Our Warmest Wishes For The Holidays - Korean War Veterans ...

Korean War Veterans’ Mini-Reunions
(Continued from page 55 )
Company L, 45th Inf. Div., 279th Inf., 3d Bn
LCompany held its 2007 reunion October 1-4, 2007, in
Laughlin, NV, at the Riverside Hotel, along with the Korean
War Veterans reunion hosted by Dick Gallmeyer. We had 18
attendees: Richard Bendon, Gene Dennis, Paul & Sue Elkins,
Lawrence & Glenda Gilbo, Charles Hicks & Britta Coons, Frank
& Rita Price plus daughter & son-in-law, Norbert & Donna
Robben, and Gerald & Carol Williams plus daughter. The number
included 8 former members of L Co.
The first day (Monday) was check-in. Later in the day we
watched an exciting performance by a Korean Dance Company.
We started Tuesday with a welcome breakfast and a talk by
Harley Coon about Korean War POWs. Harley was taken prisoner
while serving with the 2nd Infantry Division (ID) on
November 30th, 1950. He gave a good speech in which he
described the bad treatment they suffered at the hands of the
NKPA.
That afternoon some of us attended a talk given by Joe
Langone, a member of Task Force Smith. He was in Company B,
21st Infantry, 24th ID. They were the first men committed to
combat. They were notified at 10 p.m. on June 30, 1950 to report
to the local airbase by 8 a.m. July 1, 1950.
As Langone explained, the unit size was limited by the lack of
available air transport. It consisted of 377 infantry and 137
artillery men. It was a desperate gamble and did buy some time,
they held out for the better part of one day and then fell back (for
two days) to the next unit that had just arrived, also from the 24th
ID.
Joe stated that, in spite of the belief to the contrary, they were
well trained. He also stated he was attacked 21 times by airpower;
once by Australians, once by the North Koreans and 19
times by US air. The 24th ID continued to bear the brunt of the
battle up to July 20, 1950. In order to hold Taejon, General Dean
was in the street helping knock out North Korean tanks. In the
withdrawal, he took a wrong turn at night and was captured some
36 days later.
The 24th ID’s defense of Taejon allowed General Walker time
to get two more divisions in country. The 24th was badly battered,
but still had to help with the defense of the Pusan
Perimeter; these were desperate times.
Wednesday was open time until the social hour at 6 p.m., followed
by a sit-down dinner at 7 p.m. and a dance till 11:30 p.m.
This reunion had a large number of attendees from all branches
of service and all units. I talked to one man who had been a member
of Task Force Kingston. He was in M-Company, 32nd
Infantry, the second and last unit to reach the Yalu River. Both
were from the 7th ID.
Paul Elkins, 671 44th St., Los Alamos, NM 87544, (505) 662-
4634, pselks45id@yahoo.com
Donna and
Norbert
Robben at the
Co L reunion
in Laughlin
Co. L members in Laughlin (Back, L-R) Frank Price, Charles Hicks,
Lawrence Gilbo, Gene Dennis, Gerald Williams (Front L-R) Paul
Elkins, Richard Bendon
76
The “Ladies of Co. L” (L-R) Bretta Coons, Rita’s daughter, Rita
Price, Glenda Gilbo, Carol Williams and Sue Elkins
November-December 2007
The Graybeards