May - Korean War Veterans Association

Recon Missions
58
Robert F. Keiser for the MOH
This is an excerpt from Robert F. Keiser’s obituary in the 8
January 2010 Ridgecrest [CA] Daily Independent:
Robert F. “Cowboy Bob” Keiser, 85, passed away on Monday,
Dec. 28, 2009, in Ridgecrest....Bob spent his entire military
career as a military policeman and army criminal investigator
(since 1947), retiring in 1965. In WWII, he served in New Guinea
and the invasion of Luzon, in the Philippine Islands. During the
Korean War, his actions saved hundreds of men of the 2nd
Infantry Division, when they were trapped in North Korea on Nov.
30, 1950. For his heroism, Bob was twice recommended for the
Medal of Honor, and is currently under consideration by the
Military Awards Board.
One of the reasons Keiser has not been awarded the MOH
to date is a lack of witnesses to his extraordinary deeds on 30
November 1950, when he almost singlehandedly saved a 2nd
Infantry Division convoy from destruction. A military policeman
at the time, he removed more than 20 damaged vehicles
from the road and ordered other soldiers to help him in the
process. He was wounded several times in the process.
Does anyone remember any of this? Eyewitnesses to the
events of that afternoon would be helpful as the Full Military
Awards Committee considers whether to award the MOH on
Keiser.
Incidentally, there is a lengthy write-up of the quest to get
the MOH for Keiser in the March-April 2010 issue of The
Indianhead, the Second Infantry Division’s newsletter.
Visit the division’s website at http://www.2ida.org/
And, we included the story of his exploits in the Sept/Oct
2007 issue of The Graybeards, starting on p.30.
If there is anyone who can support claims of Keiser’s
actions, contact John Mallon, P. O. Box 31341, Omaha, NE
68131, (402) 292-1482.
Was this the same B-26?
An article in The Graybeards Jan/Feb Edition 2010 speaks
of a B-26 having hit a cable and going down in Korea. I missed
the article in the 2009 edition and wonder about when this
might have occurred.
I was stationed at K-47 in 1953. There, parked on the runway
was a B-26 with a very heavy cable wrapped around the
right engine. It sat on the runway for the longest time, and I’m
wondering if this is the same B-26 mentioned in the article
“Special memory about a B-26.”
J. J. Zaharis, 124 Grandview Drive
Westbrook, ME, 04092, (207) 878-9950
Anyone remember a Danny Kaye USO show?
In the March/April issue, there was a story on page 64 about
Jan Sterling and her husband, Paul Douglas. It reminded me of
a USO show that featured Danny Kaye.
I have asked a few Korean War veterans about this show. So
far I’m the only one who remembers it. As I recall, it was held
on the trailer of a flat-bed semi truck. The audience sat on a
hillside. We were so high up on that hill we could not hear
Danny. He came out with Signal Corps flags and waved them
around.
I have never seen Danny Kaye get credit for coming to
Korea. I have wondered if this is not a figment of my imagination.
However, in Col. Frank Armstrong’s book on the 8th
Engineers in Korea, he lists a morning report as:
30-October-1951 Saber 27 request “B” Co. Lt. Gump to pick up
truck and lumber for DANNY KAYE show.
Anybody remember the show?
Donald “DOC” Degood, 970 Catalpa Court,
Marysville OH 43040, (937) 642-9355,
ddegood@columbus.rr.com
?? Medena/96 FA Bn.
I am trying to find a man named Medena (first name
unknown). He may have been from Montana. He was in 3rd
Platoon, Co. E, 31st Inf. Regt.
Medena was seriously wounded in June 1951.
I would appreciate it if anyone who was in the 96 FA Bn in
Korea 1950-52 would contact me.
Lloyd Pitman, P. O. Box 71, Preble, NY 13141
Remembering Reckless
I am looking for anyone who remembers the good mare,
Sgt. Reckless, attached to the Recoilless Rifle Platoon, Anti-
Tank Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, in Korea,
1952-54; later stabled at Camp Pendleton, CA.
I am working on a book about her and anxious to talk with
anyone with memories to share. Please call or write me:
Janet Barrett, 36 Goose Hill Road, Chester, CT
06412, (860) 526-5431, jbarr711@comcast.net
Anthony J. Sappraicone with Pres.
Eisenhower
My dad, Anthony J. Sappraicone, was in Korea from 1951-
1953. He was chosen to drive President Eisenhower around
during his visit to Korea. There had been a photo of him with
Eisenhower in a local paper. Somehow, it got misplaced.
If anyone in your organization has any photos of Pres.
Eisenhower with a soldier driving him around, it is likely my
dad. I would love to have a photo to give to my dad, as it
would mean so much.
Patty Boris, 32-38 42nd St., Astoria, NY 11103
(718) 932-7620 (Home), (917) 868-4939
(cell), pat3238@earthlink.net
May – June 2010
The Graybeards