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 National Chaplain: Irvin L. Sharp, PH: 703-522-9629 16317 Ramond, Maple Hights, OH 44137 PUBLISHER Finisterre Publishing Incorporated PH: 216-475-3121 PO Box 70346, Beaufort, SC 29902 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 59 Lenox Ave., Cohoes, N.Y.12047 1st VICE PRESIDENT Jack Edwards PH: 518-235-0194 10346 127th Ave N, Largo, FL 33773 PH: 727-582-9353 E-Mail: [email protected] Korean Advisor to the President: Myong Chol Lee 2nd VICE PRESIDENT Thomas Clawson 1005 Arborely Court, Mt. Holly, N.J. 08060 953 Gorman Ave West, St. Paul, MN 55118 PH: 609-877-4196 PH/FAX: 651-457-6653 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 Legislative Affairs Advisors: SECRETARY Howard W. Camp John Kenney 430 S. Stadium Dr., Xenia, OH 45385 8602 Cyrus Place, Alexandria, VA 22308 PH: 703-780-7536 PH: 937-372-6403 Thomas Maines PAST PRESIDENT Dick Adams 1801 Saw Mill Run Blvd., Pittsburg, PA 15210 PH: 412-881-5844 P.O. Box 334, Caruthers, CA 93609 PH: 559-864-3196 E-MAIL: [email protected] KVA Liaison (Pacific Region USA): Shin, Jimmy K. LIFE HONORARY Gen. Raymond G. Davis USMC (Ret.) MOH PO Box 88232, Honolulu, HI 96830-8232 PRESIDENT KVA Liaison (Mid-Western Region USA): Cho, Joseph FOUNDER William Norris 4120 West Lawrence Ava. Chicago, IL 60630 Board of Directors KVA Liaison (Eastern Region USA): John Kwang-Nam Lee 2000 – 2003 140-10 Franklin Ave., Flushing, N.Y. 11355 Dick Adams Committees P.O. Box 334, Caruthers, CA 93609 PH: 559-864-3196 E-mail: [email protected] Membership/Chapter Formation: Kenneth B. Cook (open) 1611 North Michigan Ave., Danville, IL 61834-6239 PH: 217-446-9829 or PH:/FAX: 612-457-1266 POW/MIA Co-Chairmen: Donald Barton Larry McKinniss 8316 North Lombard #449, Portland, OR 97203 PH: 503-289-7360 31478 Harsh Rd., Logan Ohio 43138-9059 PH/FAX: 740-380-0181 Vince Krepps (See Editor, The Graybeards) E-mail: [email protected] Budget/Finance: Dot Schilling (See Board of Directors) Joseph Pirrello 70 Turf Road, Staton Island, NY 10314-6015 PH: 718-983-6803 Resolutions Co-Chairmen: Theodore “Ted” Trousdale, 5180 Walton Ave, Titusville, 2001-2004 FL 32780 PH: 321-267-5233 E-mail [email protected] and Don Byers (See Board of Directors) Don Byers 3475 Lyon Park Court, Woodbridge, VA 22192 PH: 703-491-7120 Bylaws Chairman: James F. Jones, Jr., (See Board of Directors) Jerry Lake Committee: Jack Edwards (See Board of Directors) 159 Hardwood Drive, Tappan, NY 10983 PH: 845-359-6540 Honorary Reunion Chairman: Dorothy “Dot” Schilling (See 2nd Vice President) Michael Mahoney 582 Wiltshire Rd., Columbus, OH 43204 PH: 614-279-8630 Reunion Committee Members: Co-Chairmen Harley Coon (See President) and Jack FAX: 614-279-1628 E-mail: [email protected] Cloman, 2702 Franklinville Rd., Joppa, MD 20851 PH: 410-676-1388; Vincent A. 2002-2005 Krepps (See Editor); Sherman Pratt (See Judge Advocate) James F. Jones, Jr. Warren Wiedhahn (See revisit chairman); Grover Kershner P.O. Box 67 Forest Hill, 7507 Roswell Rd, Richmond, VA 23229-5946 PH: 804-282-1481 MD. 21001 PH: 410-751-1059 William F. McSwain Revisit Chairman: Warren Wiedhahn, 4600 Duke St., #420, Alexandria, VA 22304 8454 Mary’s Creek Dr., Fort Worth, TX 76116-7600 PH: 817-244-0706 PH: 703-212-0695 FAX: 703-212-8567 Dorothy “Dot” Schilling 6205 Hway V, Caladonia, WI 53108 PH: 262-835-4653 FAX: 262-835-0557 Korean War Veterans Memorial Library/Museum Liaison: Ken Cook (See Warren Weidhahn Director), John Kenney, 122 West North Central, P.O. Box 16, Tuscola, IL 61953 4600 Duke St., Ste. 420, Alexandria, VA 22304 PH: 703-212-0695 Tel: 217-253-5813 FAX: 703-212-8567 Nominations/Election Chairman: Kenneth B. Cook (See Director) Laison for Korean War Veterans Educational Grant Corp.: Dick Adams (See Director) filled with men who were combat trained and On the cover... many combat experienced, it required an THIS ISSUE almost equal number of fillers to bring it up to wartime strength. The fillers were draftees Features and enlistees who came to Louisiana from Sailors Build Korean War Ship Replica 6 throughout the nation to begin basic training, ‘Turncoats’ of the ‘50s 10 with the Oklahoma Guardsmen serving in key training and leadership positions. Where are Korean War Defectors Now? 10 Training continued until March, 1951, Korea’s Bloodless Battle 12 when the division was ordered to be moved The First ‘Old Baldy’ 23 to Hokkaido, the northern island of Japan, to Tales from the Bonnie Dick 48 form a security force for the island and to continue combat training. It was the first National Guard division to move overseas Departments during the Korean War. The move was by President’s Message 4 ship from the port of New Orleans, Listen Up (Financial Statement) 9 Louisiana, through the Panama Canal to Japan. Defence POW/MIA Weekly Update 14 Combat In Korea Monuments and Memories 16 45th Infantry Division When the 45th Infantry Division moved Update – Korean War Ex-POW 20 to Korea in December, 1951, it was the first n June, 1950, Communist North Korea National VA/VS Report 20 National Guard division to go into combat in attacked South Korea, and the United I this war. It first served in the Yonchon- Book Review 20 Nations declared a “police action,” which, to Chorwon area, and in sectors fronting Old members of 45th Division became the Announcements 21 Baldy, Pork Chop Hill, Heartbreak Ridge Korean War. Shortly after the invasion, D.C. Affairs 23 and Luke’s Castle. President Truman called four National Guard Letters 26 Divisions to active duty for a two year peri- It was a different kind of war, because at od, including the 45th of Oklahoma. It was that time the mission was to hold positions Reunion Showplace 31 and not to significantly advance. During the first of four to report to active duty, mov- Chapter Affairs 33 most of the combat period, a battalion com- ing in September to Camp Polk, Louisiana. It The Poet’s Place 52 was one of two National Guard divisions to bat team of the Philippine army was attached see combat in the Korean War. The other was to the 179th Infantry Regiment. Beginning in Looking for... 56 the spring of 1952, the Oklahoma National the 40th Division from California. When the Taps 63 Guardsmen, who had been called to duty for 45th Infantry Division arrived at Camp Polk, Reunion Calendar 66 its membership included approximately 70 a two year period, began to phase out of the percent veterans of World War II, most of division to return to the United States. By whom had served with the 45th. August, all of the National Guardsmen, with News & Notes the exception of some who had opted to However, although, when called, it was Korean Revisit Dedication to Those extend their active duty, had returned to the Who Did Not Return 19 United States. But the division remained in SgtMaj Moran receives Bainbridge combat in Korea. Service Medal. 22 PFC Charles George received the MOH Photo file... 24 for his actions in Korea in 1952. The Pusan Merry Go Round 25 (Men of the 279th Regt., 45th Div shown Krepps Honored in Pennsylvania 32 on front cover in 1952. Thank you Glenn Ed White for photo and the 45th Div. KWV 50th Commemorative Partner Events 36 Curator, Mr. Michael E. Gonzales for KWV 50th Commemorative Partner Events 44 directing us to their great Web Page where we copied some text and photos. We hope First American WIA 47 to do more on this unit. Editor) War Vets Honored in NY 47 Thanks for Supporting The Graybeards 62 Update – Korean Revisit 64 Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary 69 Images of Korea 70 Visit the website at www.45thDivisionMuseum.com July/August, 2002 Page 3 President’s Message would like to Editor Mr. Vince Krepps was the keynote al. It is the only Memorial that I know of thank all the speaker. General Running of the 50th that Honors all the countries of the United Istaff and Commemoration Committee spoke of Nations that fought in Korea.