Sep/Oct 2004 Graybeards - KWVA - Korean War Veterans Association

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Mr. Urban Rump represents Chapter 307 at Memorial Day 2004 ceremony in Roswell, Georgia, with keynote speaker Captain Tommy Clack, U.S. Army (Ret.), in background. Chapter 284 member Dick Kirkey rides shotgun in the car driven by fellow member Bob Morrell. The rear-seat passenger is Betty Reynolds Decora, a Gold Star mother and Chapter member. Her son was KIA on 9/27/68 while on patrol in the DMZ. We are honored to have her as a member. 307 Gen. Raymond G ymond G. Davis vis, Atlanta James R. Conway Recently, Chapter members have participated in a variety of events, e.g., the Memorial Day ceremonies in Roswell and luncheon meetings. Their meetings featured some high-powered speakers and guests, e.g., Medal of Honor recipient Michael E. Thornton, a U.S. Navy Seal, at the June gathering, and Colonel Angela M. Manos, U.S. Army Garrison Commander, Fort McPherson and Fort Gillem in Georgia, Col. Ben S. Malcom, U.S. Army (Ret.), author of White Tigers, My Secret War in North Korea, and Thomas J. Woods, USMC (Ret.), at the August get-together. Thornton won the MOH in Vietnam during a reconnaissance and intelligence gathering mission. Medal of Honor recipient Michael E. Thornton addresses Chapter 307. Mrs. Knox Davis and USMC Major Christopher D. Thompson at wreath laying ceremony erected in the park in Roswell, Georgia. Col. Manos and Thomas J. Woods enjoy a happy moment. 48 Col. Manos and Gen. Malcolm share a laugh. New war memorial monument in Roswell, Georgia. September - October 2004 The Graybeards
Korean Defense Service Medal (KDSM) Update Korea Veterans of America (KVA) National and Massachusetts Commander Jeff Brodeur, Vice Commander Fran Elliott, and Adjutant John Durham advised us that Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney signed Senate Bill 2136 recognizing all recipients of the Korea Defense Service Medal (KDSM) The signing of this bill is historic. Massachusetts is the first state in the country to recognize in state law all recipients of the KDSM and the 1,200 Americans and 2,300 ROK soldiers killed in defense of Korea since the truce was signed. This will set a precedent throughout the country for individual recipients of the medal to push their legislative bodies for state recognition of KDSM holders. Many people played a role in the passing and signing of this historic bill. Just to name a few, they included: State Sponsor Marian Walsh, from West Roxbury, who has been working with the KVA from the day she and her staff sponsored the bill Representative James Fagan, from Taunton Mike Rush, from West Roxbury Senators Nuciforo, Creedon, Murray, Sprague, Morrissey, Glodis, Hart, Tucker and Barrios, House sponsors of the bill Personnel seeking verification of their eligibility from the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) to receive the Korean Defense Service Medal (KDSM) could be in for long delays and possibly disappointment taking into consideration the following: Generally the tour of duty in Korea was for one year and the bulk of the personnel were Army. Considering 40,000 soldiers stationed there each year for 50 years means about 2 million are eligible for this medal. A typical request rate would be between 10 and 30 % of those eligible, so 200,000 to 600,000 requests are projected. Many of these people are no longer serving on active duty, so the National Personnel Records Center will be the agency that must verify eligibility for this medal. The implementing instructions do not Massachusetts Governor Signs Bill Recognizing KDSM Recipients Credit must also be given to the entire State of Massachusetts Senate and House of Representatives. The members of both bodies took the time to appreciate the service of the service members who have been killed in Korea since the end of wartime period or who served in surrounding waters. We would like to also thank: Tom Daley, DAV State Adjutant Joan O’Connor, Veterans Services Counsel David O’Donnell, legal aide to Senator Walsh Mike Pastore, former aide to Rep. Mike Rush Richard Hughes, aide to Rep Fagan John O’Keefe Tom Brophy, aide to Senator Creedon Ted Mulvehille, Norwood veteran agent Thom Julian, KVA legislative officer Fran Elliott, KVA Vice Commander John Durham, KVA Adjutant All the KVA members who called their state senators and representatives on supporting Bill 2136 The State of Massachusetts is now in the history books as being the first state in the Union to recognize and appreciate all recipients of the Korea Defense Service Medal. Let’s hope other states follow its lead—and soon. list specific source documents to verify eligibility, thus records must be screened for evidence to meet eligibility requirements. While records may contain assignment orders, many of these orders do not specify Korea. Instead, they list something like APO SF CAL 96012 or FPO 92109. Both would indicate an assignment in the Pacific area, but a list of APO/FPO zip code locations inclusive of which years they applied would be required to establish in country assignment. NPRC doe not have this list. A personnel record does not contain documentation of participation as a regularly assigned air crewmember flying sorties into, out of, within, or over the area of eligibility in support of military operations. Each day that one or more sorties are flown counts as one day toward the 30 or 60-day requirement; so verification of this requirement will be very difficult, if not impossible. NPRC does not have a listing of ships that were within 12 miles of Korea and the dates, so verification for Navy personnel based on the personnel records will be difficult. Generally, the Navy Liaison office in St. Louis will process requests for awards from former U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps., and U.S. Coast Guard personnel. That office may have ship location information. Being on TDY in Korea may not meet the award criteria. TDY does not generally mean assigned, attached, or mobilized to a unit. Even if TDY is accepted as the basis for this award, it will be almost impossible to verify from the personnel records, because TDY orders are generally not permanent personnel documents. Although verification of assignment may be possible through screening of finance records, these are not available at NPRC. In view of the above, it is suggested that if the veteran or retiree has any supporting documentation of their time in Korea, that it be included with the request. Only one or two documents would be sufficient. Submitting more is redundant and discouraged. [Source: NPRC E-mail 07 Jun 2004] 49 The Graybeards September - October 2004
Page 2 and 3: The Magazine for Veterans of the Ko
Page 4 and 5: September/October 2004 CONTENTS 200
Page 6 and 7: 6 The Editor’s Desk Before I make
Page 8 and 9: Certificate Order Form 8 September
Page 10 and 11: BUSINESS MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE C
Page 12 and 13: BUSINESS MINUTES SUMMARY KWVA BOAR
Page 14 and 15: BUSINESS MINUTES SUMMARY KWVA BOAR
Page 16: BUSINESS MINUTES SUMMARY KWVA MEMB
Page 19 and 20: MINUTES SUMMARY KWVA MEMBERSHIP ME
Page 21 and 22: Faces in the croud.... A Continuity
Page 23 and 24: POW/MIA Update Iam deeply honored t
Page 25 and 26: Bronze Star reqested for Korean War
Page 27 and 28: using his fingernails. But the Nort
Page 29 and 30: got off the M.C. Meigs in Kobe, and
Page 31 and 32: Book Review Carlson, Lewis H., Reme
Page 33 and 34: Korea, Iraq-and Arlington Lapel Pin
Page 35 and 36: LEFT: Chapter 6 veteran and his wif
Page 37 and 38: Injin Chapter President Holtgrewe r
Page 39 and 40: Chapter 126 members have plenty to
Page 41 and 42: ➢ Village of Ridgefield Park’s
Page 43 and 44: 209 Laredo edo, TX 209 The Korean B
Page 45 and 46: The “Big Band” era lives on: Ch
Page 47: 272 Roc ockford, IL 272 USMC 2nd Lt
Page 51 and 52: Dick O’Brien and George Mills Fra
Page 53 and 54: Schools, Principal Courtney, Freepo
Page 55 and 56: Korea: the Forgotten War, Rememberd
Page 57 and 58: Korean War Veterans Memorial—The
Page 59: Something We Can All Relate To Curt
Page 63: Affairs office toll-free at 1-888-6
Page 66 and 67: Search Missions Does Anyone Remembe
Page 68 and 69: 68 GOING BACK TO KOREA THE WAR THEY
Page 70 and 71: 70 action”—but their country ne
Page 72 and 73: Reunion Calendar October 2004 17th
Page 74 and 75: 74 T. J., John Q., and Al Marchetto
Page 76 and 77: APPLICATION FOR KWVA REVISIT TOURS
Page 78 and 79: 78 September - October 2004 The Gra
Page 80: The Last Battle of Pork P Chop Hill

Sep/Oct 2004 Graybeards - KWVA - Korean War Veterans Association

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