Jan/Feb 2006 - Korean War Veterans Association

Members in the
Paul Johnston
There was a
story in the
November 2, 2005
Lincoln [NE]
Journal Star, pp.
1A & 2A, featuring
Paul Rodney
Johnston, who
served with the
U.S. Army, 802nd
Engineer Aviation
Bn., Co. C, Fifth
Air Force Far East Command, Suwan,
Korea. His assignment was to help build
and pave the airstrip at Suwan and Kimpo.
As the story explains, Johnston’s tour
ended just before Thanksgiving 1952.
One of the things he remembers most
vividly about leaving was saying goodbye
to Park Ik Youl, who was the houseboy
in his tent. The two lost contact. But,
in 2005, Johnston met Chong Min, a naturalized
American and native of Korea,
who was returning there for the first time
in 33 years.
By some miracle, Chong Min was able
to find Park. On October 15, 2005,
Johnston received a letter from Park, who
thanked him profusely for his actions in
Korea. In fact, Park wrote, “I really miss
your warm and kind face. If the distance
between us is short, I would come to you
right now, then I could bow to you…” He
added, “Please be happy and healthy forever…My
heart is still beating because of
you.”
The heartwarming story, written by
Cindy Lange-Kubick, is just one more
indication of the ties between Koreans and
the Americans who fought in their country—and
the mutual respect they share.
Les Peate
After 15 years of writing good historical
feature articles for Esprit de Corps
magazine, Korean War veteran Les Peate
has a book in print called The War That
Wasn’t: Canadians in Korea.
Les’s book essentially reworks the best
of his articles, organizes and indexes them
and presents them in a pleasant, easy read
paperback volume of 232 pages. It has
lots of illustrations…that
include
color prints of some
Ted Zuber (RCR
Korean War Veteran)
paintings, including a couple not so well
known but assuredly of appeal to anyone
who served on the Hook. There are many
photographs of Canadians in Korea.
What’s good about the book is that it
covers virtually all aspects of the war:
ships, planes, troops on the ground, medical
care.
At $22 (Canadian) per copy, it definitely
gets our nod as a good buy. Publisher is
Esprit de Corps Books, 1066 Somerset
Street West, Ottawa, ON K1Y 4T3,
www.espritdecorps.ca In-Canada phone
1-800-361-2791. Out of country call 613-
725-5060. Fax 613 725-2029.
Hershall E. Lee
At the dedication of the Vermillion
County [IL] Korean/Vietnam Wars
Memorial, Hershall Lee read the names
of all his friends who served during the
Korean War. As he noted, “He wanted to
do something in their memories.”
Cold Weather Tapes
Death Notice of a Member of KWVA
Brothers Reunite
in Korea
The Durskis Reunite in Korea
Norman M. Durski recalls the time he
and his brother Sylvetser reunited in
Korea. As the photo suggests, it was a
happy meeting.
Norman M. Durski, 4109 Cherry Pointe
Dr., South Bend, IN 46628-6161
Thanks for the interest in the cold weather tapes. They are still available for those who
want one. If you made a claim with the VA, hold on. It takes time., If you have ordered a
tape and you have not received it, I’ll send a replacement.
Thanks,
Byron W. Dickerson, 2nd VP
The following notice is submitted for publication:
Name of deceased ____________________________________________________
Date of death ________________________________________________________
Department/Chapter __________________________________________________
Address ____________________________________________________________
Army Navy Marine Corps Air Force Coast Guard
Other ______________________________________________________________
Primary Unit of service during Korean War
Submitted by ________________________________________________________
Relationship to deceased________________________________________________
Send to: Membership, P.O. Box 101238, Arlington, VA 22210
69
The Graybeards
January - February F
2006