Staff Officers The Graybeards Presidential Envoy to UN Forces: Kathleen Wyosnick The Magazine for Members, Veterans of the Korean War, and service in Korea. P.O. Box 3716, Saratoga, CA 95070 The Graybeards is the official publication of the Korean War Veterans Association, PH: 408-253-3068 FAX: 408-973-8449 PO Box, 10806, Arlington, VA 22210, (www.kwva.org) and is published six times per year. Judge Advocate and Legal Advisor: Sherman Pratt 1512 S. 20th St., Arlington, VA 22202 EDITOR Vincent A. Krepps PH: 703-521-7706 24 Goucher Woods Ct. Towson, MD 21286-5655 PH: 410-828-8978 FAX: 410-828-7953 Washington, DC Affairs: Blair Cross E-MAIL: [email protected] 904B Martel Ct., Bel Air, MD 21014 MEMBERSHIP Nancy Monson PH: 410-893-8145 PO Box 10806, Arlington, VA 22210 PH: 703-522-9629 National Chaplain: Irvin L. Sharp, PUBLISHER Finisterre Publishing Incorporated 16317 Ramond, Maple Hights, OH 44137 PO Box 70346, Beaufort, SC 29902 PH: 216-475-3121 E-MAIL: [email protected] Korean Ex-POW Association: Ernie Contrearas, President National KWVA Headquarters 7931 Quitman Street, Westminister, CO 80030 PH:: 303-428-3368 PRESIDENT Harley J. Coon 4120 Industrial Lane, Beavercreek, OH 45430 National VA/VS Representative: Michael Mahoney PH: 937-426-5105 or FAX: 937-426-4551 582 Wiltshire Rd., Columbus, OH 43204 E-MAIL: [email protected] PH: 614-279-1901 FAX: 614-276-1628 Office Hours: 9am to 5 pm (EST) Mon.–Fri. E-MAIL: [email protected] National Officers Liaison for Canada: Bill Coe 1st VICE PRESIDENT Edward L. Magill 59 Lenox Ave., Cohoes, N.Y.12047 433 Spring Lake Dr., Melbourne, FL 32940 PH: 518-235-0194 PH: 407-255-6837 Korean Advisor to the President: Myong Chol Lee 2nd VICE PRESIDENT Dorothy “Dot” Schilling 1005 Arborely Court, Mt. Holly, N.J. 08060 6205 Hwy V, Caledonia, WI 53108 PH: 262-835-4653 FAX 262-835-0557 PH: 609-877-4196 TREASURER Thomas J. Gregory KVA Liaison (Western Region USA): Kim, Yong 4400 Silliman Pl., Kettering, OH 45440 258 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica,CA 90401 PH: 937-299-4821 SECRETARY Howard W. Camp Legislative Affairs Advisors: 430 S. Stadium Dr., Xenia, OH 45385 John Kenney PH: 937-372-6403 8602 Cyrus Place, Alexandria, VA 22308 PH: 703-780-7536 PAST PRESIDENT Dick Adams Thomas Maines P.O. Box 334, Caruthers, CA 93609 1801 Saw Mill Run Blvd., Pittsburg, PA 15210 PH: 412-881-5844 PH: 559-864-3196 E-MAIL: [email protected] LIFE HONORARY Gen. Raymond G. Davis USMC (Ret.) MOH KVA Liaison (Mid-Western Region USA): Cho, Joseph PRESIDENT 4120 West Lawrence Ava. Chicago, IL 60630 FOUNDER William Norris KVA Liaison (Eastern Region USA): John Kwang-Nam Lee 140-10 Franklin Ave., Flushing, N.Y. 11355 Board of Directors 1999-2002 Committees George Bingham Membership/Chapter Formation: Jerry Lake 1491 Fetter Rd., Lima, OH 45801 PH: 419-224-5200 159 Hardwood Dr., Tappan, NY 10983 PH: 845-359-6540 James F. Jones, Jr. 1317 Asbury Rd., Richmond VA 23229 PH: 804-740-5534 POW/MIA Co-Chairmen: Donald Barton P. G. “Bob” Morga 8316 North Lombard #449, Portland, OR 97203 PH: 503-289-7360 c/o KWVA Central L.I. Chapter, PO Box 835, Bayport, NY 11705 Vince Krepps (See Editor, The Graybeards) PH: 631-472-0052 Theodore “Ted” Trousdale Budget/Finance: Dot Schilling (See Board of Directors) 5180 Walton Ave, Titusville, FL 32780 PH: 321-267-5233 Resolutions Co-Chairmen: Theodore “Ted” Trousdale and Don Byers E-MAIL: [email protected] (See Board of Directors) 2000 – 2003 Dick Adams Bylaws Chairman: James F. Jones, Jr., (See Board of Directors) P.O. Box 334, Caruthers, CA 93609 PH: 559-864-3196 Committee: Jack Edwards (See Board of Directors) E-mail: [email protected] Kenneth B. Cook Honorary Reunion Chairman: Dorothy “Dot” Schilling (See 2nd Vice President) 1611 North Michigan Ave., Danville, IL 61834-6239 PH: 217-446-9829 or Reunion Committee Members: Co-Chairmen Harley Coon (See President) and Jack PH:/FAX: 612-457-1266 Cloman, 2702 Franklinville Rd., Joppa, MD 20851 PH: 410-676-1388; Vincent A. Larry McKinniss Krepps (See Editor); Sherman Pratt (See Judge Advocate) 31478 Harsh Rd., Logan Ohio 43138-9059 PH: 614-358-7148 Warren Wiedhahn (See revisit chairman); Grover Kershner P.O. Box 67 Forest Hill, Joseph Pirrello MD. 21001 PH: 410-751-1059 70 Turf Road, Staton Island, NY 10314-6015 PH: 718-983-6803 2001-2004 Revisit Chairman: Warren Wiedhahn, 4600 Duke St., #420, Alexandria, VA 22304 Don Byers PH: 703-212-0695 FAX: 703-212-8567 3475 Lyon Park Court, Woodbridge, VA 22192 PH: 703-491-7120 Korean War Veterans Memorial Library/Museum Liaison: Ken Cook (See Jack Edwards Director), John Kenney, 122 West North Central, P.O. Box 16, Tuscola, IL 61953 P.O. Box 5298 Largo, FL 33779 PH: 727-582-9353 Tel: 217-253-5813 Jerry Lake 159 Hardwood Drive, Tappan, NY 10983 PH: 845-359-6540 Nominations/Election Chairman: Kenneth B. Cook (See Director) John M. Settle 2236 Goshen Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46808 PH: 219-484-3339 Laison for Korean War Veterans Educational Grant Corp.: Dick Adams (WORK) 219-486-1300 Ext 307, FAX: 219-486-9421 (See Director) On the cover... THIS ISSUE Pyongyang at Kunu-ri near the Chong chong River. My hope for a Merry Features Christmas ended quickly when I learned “It’s Dirty Daddy” 7 Richard and many of my friends were A Christmas Memory 10 missing or killed trying to run the gauntlet. A story that should have been told During the night I just laid there trying to years ago 20 remember my last Christmas with Richard. A Phone Call From Seoul 31 I remember clearly him helping mom and A Day With Third Platoon – Korea, 1951 34 dad trim the Christmas Tree in 1949 when we came home from Basic Training. My Ghostley Sounds and Uneasy Feelings 50 Captain took me out of action by making A Day We All Remember 55 me the mail clerk. I clearly remember the Experiences of a POW 56 sadness in the eyes of our beaten men Mines and Booby Traps 60 change to hope when those letters, Christmas Cards and packages of goodies Some call it courage 61 started to come from home. The saddest thing was to return mail Departments back home to the families including my President’s Message 4 North Central Front, December 1952 own for those that were MIA or KIA. D. C. Affairs 9 (Photo sent in by Donald E. Anderson) Richard and many others never spent Book Review 9 My Christmas Story another Christmas home. A lot of people There are several stories and poems say to me every now and then to smile, National VA/VS Report 10 inside covering Christmas from 1950 to well I was always a very serious person but Update – Korean War Ex-POW 10 1952. I will share with you my memory of Christmas 1950 and every Christmas Listen Up 11 Christmas, 1950. It was the 1st week of thereafter I find it even harder to smile. I Defence POW/MIA Weekly Update 12 December and I was returning from a hos- do enjoy seeing others enjoying Christmas Monuments and Memories 14 pital in Japan to join up with my unit and and the Holidays so my wish for all is to my twin brother Richard who just returned have a MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY Letters 24 to Korea from a hospital in Japan about 30 HOLIDAYS and have a GREAT NEW The Poet’s Place 28 plus days earlier. The last news I heard YEAR. America more then ever needs that Reunion Showplace 30 about the War was that we would be home from all of us after September 11 and I Chapter Affairs 36 by Christmas. When I joined my unit in the plan on trying to do my share. Remember 2nd Div. I quickly learned that they were our service men this and every holiday. Looking for... 52 overrun by the Chinese just north of Vincent A. Krepps, Editor Chaplain’s Corner 62 Taps 63 First Christmas - The Forgotten War - Lest we forget. Reunion Calendar 66 Twas fifty years ago on a bleak Christmas Eve, From the port of Hungnam, we took our leave, News & Notes Having guarded a withdrawal, all through the fight Commemorative lapel pin minted 4 As part of a fleet, DD703 stationed extreme right. A Christmas Message From Our Enemy 7 Huge armies of Chinese had become a new foe, KWVA Financial Report.. 13 Forcing our troops to halt, it was no place to go, Thanks for supporting The Graybeards 19 Getting ensnared in a trap and overwhelmed by the horde They turned back into bypassed enemy, a two edged sword KWV 50th Commemorative Events 29 KWV 50th Commemorative Events 32 With mountains and icy winter square in their face, They fought their way back at an agonizing pace, Proud Korean War Vets Display Tags 62 Heading to safe haven, to our port near a cape, Update – Korean Revisit 63 We waited at the ready, to insure their escape. Korean War National Museum and Library–Progress Report 64 Army tanks were dug in as a front-line on the beach, The Lind was offshore, standing guard within reach, Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary 69 Images of Korea, Co. L, 279th Regiment, As the enemy drew closer each day that went by, 45th Infantry Division 70 The night was kept bright with star shells in the sky. Continued on page 6 November/December, 2001 Page 3 President’s Message Commemorative n September mailing was in excess of 18,000.