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

Schools, Principal Courtney, Freeport
Mayor Glacken, and a representative
of New York’s Governor Pataki.
The NJROTC provided the color
guard, and Cadet Mataklier led the
Pledge of Allegiance. Both the
American and the Korean national
anthems were sung by Ms. So Young
Lee-Segredo. She sang other patriotic
songs at various points in the ceremony.
Freeport Fire Department Chaplain
Rev. Dawley gave both the invocation
and the benediction.
Rear Admiral Miller was the principal
speaker. He gave a stirring speech
on the importance of remembering and
honoring these men. He was followed
by Mr. Jong-kyoung Hong, representing
the government of South Korea.
After a short speech expressing the
feelings of his people towards our
honorees, he presented the “Republic
of Korea, Korean War Service
Medals” to each of the seven NJROTC
Cadets representing an honoree. He
was assisted in the presentation by
Admiral Miller, Tom Riley, and Mike
Keenan.
Dr. Al Renken brought the alumni
back to the “happy days” at Freeport
High, mentioning the sports, the parties
and the good times our honorees
left to fight in Korea. Prior to the closing
ceremonies, the committee members
left the stage to present to surviving
members of the Holter and Garland
families, their Korean War Service
Medals.
Admiral Miller is currently putting
together a display that will remain permanently
at Freeport High School to
remind future students of their heritage.
The remaining medals, for
which we could not find relatives, will
be kept in trust there along with related
memorabilia. In connection with
our memorial, author and military historian
Lee Ballenger donated signed
copies of his two books, U.S. Marines
In Korea, Volumes 1 and 2, to Freeport
High School in memory of PFCs.
Holter and McAllister. The sad irony
of this gift is that perhaps Freeport
High School now has in its library
more history on the Korean War than
do most schools in the country.
A monument at Osan
In Memory of Pfc. William Holland
Ireturned to Korea in 1994 and revisited
the battlefield at Osan, where a fierce
battle was fought on July 5, 1950.
The memories in my mind of that day
were vivid. As we approached the site,
everything was so different. I had rented a
car and a Korean guide who spoke English
and was well educated. He was referred to
us by the Korean War Veterans Association,
after Bill Norris, founder and past President
of KWVA, and I asked to be excluded from
the day’s scheduled itinerary.
We dined with Bill’s good friend, Chap
Chong Chi, the night before. Mr. Chi, who
founded the UN KOREA Allies
Association, Inc. in 1963, laid out a road
map and directions for our driver and guide,
since we were going to visit more than one
place.
The dirt road North of Osan—at least I
recalled it as dirt—had become four lanes of
very heavily traveled concrete. A ridge that
was once part of the battlefield was gone.
The saddle from where we had fired our 75
Recoilless Rifle on the T34 tanks was no
longer there. But, just below what was our
position on that day was a Memorial that I
can only describe as beautiful, and which
caused one to reflect. As I was left, I was in
awe. The Korean government had truly
erected a Memorial of which all Americans
who fought there can be honored and proud.
A Korean teacher and her class were
seated just to the right of the Memorial,
learning their history on site. We were introduced
by our guide to the teacher and her
class. He told them that I had fought there in
1950.They thanked us, and we took pictures.
It was a moment I will never forget.
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Mr. Chi told us the night before, in a kidding
fashion; “Don’t get killed crossing that
highway.” We finally got across this
extremely busy highway and climbed the
steps where a smaller monument had been
erected at the top. On the front slope, in
1992, the Koreans had dug new gun
emplacements and had marked different
ranges on what looked like marble. On the
reverse slope, there was what resembled a
C.P. There, Korean people were buried,
their burial places identified with stone
markers. On that spot, in 1950, our mortars
had taken up positions.
While Bill and our guide were taking
pictures, I walked below the mortar positions,
the site of our third and final position
on that day. The ridge to the south was completely
gone. That was where the order to
retreat came from that day. I remembered
the chaos of battle, and the confusion of no
order in this retreat. But, by the grace of
God, I made good my escape. I found out
later that everyone else had been captured.
Of the Tiger group, everybody except
one person had survived the Death March
and the inhumane and barbaric treatment
forced on them by the North Koreans.
To you, old friend, I dedicate this letter.
Your smiling face I remember as if it were
only yesterday. In one brief moment in history
we were separated forever. This
Memorial at Osan is for your honor and
glory: Pfc. William Holland, Cincinnati,
Ohio. Died in captivity on 6/11/51
Nickname: “Babyface.”
May you rest in peace.
Robert J. Roy, M CO, 21st Regt.
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53
The Graybeards September - October 2004