Last Chance to W in Your Dream Vacation Fund-Raiser Information ...

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EDITOR’S NOTE: According to the article, an estimated 750 million
P-38s were produced for WWII, and “at least a billion” were made
from Vietnam to the present.” The P-38 was phased out beginning
with the first Gulf War.
RE: “Remember This.” The Graybeards,
May/June 2009, p.57
Yes, I remember Operation “Comeback,” the effort to transport to
Formosa 14,600 ex-Chinese Communists of the Korean War who did
not want to go back to Red China. My Platoon Leader, Lt. Hedlund
(sp?), of Minnesota (I think), was killed in the operation to return
POWs to China.
I was stationed at Camp Nara, and served in Weapons Co., 2nd
Bn., 4th Regt., 3rd Mar Div., June 53/Dec 54. Luck smiled on me during
that time. I was scheduled to go on that operation along with Lt.
Hedlund. I was the Ammo Sgt (actual rank at the time was PFC).
I believe the entire 4th Regiment was made up mostly of “greenhorns”
with little or scant service. Many of us served at positions
higher than their actual rank. I was “saved” because, on the day of
departure, I had developed a severe throat infection and was taken off
the list of those who were sent on the mission. I cannot recall any of
the others—or if there were others—who went with Lt. Hedlund.
A week or so after he left, we went on a firing mission somewhere
north of Nara. Again, I have no recollection of the place, or even the
general area, where the firing took place. It was my first field assignment
as the Ammo Sgt., and I was in the forward group to the firing
area. We set up the camp, the tent for the Co. Hdqtrs., and the tent area
for the ammo tent. We also staked out the areas for the four platoons.
Sometime, at about 1000 hours, during the first night, snow began
to fall. By daylight there was about 12-15 inches of snow. By about
1300 hours, the remainder of the 2nd Bn arrived. There was a serious
discussion among the Bn Commander and all the Officers/Senior
NCOs on whether, in view of the weather, to stay or pull out. The
decision was to stay!! The weather got worse. In the end, there was
about 45/50++ inches of snow.
We tried far several days to complete the mission, but no one,
except the flamethrower unit, could determine whether they hit their
targets or not.
During these few days, word came that Lt. Hedlund, along with
several others, had been killed in an accident, but details were
sketchy. I was privy to the discussions, because the ammo tent was
the only place where all the ranking personnel could gather, and I
stayed put.
After about three days of attempting to wait out the storm and
complete the exercise, the Command gave the word to c1ose down
and move out. There had been some further information on the plight
of Lt. Hedlund et al, but no specifics.
Shortly after our return to Nara, we received final word that the
Lieutenant and others had been killed. But, there were no specifics,
and I heard nothing further, nor did I ever learn anything else.
This will probably not be of much help to you. But, I have spent
a lot of time wondering what actually happened, specifically about
the disposition of Lt. Hedlund’s remains, if found. What little I can
furnish may help you fill in come gaps.
John A. Kahle, Box 972, Conyers, GA 30012
(770) 788-3066, johnkahle3@hotmail.com
RE: The Graybeards, Jan/Feb 2009, “Bombs from
the B-26,” p. 26
I was in the 8th Bomb Squadron Communications from June 1952
to June 1953. There were two other 8-26 Squadrons: the 13th and the
90th. All of the 26’s were parked in a ‘T’ formation near one end of
the runway. The squadron shops were spread along one side of the
parking area, and our shop was in a tent with the 90th planes parked
in front of us.
I remember when a 90th 26 parked after returning from a night
mission. The pilot climbed out of the cockpit, looked at a hole at least
the size of a basketball in his wing, shrugged his shoulders, climbed
off and left. Of course, he had completed his mission and returned to
base: those were his two priorities.
We had one USO show with Jon Hall, Frances Langford, Wally
Vernon and a gorgeous young dancer who, along with Frances, got
the most applause.
My friend and mentor, William A. Hauden (Toledo, OH) and I did
most of the pre-flight on the radio and intercom on each plane prior
to each mission. We never had an aborted mission.
Lowell M. Turner, 6161 Moss Wood Drive
Fishers, IN 46038, LowellTurner@att.net
If you’re in the St. Augustine, FL area in
November…
Thank you very much for your help with our “Jacksonville Salutes
Korean Veterans” documentary premiere. It was so well received that
we are going to show it again a few days before Veterans Day in St.
Augustine, FL.
I have attached the below Press Release for your information.
A Veterans Celebration
The St. Johns County Veterans Council will be hosting a free Veterans
Celebration on Sunday, November 8th, in the Flagler College
Auditorium, 14 Granada St., St. Augustine, FL at 3:00 p.m.
The celebration will kick off a week of veterans-related events at
Francis Field and at the St. Augustine Lighthouse.
The Flagler College Celebration will feature a local documentary featuring
the stories of five local First Coast Korean War Veterans,
“Korea: Forgotten War, Remembered Heroes.” This entertaining
event will have patriotic singing, dancing, comedy and the stories of
our local veteran heroes.
The Veterans Council invites everyone to this free event to honor all
our veterans. Tickets are not needed; please tell all your friends.
For further information call Michael Rothfeld at (904) 829-0381.
Is Camp Breckenridge a Coal Mine?
I have received 2 phone calls and 1 letter in reference the article in
the May/June edition of The Graybeards, p. 26, re Camp
Breckenridge. One member from Girard, IL, Harold Huston; (217)
204-2010, called and said that he was informed that the camp is now
a Coal Mine. Can anyone verify this.?
There was another letter from Jim Wagner, from Vandalia, OH. He
did a Revisit to Korea. Len Warner, a member of Chapter 55, Nassau
County, NY, called. His number is (516) 799-5544. All three seemed
excited about the article.
Reggie Kephart, reg.mar@comcast.net
July - August 2009
The Graybeards