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Captain said he needs the liquor today.” “I’ll send Miles down with it right after lunch,” I assured him. I let Miles know what was going on. He said he would eat lunch and leave. “Get another typewriter if you can,” I told him. He came back with two. A few days later I was promoted Private First Class. In 2-3 weeks I was a Corporal. This next deal is a whopper! A big Colonel came into the tent. “What did I do now?” I asked myself. He told me he needed a large typewriter with a long carriage that would accommodate a form he showed me. It must have been 30 inches wide! “Wow,” I said. “Have you ever worked on a typewriter with a carriage this wide?” he asked. I told him I had. “I know you can get me one,” he said. I justified his faith in me, but I informed him it would take some time to find one with a carriage that long. After a little talking, we settled on three quarts of liquor if I could get him one that worked. The next day Miles made a trip back to the depot with the form the Colonel had left with us. I told him that if he found a typewriter that would accommodate that form, he should bring it—and another one—of the same make for parts. He did just that, although the second typewriter had a shorter carriage. We started working on the machine that night. We cleaned it. The next day we oiled it, checked it, repaired what was wrong, and finished the job that night. The next day I tested it again; it worked fine. We took it where the Colonel told us where he was located. There was nothing but a big rise in the ground. But, as we got closer, we spotted stairs going down to a door. This place was camouflaged; very hard to see it. I went down, opened the door, and walked in. Just as I got all the way down, the Colonel was going past, all smiles. “You have a typewriter?” he asked. “I do,” I said. “I just wanted to make sure I was in the right place.” He summoned the Sergeant and told him, “Help this man with the typewriter and get him the three quarts of liquor.” The Sergeant and I got the typewriter and set it up. I checked it out and asked that some one there check it out, too. They got their form out, put it in the typewriter, set the tab stops, etc., typed on it, and proclaimed it ready to use. “Now we can get our reports out,” they said happily. The Sergeant produced the three quarts of liquor. They thanked us; we thanked them. Outside, I said, “Another satisfied customer.” I become a truck driver Near the end of the 24th Division’s stay in Korea, my truck driver was transferred. The First Sergeant asked me if I could drive the truck. I said I could learn. I got a crash course. The truck bucked a few times. Some of the guys watching me laughed and kidded me. I said, “If one of you can drive this truck, you can be my truck driver.” They all said, “No way.” I told them they were chicken. “You will be a couple miles from the front line.” Anyway I mastered the driving and became a truck driver, too. Later, I was called backed to our intermediate location. My four Korean workers and I packed up and headed south. The California 40th was relieving us. Some of the men of the 40th asked our First Sergeant where the front was. He told them the only one here who knew was Harris. He called me in and asked me if I would show them where it was. I agreed to do so. My relief and a few others went with me. When we got in the area, I told my relief things have changed. I found a spot to back up and turn around. As I backed in, we spotted a patrol running toward us. I told the men in the back of the truck to lock and load their weapons. The patrol was upon us in no time. We lucked out; they were our men. The Sergeant asked if I would run them over to where they had to go, as they were late. We transported them. Just after they were out of sight around the side of the hill, shells started coming in. I hollered, “Take cover and spread out.” As I was looking toward the open field, one of our tanks was coming north. The next thing I saw was something explode under or near the tank. The hatch opened and the men were climbing out of the hatch. Shortly after, things stopped. A Sergeant came down the hill and asked who had the truck. I said I did. “The General thanks you for bringing over the patrol—and to get the hell out of here,” he barked. When we were leaving, we saw the jeep up on the hill with a star on it. We were headed south, and we thought it was time to bug out. When we got back to our area, we were relating our experience. The First Sergeant called me in and asked what happened. I told him the same story that the 40th men were telling. I also told him that was my last trip to the front lines. “The 40th men know where it is now,” I told him. “I’m rotating back to Japan with the rest of you guys.” When we were packing up to leave for Japan, the Captain asked me what was in the small wood box. “A typewriter, Sir,” I told him. “I thought we might need one in Japan as you were leaving this one here.” He chuckled and told me to move on. We were in Japan a short time, and the First Sergeant sent for me. He told me to pack my gear for a trip north. “Where am I going?” I asked. “The Captain, you, and me are going up north to check out the base up there to see what it needs,” he announced. “They are going to open it up, but the Russians have ski troops out practicing. We need to keep our eye on them.” Sure enough, they were out there. I thought we had snow in the Catskills and Jamestown N.Y. areas. They had this snow piled real high! When we got back to our base, the Captain called me in and told me I had missed my boat back to the States, but I would be on the next one. I should have told the Captain that I would stay if I got promoted. That was hindsight. Richard L. Harris, 5219 Grape Street, Houston, TX 77096, Cpl, Typewriter Repair, 24th Quartermaster, Korea 1950-52, (713) 664-1872 NOTE: This is an edited version of a story that appeared in The Taro Leaf, Vol. 62(2), spring 2008, pp. 24-25. 72 The Graybeards November – December 2009
Last Call All of us in the Korean War Veterans Association extend our sincere sympathy to the families and friends of those listed below. May they rest in peace. ALABAMA DOROTHY BALLARD MORRIS EDWARD MOORE GEORGE M. TRENDELL ALASKA KENNETH M. JOHNSON WILLIAM E. LEMBKE CALIFORNIA GENE A. FOWLER VAN D. HARRALD RODERICK G. RAMIER JACK E. WHITFIELD CONNECTICUT JOHN F. CASSIDY MICHAEL G. SAM DELAWARE LEROY H. RYAN JR. FLORIDA STEPHEN S. ACKERMAN HARRY E. BATCHELDER EDWARD C. BAXTER JR. DONALD E. BROCKMEIER DONALD COSSABOOM FUNDADOR DAVILA JIM DEVINCENZO DONALD W. JESKE CARL T. LIKES JOSEPH L. MCDERMOTT GEORGIA HARVEY L. GREEN LUTHER REBER MARYLAND LAWRENCE A. NOVAK JR. MASSACHUSETTS WILLIAM J. ANDERSON RICHARD W. BOUDREAU JOHN A. CLARK JAMES W. CONWAY R. DONALD FERRERI EDWARD GEARY JR. THOMAS HULEHAN ROBERT E. JELLEY EDWARD B. KELLY HARVEY J. LANDER MINNESOTA GLENN L. DAHL LAWRENCE S. JELINSKI MEARL E. NELSON JOHN A. YANCHEK MISSOURI BENJAMIN F. COOLEY HAROLD D. GUNDY ALBIN B. KOS SR. EDWARD H. ‘ED’ SMITH NEVADA WILFRED R. PIMENTEL CHARLES L. SHIELDS H. ROLF ‘SKIP’ SKJEIE NEW HAMPSHIRE KENNARD H. LANG NEW JERSEY NORMAN E. TREDWAY OHIO CHARLES A. BUNKER THOMAS B. BUSTER RICHARD D. HUMPHREYS JAMES A. MCELROY TAMMY SHANK BYRON E. SMITH OREGON DONAVON E. ENGLISH JERRY F. MARMON PENNSYLVANIA WILLIAM J. KLEINGUENTHER JOHN M. MAY SARA ‘SALLY’ MORGAN W. C. SCHMELTZER SOUTH CAROLINA HARLEY F. WELSH TENNESSEE SAM W. HONEYCUTT TEXAS VAUDA CUDE EDWARD E. DOJUTREK JAMES D. MONCRIEF MCKINLEY MOSLEY VIRGINIA JOSEPH A. WILLIAMS WEST VIRGINIA JACK L. BRIGGS MOH recipient Col Lewis Millett dies Col Lewis Millett, U.S. Army (Ret), passed away in Loma Linda, CA on 14 November 2009. He was 88 at the time. Millett, a native of Mechanic Falls, ME, and WWII veteran, received the MOH in 1951 for leading a bayonet charge against an enemy position. He also served in Vietnam. Millett retired from the Army in 1973. Former Ambassador to Korea dies Former U.S. Ambassador to Korea James R. Lilley (1986-89), who served under Presidents Ronald Regan and George H.W. Bush, died in Washington, DC on 12 November 2009. He was 81. Lilley was born in 1929 in Qingdao, China. His family lived there until the outbreak of WWII. The knowledge he gained in China provided the background and expertise he needed to assume his ambassadorship. Death Notice of a Member of KWVA 73 HAWAII BILL A. VALENZUELA ILLINOIS MICHAEL C. KAMINSKI KENNETH LEMKEMEIER GEORGE F. MARSHALL VIRGIL C. STOLZ MELVERN H. WEBER INDIANA THOMAS C. COLVIN LOUISIANA JASPER P. NELSON JR. NEW YORK RALPH J. COOK SR. JOSEPH CUCCINIELLO ROBERT A. DOBERT ALBERT DORSEY SR. SANTO FORTE JOHN GAGION WILLIAM ART LANE WILLIAM J. LYONS RAYMOND E. SINCLAIR PHYLLIS D. STRONG JOSEPH S. THOMANN EDWARD J. TOMASIK NORTH CARROLINA ROBERT S. HUTTON BILLY JOHNSON The following notice is submitted for publication: Name of deceased __________________________________ Date of death ______________________________________ Department/Chapter ________________________________ Address __________________________________________ rArmy r Navy r Marine Corps rAir Force r Coast Guard Other ____________________________________________ Primary Unit of service during Korean War Submitted by ______________________________________ Relationship to deceased ____________________________ Send to: Membership, P.O. Box 407, Charleston, IL 61920-0407 November – December 2009 The Graybeards
Page 1 and 2:
This Issue!! 2009 Charter and Bylaw
Page 3 and 4:
From the President The Board of Dir
Page 6 and 7:
The Editor’s Desk Art Sharp 6 His
Page 9 and 10:
Guest Editorial An Appeal To Local
Page 11 and 12:
There were a lot of records lost in
Page 13 and 14:
• In nine months in 2008 we had i
Page 15 and 16:
Commander McCain submitted three op
Page 17 and 18:
My life at K-13 By Howard V. Alston
Page 19 and 20:
BUSINESS article, the following pro
Page 21 and 22: KOREAN WAR BONUSES BY STATE Alabama
Page 23 and 24: Members in the Theodore F. Low Theo
Page 26 and 27: Thanks! As we have noted in past is
Page 28 and 29: 28 Korean dancers and drummers perf
Page 30 and 31: Walking History Comes to Langley AF
Page 32 and 33: The Little Wanderers Home of Wonju
Page 34 and 35: Chapter & Department News 2 NORTHWE
Page 36 and 37: Our exhibit contains a supply case
Page 38 and 39: Elliott, who has performed “Taps
Page 40 and 41: Park in Lakeland and then participa
Page 42 and 43: The chapter’s officers are: • B
Page 44 and 45: Michigan to honor him. Two veterans
Page 46 and 47: The balloon with the American flag
Page 48 and 49: Monuments and Medals Korea: the For
Page 50 and 51: • Jerry L. Keesee - Banking, Hist
Page 52 and 53: The Where, When, and Why of the Kor
Page 54 and 55: Korean War Veterans’ Mini-Reunion
Page 56 and 57: Korean War Veterans’ Mini-Reunion
Page 58 and 59: 58 By Jim Hodges It seems that Floy
Page 60 and 61: Recon Missions 60 Martin J. Kavanau
Page 62 and 63: Feedback/Return Fire This section o
Page 64 and 65: 64 The actual picture of the Bather
Page 66 and 67: Yes, I think he’s worth a story i
Page 68 and 69: Location: Longitude 128 degrees eas
Page 70 and 71: My ‘Typewriter’ Korean War By R
Page 74 and 75: Official Membership Application For
Page 76 and 77: On 11 September 2009, Chapter 300,
Page 78 and 79: 78 November - December 2009 The Gra
Page 80: Korean War Veterans Association Mem
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