The Graybeards - KWVA - Korean War Veterans Association

14
Members in the
Ex-POW aids search for soldier’s
remains
GI was held for a month by
Chinese during Korean War
By Erik Slavin, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Sunday, August 20, 2006
GYEONGGI PROVINCE, South
Korea — Retired Command Sgt. Maj.
Joseph L. Annello is in the midst of a trip
back in time.
He was held as a prisoner of war by the
Chinese here more than 50 years ago.
Today, he’s back to help find the
remains of a fellow prisoner.
Annello’s story began on April 24,
1951, when two divisions of Chinese soldiers
with heavy artillery advanced on the
then-sergeant’s company during the
height of the Korean War.
Two days before, the Chinese had
begun their offensive against the Kansas
line, which ran a few miles north of the
38th Parallel dividing the two Koreas.
While fighting the larger force the best
he could, Annello remembers a bullet
striking his leg.
A grenade exploded as he fell, sending
metal fragments into his back.
“The next morning, a Chinese soldier
prodded me with a bayonet,” Annello
said. “He motioned me to get up, but I
couldn’t.”
When the Chinese forced a group of 20
prisoners to march, Sgt. Hiroshi
Miyamura carried Annello about 15 miles
before he was ordered to drop him.
Miyamura apologized.
Annello understood.
“They figured I wasn’t worth the price
of a bullet, so they left me there,” he said.
Two days later, another Chinese unit
loaded him on a pushcart and carried him
to an outpost where five other prisoners of
war shared a shack with barnyard animals.
Although they were prisoners at a medical
unit, they received no food or care.
The Chinese allowed the one prisoner
who could walk to get them water from
the river each day.
For more than a month, they survived
on “roots, dandelions and anything else
we thought was edible.”
During that time,
one of the soldiers
died from his injuries.
The remaining prisoners buried him.
Fifty-five years later, Annello is back
at the scene.
It looks far greener and a flood has
sloped the land but he still remembers
several features of the property.
After the soldier died, the prisoners
knew they had to find a way to escape.
While fetching water one night, Air
Force 2nd Lt. Melvin Shadduck dove in
the river and swam for three days before
making contact with the 5th Cavalry
Regiment.
Shortly after, five tanks surrounded the
encampment and whisked Annello and the
others to safety.
Three years later, Annello picked up a
copy of Newsweek and saw a picture of
Miyamura, the man who had carried him,
being awarded the Medal of Honor.
Annello traveled to Gallup, N.M., and
found his comrade in arms.
“You’re dead!” Miyamura said,
stunned but elated.The Little Landers exhibit
flyer
“No, I’m not,” Annello said with a
smile.
Annello remained in the Army until
1970, retiring as command sergeant major
of U.S. Forces Japan.
Hitt Makes A Hit Display In
Tujunga
KWVA member Lloyd Hitt was instrumental
in creating a “Faces of Freedom”
exhibit for the Little Landers Historical
Photos of the Little Landers veterans
exhibit
September – October 2006
The Graybeards