The Graybeards - KWVA - Korean War Veterans Association

He served as S-3, 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry in Korea, then
joined the Division staff of the 101st Airborne Division at Fort
Campbell, Kentucky. After a year on the U.S. Army staff in
Washington, D.C., he took command of the 1st Battalion, 327th
Infantry at Fort Campbell, and afterward served with the Division
staff. He commanded the 2d Brigade, 2d Infantry Division in
Korea, served with U.S. Joint Forces Command in Norfolk,
Virginia, and then returned to Korea as chief of staff, 2d Infantry
Division. He came back to the 101st Airborne Division as the
Assistant Division Commander (Support), followed by service in
Iraq with the XVIII Airborne Corps and then with the advisory
effort for the new Iraqi military.
Professional education includes the Infantry Basic and
Advanced courses, the U.S. Army Command and General Staff
College, and the U.S. Army War College.
At the regular chapter meeting on September 9, the Deputy
Commander and Sgt-at-Arms of Chapter 180, CSM (Ret) James
Myrick and CSM (Ret) Grady Thomas, were commissioned by the
Chapter Commander, Lou Dechert, to contact and sign up the
newly arrived Commander of Fort Polk, BG Bolger, because of his
long association and duty with the 2d US Infantry Division in
Korea. On September 18, CSM Myrick reported “Mission accomplished.”
CSM Myrick, a survivor of the 7th Infantry Division, 32nd
Infantry Regiment “East of Chosin,” encountered a surprise in contacting
General Bolger: the general’s father was a member of
Company M, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Division at Chosin. He
fought out just like Myrick. Commander Dechert has given Myrick
new additional instructions: Sign up his Dad!
Jim Myrick is also the man who originally signed Lou Dechert
up in the KWVA several years ago as Chapter 180 was being
organized.
Welcome, General Bolger.
Errata
President In Reverse
You may have received emails by now, but in case other KWVA
members didn’t see the error on page 3 of our May/June 2006 issue
of The Graybeards, the picture of our Association President, Louis
T. Dechert, was reversed.
He looks good both ways.
C.A. “Bud” Collette
I Am Not The Mayor
In the May-June issue of The Graybeards, on the lower left page
8, you put down my name as Ed Koch. It should be Bill Koch.
It’s somewhat funny. I am not the ex-mayor of New York.
William J. Koch
Right State, Wrong Position
I would like to rectify an error made in the most recent May-
June issue of The Graybeards.
The article states that members of the Ocean State Chapter #1
(RI) attended a ceremony to honor me as I was sworn in as a
Civilian Aide to Lt. General Russel L. Honore.
BUSINESS
DONATIONS IN MEMORY OF A BELOVED
KOREAN VETERAN
By Bill Hutton
Joseph L. Romano, Jr. would not want to be considered as a “special”
guy, according to his son, Air Force Colonel Joseph Romano III. He was
a corporal in the Air Force during the Korean War, where he simply did the
job he felt he owed his country. This “Sense of Duty” runs throughout the
Romano family, with most of the male members having served in the
Army or Air Force. Many, such as his son, are serving today.
By now, Joe has been buried in Arlington Cemetery, which was one of
his last wishes, so he will be there with his immediate comrades, as well
as the many veterans the family respects so much.
Joe’s family has encouraged all of his family, friends, business associates
and any others that, instead of flowers or other memorials, those
donations should be made to the Korean War Veterans Association. The
funds will be used to help our general operating expenses. As of this writing,
over $700.00 has been collected.
I spoke to Col. Romano to see if the family would mind if we placed an
article in the magazine. He was very encouraging, and understood exactly
why we wanted to do it.
In short, the Romano family has opened another way for KWVA to seek
funds for operating support. Let’s encourage other families to suggest
that KWVA would be a wonderful way to honor their loved ones, especially
those who were Korean War or Korea Service veterans.
Donations can be earmarked for specific needs, such as The
Graybeards, or the Korean War National Monument (for which we are the
primary supporter). Or, they can simply be contributed to general operating
funds. Donations can be sent to the National Secretary or the
Treasurer.
Each contribution will be recognized, and the donations are tax
deductible as a contribution to our non-profit veterans status.
What actually occurred is that Lt. General Honore, the
Commanding General of the First United States Army, hosted my
investiture and swore me in as the Civilian Aide to the Secretary of
the Army. General Honore is a great friend and an outstanding soldier,
and I was honored that he came to Rhode Island for the ceremony.
I served with the 96 Battalion, a separate unit of EUSAK, from
early 1951 through the late spring of 1952 in Korea.
Sincerely,
A. Theodore F. Low, Col. (ret),
Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the
Army
95 Blackstone Boulevard,
Providence, RI 02906
Puller’s Promotion
Concerning the article, “New Memorial Proposed in New
Jersey,” p. 63, July-August, 2006 issue: the writer either has the
wrong General Officer or the wrong rank for Chesty Puller. Puller
wasn’t promoted to Brigadier General until January, 1951.
Vince McCormick (via email)
11
The Graybeards September – October 2006