Jul/Aug 2008 - Korean War Veterans Association

Korean War Veterans’ Mini-Reunions .............................
“Thunderbirds” who fly no more
Agroup of veterans who served together
in the 45th Inf. Div., known as ‘The
Thunderbirds,” compiled their stories about
an outpost named Queen on Christmas Hill in
a book of the same name published in 2003.
Now, many of those men, who were so young
then, get together at mini-reunions to reminisce
and remember their departed brothers.
Sam Gann listed several of the contributors
and the men whose stories they included
in their book who have passed on in recent
years. They include Abe “Abie” Walter (NY-
2001); Edward “Roadie” Rode (NY-2004);
John McLain (TN-2005); Richard “Andy”
Anderson (MO-2005); Andrew Terry (GA-
2005); Bill Oelkers (NY-2006); Dr. Robert T.
“Dr. Bob” Schorr (CA-2007).
In addition, two contributors’ and members’
wives have passed on: Mary Margaret
Brown, wife of Harold (MO-2007), and Joan
Farmer, wife of Jackie (TX-2004).
As Gann and his “brothers” have learned
over the years, reunions are about more than
just gathering with the living; they are also
about remembering those who have departed.
They live on in spirit—and they are part of
the spirit of any reunion.
Samuel Gann, 2201 E 65th St.
Indianapolis, IN 46220
Christmas in July contributors gather at the Biltmore (L-R) Harold Brown, John McLain, Richard
Anderson, Jackie Farmer, Edward (“Roadie”) Rode, Wayne Pelkey, Bill Oelkers, Sam Gann, Ray Kalil
Dr. Robert T. Schorr,
MD, Korea, 1953
Christmas in July contributors at a happy time (L-R) Mary Margaret
Brown, Harold Brown, Jackie Farmer, Joan Farmer
54
VF-114
VF114 pilots in San Antonio (L-R) E.E. “Dusty” Irish,
Sam G. Kingery, James G. “Dagwood” Bumstead,
Roger A. “Whitey” Hamre, Jean S. “Sam” Clauzel,
William L. Redmon
Six surviving men who were pilots in VF-114 flying F4U-4B Corsairs early
in the Korean War, from July 1950 to April of 1951, held a reunion in San
Antonio in March 2008. Each of the six men participated in all the early
actions from the Pusan Perimeter, Inchon invasion, Wonsan Harbor, Yalu
River Bridge, and especially in providing close air support for the evacuation
of the Chosen Reservoir.
Each of them holds the Distinguished Flying Cross and several Air Medals
for those actions.
Bumstead and Irish were LTJGs. Clauzel, Redmon and Hamre were
Ensigns and Kingery was flying combat as a Midshipman. He was commissioned
Ensign while on that cruise.
Roger A. Hamre, Capt. USNR (Ret), 120 Cumberland Green Drive
Cary, NC 27513, (919) 460-1557, rdhamre@bellsouth.ne
July - August 2008
The Graybeards