The Graybeards - KWVA - Korean War Veterans Association

Update
Korean War Ex-POW
Excerpts taken from Korean War Ex-POW
Sept. 2000 Newsletter
Talk about a good time, we had it in
Spokane. The entire hotel staff could not
have been more accommodating. They
were responsive to our every need, and
served one of the best banquet meals we
have had to date. We sat 313 seated for
the banquet, and 375 registered. We all
later enjoyed in the hospitality room,
four large cakes decorated with the numbers
50 and 25 to commemorate the 50th
Anniversary of the beginning of the
War, and the 25th consecutive reunion.
On Saturday, we had our General
Meeting, the hat was passed, and a total
of $3965.75 was donated. In the afternoon,
Shorty Estabrook conducted his
usual great Memorial Service with the
support of his wife Marti, George
Bingham and Red Sitler. On Saturday
evening, we had the banquet, and the
meal was one of the best we have had.
The Rainbow Fiddlekids, a talented
group of fiddlers ranging in age from 4
to 13 provided the entertainment. They
were outstanding. We then had the
Raffle Drawing and the presentation of
the Door Prizes.
The highlight of the evening was the
surprise showing of the 24-minute video
entitled “Johnson’s List”. This was the
story about Wayne “Johnnie” Johnson
and how he managed to compile and
conceal a list of over 500 names of our
friends who died, or were murdered during
captivity. Upon repatriation, Johnnie
was able to smuggle his list out thereby
allowing final closure for many families.
Many of those present had never
seen the video, and the banquet hall was
a study of respectful attentiveness.
Unknown to Johnnie was that the
video had won a very prestigious 1st
Place Award in the History Category at
the US International Film and Video
Festival. Shorty Estabrook arranged the
entire detail coast to coast, via telephone
and email. Since the presentation of the
award was to take place at a swank hotel
in downtown Chicago, he contacted me
to see if Sandy & I would represent
Johnnie. Sandy was unable to attend so,
I asked 1st VP Ray Unger to go with me.
We were honored to accept the plaque
on behalf of Johnnie. At the conclusion
of the video, Shorty, Ray Unger & I presented
the plaque to Johnnie amidst a
thunderous standing ovation.
Sunday, we had our non-denominational
church service. We prayed that
everyone would have a safe journey
home and, that we would see each other
again neat year in Louisville, KY.
President Elliott Sortillo
Taps
Joseph E. Amos, Max L. Austin, Roy
E. Cline, Wayne C. Cun ningham, June
Y. Gaskins, Marilyn Hawley, Edwin F.
King, Carl McClendon, Jessie C.
McRay, Virgil & Jean Rutherford,
Stefano “Steve” Salerno, Leslie “Les”
White.
Reunion 2001 in Louisville, KY
The Executive West Hotel, 830
Phillips Lane, Louisville, KY Tel out of
state: 1-800-626-2708, in KY: 1-800-
633-8723 or 502-367-2251August 5
through August 12, 2001. Room Rate:
$65.00 for 1-4 persons. Children 17 and
under stay free in same room with parents.
The rate is subject to taxes, which
are currently 12.36%. The following
items are Complimentary: Ground level
parking, 24 hour airport shuttle, RV
parking with no hook-ups in the West
Parking Lot.
Korean War POW Book
To: All Korean War Ex-POWs,
Surviving Spouses and Friends
I hope I have your support in my
efforts to publish the book “U.S. POWs
in the Korean War: A Study of Their
Treatment and Handling by the North
Korean Army and the Chinese
Communist Forces”. I estimate that we
now have a little over $10,500 toward
the $35,000 needed to complete the
project, so we have a ways to go. The
book would be a great asset to the 50th
Year Commemoration of the Korean
War. We would like to have the book
placed in many libraries across the
nation by the end of the first year of this
commemoration. Here is a quick review
of what you can expect from your donation:
1. Your Donation is Tax Deductible
2. For the 1st $500.00 donation you
will receive 2 books. For each $500.00
beyond that you will receive an additional
book ($500 two books; $1000
three books; $1500, four books, etc.)
3. We ask that you keep the first book
and donate additional ones to libraries of
your choice.
Arden A. Rowley, Historian, 1041 E.
9th Drive Mesa, AZ 85204. Tel: 480-
964-9444 or e-mail at .
Make checks payable to “Korean War
ExPow Association” and send to Bill
Norwood, Treasurer, 909 Whisperwood
Trail, Cleveland, TN 37312.
(Again I wish to remind Arden, when you
get close to that last $1,000 needed to go
to press on the POW book please contact
me for I want to help get that book
printed. I also suggest that all chapters
join in with a donation or purchase a
book for your chapter and the local
library in the name of your chapter and
your POW members.–Graybeards
Editor.)
Executive Committee Meeting
The Mid Winter Executive
Committee meeting will be held on
March 23, 24, 25, 2001 in Tuscola, IL.
(Home of the Korean War Museum and
Library). The Holiday Inn will be the
place of the meeting.
The Holiday Inn is located at
Intersection of U. S. 36 and Interstate
57. On March 24, 2001 The Meeting
will start at 8:30 am- Lunch 12: noon,
resume at 1:15 pm and end at 5:30 pm
on March 24, 2001. Ken Cook will
make arrangements with Holiday Inn.
Each member of the Executive committee
will be reimbursed for expenses up
to $ 400.00 as approved by the membership
on July 26, 2000. The agenda,
room rates and other information will
follow.
Harley J. Coon, President KWVA
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