Infantry Regiment Association (Cottonbalers) 2017 Reunion Savannah, Georgia (May 29 - June 1, 2017) FULL DETAILS ONLINE AT - http://www.cottonbalers.com/reunions/reunion.asp

HOTEL - HILTON SAVANNAH DESOTO – SAVANNAH, GA Call (912) 232-9000 and reference the 7th Infantry Regiment Association Reunion or reserve online at www.desotohilton.com and use the Group Code: IRA or visit www.afr-reg.com/cottonbalers2017.

Volume 71, Issue #2 - 27 - SPRING 2017 New Names Added to Desert Storm Memorial Veterans from the 24th Infantry 12 months was to make those Division remembered their fallen names come here. They needed comrades and added two names to be in granite. They needed to the 24th ID Desert Storm me- to be with their brothers. They morial during a ceremony held needed to be here for the rest of Feb. 27, at Fort Stewart, GA. us to honor their sacrifice to this The additional names were en- country and our freedom in what graved in granite and attached we do and their commitment to to the memorial. The 24th ID that.” was based at Fort Stewart from 1974-1996. The names of the two fallen soldiers, Capt. Jeffery Bnosky and Emotions were high before the Pfc. Shawnacee Noble were un- ceremony among the 24th In- veiled in the granite during the fantry Division veterans. Joy and ceremony. Bnosky and Noble happiness were the emotions were assigned to the 5th Engi- most felt from them, but the me- neer Battalion, which was based morial also brought sorrow, grief at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri and healing from honoring those and attached to the 24th ID dur- who had made the ultimate sac- ing Desert Shield. rifice. Retired Army Maj. Dan Aschraft, James “Lon” Busby, a veteran a company commander with the from the 24th Infantry Division 5th Engineer Battalion, was the who deployed to Desert Storm main speaker at the ceremony. as a specialist, discussed the ceremony and the special cause Names Added that honors all veterans from the Continued On Page 30 division.

“Today, this is the third annual 24th ID reunion, and the 26th anniversary of Operation Desert Storm is our general cause,” Busby said. “This year, our focus was on adding an additional two names (to the memorial wall). Last year, we discovered from some veterans of the 24th ID that there were two names missing from our wall.”

As he paused to maintain com- posure, a tear fell as he spoke on why it is important for those two names to be honored. “That (Top) Desert Storm veterans place a wreath at the Fort Stewart Desert Storm memorial. (Middle) Taro Leaf is a big deal!” Busby said. “So troops unveil the two new names that were added to the memorial. (Bottom) Veterans gather to honor their for us, our mission for the next fallen comrades during a special Desert Storm memorial ceremony at Fort Stewart, GA.

SPRING 2017 - 28 - Volume 71, Issue #2 Children of Yesterday: The 24th ID in the Philippines Book Notes - Children of Yesterday Written By Jan Valtin (Richard Krebs) Children of Yesterday, authored by Jan Valtin and published in 1946, is an anecdotal history of the U.S. Army’s 24th Infantry Division during its deployment to the Philippines in 1944-45. The Division took part in fierce fighting on Mindanao, Leyte, Mindoro, Luzon, and Corregidor. Children of Yesterday portrays the horrors of the often close-quarters combat in graphic detail, while also accurately portraying the bravery and camaraderie of American troops. This book remains one of the best accounts of the war in the Pacific from the perspective of the front-line infantryman. 429 Pages. Available to read online for FREE. http://24thida.com/books/books/children_of_yesterday_valtin.pdf https://archive.org/stream/ChildrenOfYesterday/ChildrenOfYesterday_djvu.txt

Also available as a paperback book on Amazon.com. ($14.95) Just Search for Children of Yesterday Valtin. Help Needed Our 24th Infantry Division historian, George Padar, is looking for help to track down information about this jacket patch (pictured at right).

The thinking is that the patch is from the 24th Aviation Company or 24th Reconnaissance Company. Padar was contacted by Bob Wat- kins, the current owner of the patch. The patch once belonged to a Korean War veteran.

Does anyone recognize this patch? Is it a Ko- rean era patch? Which unit does it belong to? Was it an unapproved unit or individual crew patch?

If you have any information to share, please contact Georage Padar at gpadar2009@ya- hoo.com. Or you can contact Bob Watkins di- rectly at [email protected].

Volume 71, Issue #2 - 29 - SPRING 2017 Noble passed due to an illness, according to Jones. “He made it all Names Added the way through 66 combat missions, 500 earth-penetrating weapons and numerous sapper missions all the way to the end,” said Jones. Continued From Page 28 “We had already deployed back from combat in Saudi Arabia when Remembrances were also shared by Pressley Carr Jr. and by Ste- he died of a rare virus.” phon W. Jones, both combat engineers and veterans from the 24th ID. Jones served as a platoon leader with the 5th Engineer Battalion Busby spoke on behalf of the 24th ID Veterans, thanking all person- and knew both Bnosky and Noble. nel that made the ceremony possible. “Capt. Jeffery Bnosky, combat engineer and honored fallen soldier “We need to thank a lot of people, and it’s impossible to name them of the 24th Infantry Division, (was) one of the officers in our (Delta) all,” he said “Thanks to the 3rd Infantry Division Commander Maj. Company, and he was killed in action,” said Jones. “Both he and his Gen. James E. Rainey and his staff for helping support the 24th ID’s wife, just newlyweds, were both deployed at the same time in Opera- cause. We couldn’t have even thought about doing this without the tion Desert Storm. He was a very good officer. To know that he was 3rd ID’s help.” remembered was honorable.” Jones went on to explain, “Pfc. Shawnacee Noble… was my soldier who wasn’t originally assigned to my unit but joined us in the field just Story and Photos by Spec. Ryan Tatum before we departed to Iraq. He was a volunteer out of his reserve Additional Info provided by Timothy Shattuck unit who came to fight with us in Operation Desert Storm. He was a tremendous young man.”

Two miles down the road the tanks came to a blown bridge. The men North To The Yalu prepared to abandon the tanks and proceed on foot. They removed Continued From Page 23 Fowler from his tank and made a litter for him. Fowler ordered the men to destroy the tanks by dropping grenades into them. Three men At daybreak, Lieutenant Fowler went to Colonel Moore for instruc- started for the tanks to do this. At this moment an enemy force lying tions. Moore told him that if the enemy overran the 19th Infantry posi- in ambush opened fire. A number of men got under the bridge with tions on the northwest side of Chinju and he could not evacuate the Fowler. MSgt. Bryant E. W. Shrader was the only man on the tanks. tanks under their own power, he was to destroy them and evacuate He opened fire with the .30-caliber machine gun. A North Korean his tank crews by truck. called out in English for the men to surrender. Lieutenant Fowler telephoned Masan and apparently learned that the Shrader left the machine gun, started the tank, and drove it close to flatcars had departed there for Chinju to get the tanks. He decided one of the other tanks. He dropped the escape hatch and took in six to stay. men. He then drove back toward Chinju and stopped the tank a few feet short of the bridge over the Nam, undecided whether to cross Gradually the firing in Chinju died down. A ROK soldier who passed to the other side. There the overheated engine stopped and would the rail station about noon told Fowler that only a very few ROK sol- not start again. The seven men abandoned the tank and ran into the diers were still in the town. A little later, William R. Moore, an Asso- bamboo thickets fringing the river. After many close calls with en- ciated Press correspondent, suddenly appeared and suggested to emy forces Shrader and his group finally reached safety and passed Fowler that he should check a body of men coming up the rail track. through the lines of the 25th Division west of Masan. It was now perhaps an hour past noon. Fowler had an interpreter call to the approaching men. They were North Koreans. The men back at the blown bridge had no chance. Some were killed or wounded at the first fire. Others were killed or wounded under the Fowler ordered his tank crews to open fire. In the fire fight that im- bridge. A few ran into nearby fields trying to escape but were killed mediately flared between the tank .30- and .50-caliber machine guns or captured. One of those captured said later he saw several bodies and the enemy small arms fire, Fowler received a bullet in his left floating in the stream and recognized two as Fowler and Moore. side. In this close-range fight the tank machine gun fire killed or wounded most of the enemy group, which was about platoon size. The tankers put Fowler into his tank and started the three tanks east Continued in the next issue on the road to Masan. of the Taro Leaf. (Summer 2017)

SPRING 2017 - 30 - Volume 71, Issue #2 We Need Your Stories! Desert Shield/Storm The next issue of the Taro Leaf will feature stories from veterans of Desert Storm and Desert Shield. We have lots of great photos, but we also need personal stories from our Taro Leaf vets who served in the desert. The deadline for submissions for the next issue (Sum- mer, 2017) is August 1, 2017. Please mail stories and photos to the Taro Leaf Editor, or email NEXT ISSUE information to - Summer, 2017 [email protected].

MEMBERS: Please indicate your nominee for the 2017 Verbeck Award and give a brief explanation for your recommendation. (Please fill out and mail in this form.)

Your Verbeck Nominee: ______

I believe he/she is worthy because: ______

______

Your Name: ______

Address: ______

City: ______State: ______Zip: ______

MAIL TO: Award Chair Donald Bruner, 2510 Homestead Loop, Enid, OK. 73703

Volume 71, Issue #2 - 31 - SPRING 2017 John Dunn Secretary/Treasurer NONPROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID 24th Infantry Division Association JACKSONVILLE, FL 9150 Hwy 51, Westover, AL 35147 PERMIT NO. 3

MEMBERS - Please check your dues date printed above your address. 12 months dues = $15.00. Life members $200.00, or $40.00 per year for 5 years.

Send Dues & Address Changes to: Mail Obituaries to: Taro Leaf Editor John A. Dunn, Secretary/Treasurer 21541 Wolf Lake Court, Crest Hill, IL 60403 24th Infantry Division Association Or email information to: [email protected] 9150 Hwy 51, Westover, AL 35147-9527 (Please include a photo if available)

24th IDA Reunion September 11-15, 2017 Pooler, Georgia Association members attending the 24th IDA Reunion in Pooler, GA, this September will enjoy a tour of Savannah, Fort Stewart and a Savannah Riverboat Cruise. More details are available on our website. www.24thida.com SEE PAGE 24 Taro Leaf

NEXT ISSUE Summer 2017 To Be Published Aug. 15, 2017

Available Online Aug. 25, 2017

24th Infantry Division Association