Jul/Aug 2008 - Korean War Veterans Association

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The Editor’s Desk Art Sharp 6 In memory of “Big Al” “Big Al” Lerz died on 9 July 2008. The name may not mean anything to some of you—or maybe it does. He served in Korea well after the war ended, and emerged from his Army duty as a better-prepared citizen. Al was a classmate of mine in the Waterbury, CT Crosby High Class of 1958. He, like so many others in our class, joined the military after high school. We joined because our choices were limited, and military service for most of us was de rigueur. Waterbury was known back in 1958 as the “Brass Capital of the World.” Many of you who fired a round from an M1, a 155 howitzer, an 81mm mortar, a pea shooter, or any other weapon in Korea probably had Waterbury to thank. Waterbury’s economy depended on the brass goods produced by Scovill, American Brass, Chase Brass & Copper, or the other factories in the city for survival. Ours was an industrial city, and our fathers, for the most part, were unionized, “blue collar” workers. Even though “Big Al,” me, and 374 other kids composed the senior class at Crosby, we knew that at some point most of us males would be going into the military, even if we were attending the city’s elite institution of higher education. Crosby was the college prep school in Waterbury. The other two public high schools were Leavenworth and Wilby. The former was the trade school; the latter was for nursing and secretarial sciences students. They weren’t the only high schools in town, though. There were four others: Sacred Heart, Catholic High (strictly girls), Notre Dame (also strictly girls), and Kaynor, a state-operated technical school. (Several of my male friends applied for acceptance to Catholic High and Notre Dame, but they couldn’t pass the physicals.) Not many males attended Wilby. As it turned out, those few who did were the smart ones. The male to female ratio at Wilby was at least five girls to every ... those of us who entered the military learned a couple “big” lessons. We could—and did—learn a lot from our military experiences. We matured, and we learned the value of serving our country. boy. Those of us studying at Crosby, where the student body was split almost evenly, were supposed to be preparing for college—and we weren’t smart enough to figure out that Wilby presented better social opportunities? No wonder we ended up in the military! But, no matter which high school we attended, we shared one common fate: we all had military obligations after graduation. Truthfully, our options were limited. We could graduate, go to work in a brass factory, realize that we wanted something better, join the military, realize that the something better was working in a brass factory, serve our enlistment, and return to Waterbury to work in a brass factory. Or, we could graduate, go into the military, realize that we wanted something better, convince ourselves that “the something better” was a job in a brass factory, complete our enlistment, return to Waterbury, and work in a brass factory. A few of our luckier friends did go to college right after high school— and almost everyone of them served in the military after they graduated from college. Most of us did not have the latter option available to us at the time. Our families could not afford college costs, even if some institution of higher learning was desperate enough to accept us. I was accepted at two colleges, but I knew my father would he hard pressed to come up with tuition money. (I, like “Big Al” and so many of my fellow service veterans, took advantage postactive duty of one of our most valuable benefits, the GI Bill, and used it to finance our college studies.) Dad had scrimped and saved to put my three older sisters through nursing school, and I had one sister only 21 months younger than me who was much more deserving of post-high school education. (She, too, eventually attended nursing school—and earned a degree from Boston College later on.) Besides, I was seventeen years old and I could not see what possible good a college education would do for me. So, I opted for the USMC. Only one other member of our class, John Shea, did the same. The others chose lesser services. (Just kidding!) John, me, and Jackie Sforza, a graduate of Leavenworth (the high school, not the prison) headed off for Parris Island in August 1958. That proved one thing: graduates of a college prep school are no smarter than graduates of trade schools. “Big Al” headed off to the Army and a stint in Korea. “Big Al” acquired his nickname for three reasons. He was physically imposing, hence “big.” He had a cousin in our same class whose name was also Al Lerz. He was not as big as “Big Al,” at least not vertically, so we used the sobriquet “Big Al” to distinguish between the two Als. (Anybody want to hazard a guess as to what the smaller Al’s nickname was? If you guessed “Little Al,” you are right. Those of us who attended a college prep high school were original, if nothing else.) “Big Al” also had a big heart. Everyone looked up to him both physically and respectfully. The nickname did fit. Anyway, those of us who entered the military learned a couple “big” lessons. We could—and did—learn a lot from our military experiences. We matured, and we learned the value of serving our country. That is what separated us from so many of today’s young folks. Mandatory military service does wonders for the character of individuals who serve, and it spreads the responsibility July - August 2008 The Graybeards
for providing the freedoms we cherish as individuals and a country. That lesson is missing in society nowadays. There is a simple answer to easing the burden on today’s overburdened military: make military service mandatory, and we won’t be sending the same Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, Airmen and Airwomen, etc., into harm’s way over and over. Of course, a better answer might be to stop going to war, but that possibility is about as likely as finding the answer to which branch of the armed services is the superior one. (I know the answer, but if I reveal it, some of you are likely to argue with me.) The benefits to military service are legion. I know it, you know it, “Big Al” knew it, and the male members of my high school reunion committee with whom I work to put together our gatherings every five years know it. Each of the males who work on the committee served in the armed forces. We banter often about our military service, and we all agree that we benefited greatly from it. If only graduates from today’s high schools could do the same fifty years from now. Fifty years? Yes, it has been fifty years since I graduated from high school. Our class will hold its 50thanniversary celebration of that event on 13 September. This will be the first time we will do so without “Big Al” in attendance. Our class members will miss him (and John Shea, too, who assumed his guard post at the Gates of Heaven in February 2008). But, we will remember “Big Al” as we remember all our classmates who have moved on to the big class reunion in the sky. We thank him for his service as we remember our own. Thank you, “Big Al”—and thank all of you who have served and kept our country free. Please support our advertisers Hopefully, our readers will buy their products so we can retain our curent advertisers, attract new advertisers, and use the revenues to underwrite the costs of producing The Graybeards. Welcome to the Norfolk, Virginia Reunion, 22-26 October 2008 By Warren Wiedhahn, Reunion Chairman The state motto is “Virginia is for Lovers,” and we who live in the Commonwealth would “Love” to have you join us in October to show off our beautiful state. A very high percentage of Korean War veterans live here, and we intend to “Welcome” the Korean War Veterans Association (KWVA) with true Southern Hospitality! Norfolk is noted for many things, including one of the deepest natural ports on the entire east coast. Consequently, “water”—the ocean, rivers and bay—is a major attraction. Our beautiful Sheraton Hotel is right on the bay, which you can see from almost any place in the facility. We will get to see plenty of that water. Thursday night we will transit the bay in a modern and comfortable launch, sailing by the Navy’s carriers, destroyers and cruisers tied up at the Navy Base as we enjoy a leisurely dinner cruise. The “General Douglas MacArthur Memorial and Museum” is a centerpiece of the reunion. Just two short blocks from our hotel, it is not just “brick and mortar.” The Memorial is a living, breathing Thanks for Supporting The Graybeards Members are invited to help underwrite the publications costs of The Graybeards. All contributions in any amount are welcome. Mail your donations to KWVA Treasurer J Tilford Jones, 6958 Heatherknoll Dr., Dallas, TX 75248-5534. All contributions will be acknowledged, unless the donor specifically requests to remain anonymous. And, if you have an “In memory of” (IMO) request, include that as well. We thank you for your generous support.. CONTRIBUTOR LOCATION Graybeards Support Milton G. Bitzer MD In honor of 64Tk Bn Jim Foley PA Merlin R. James FL Patrick R. Sbarra NJ David Hallahan, Edmond Gleason, Leonard Bennett, PltLt Laurant Lasante, & Fred Henry of “G” Co. 180th Inf. Regt., 45th Inf. Div., all KIA Thomas E. Wood GA Chapter 270, KWVA TX Norfolk is noted for many things, including one of the deepest natural ports on the entire east coast. Consequently, “water”—the ocean, rivers and bay—is a major attraction. Research Center containing over a million of the General’s reports, messages, photographs, newspapers and motion pictures of his over forty years in the U.S. Army. The “Memorial” will be the location of the Reunion’s opening Ceremony Thursday morning. The “Memorial” is also the final resting place of General and Mrs. MacArthur. The crypt is surrounded by inscriptions, banners and flags heralding his long and glorious career in the service of our country! “Red, White and Blue Patriotism” will be the theme of the 2008 Reunion. Korean War veterans and their families, of all ages and eras, are cordially invited to attend. We guarantee all of you a “Warm Welcome” in this congenial and historic Virginia city! CONTRIBUTOR Donations Daniel Antolick Joseph J. Biddle Susie Beidel Timothy W Butler Susie Beidel Craig W. Hansen Susie Beidel Jeffery Kim Stark County Sheriff’s Eli Hostetler Citizens Academy Alumni Daphne H. Winters LOCATION NV TN TN TN GA OH 7 The Graybeards July - August 2008
Page 1 and 2: Sail into Norfolk for the KWVA Reun
Page 3 and 4: From the President My first remarks
Page 5: TO HONOR KOREAN WAR VETERANS EXCLUS
Page 9 and 10: The Graybeards July - August 2008 9
Page 11 and 12: The Graybeards July - August 2008 1
Page 13 and 14: CALL FOR ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
Page 15 and 16: Records received!.... Mr. Cohee: I
Page 17 and 18: BUSINESS Bob approached the office
Page 19 and 20: Begin: Personal Reflections by Hal
Page 21 and 22: feat of extracting 60,000 troops fr
Page 23 and 24: The following is a joint Press Rele
Page 26 and 27: Parades as Recruiting Tools Grand M
Page 28 and 29: 222 - DON C. FAITH (MOH) [TX] Chapt
Page 30 and 31: Update Tell America 105 - CENTRAL N
Page 32 and 33: Monuments and Medals Korea: the For
Page 34 and 35: Monument dedicated in Quincy, MA Th
Page 36 and 37: Thanks! As we have noted in past is
Page 38 and 39: 38 “PS. For those that don’t kn
Page 40 and 41: Chapter & Department News NOTE 1: C
Page 42 and 43: The Chapter received another gestur
Page 44 and 45: decided to run into the burning bui
Page 46 and 47: once again on the 2008 Memorial Day
Page 48 and 49: “Mount up”—CID 170 members ab
Page 50 and 51: Members of CID 259 stand with famil
Page 52 and 53: Staten Island Chapter honors Turkis
Page 54 and 55: Korean War Veterans’ Mini-Reunion
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56 Book Review Blood Runs Red White
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Reunion Calendar 2008 - 2009 To pos
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Recon Missions 60 PFC James M Jorda
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Feedback/Return Fire This section o
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Free cigarettes…but pipe smokers
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The fourth most visited memorial…
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It pays to cross that bridge when y
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Putting an MP on a pedestal: 519 MP
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Official Membership Application For
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Alabama ✯ Richard C. Bryan ✯ Wi
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Members in the Bob Young Members fr
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APPLICATION FOR KVA SEOUL REVISIT T
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These planes may be up in the air o
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Jul/Aug 2008 - Korean War Veterans Association

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