The Graybeards - KWVA - Korean War Veterans Association

President’s Message
Harley Coon
President, KWVA
On
February
22, 2001
National Director
Ken Cook and I
had the honor of
meeting the honorable
Anthony
Principi the
newly appointed
Secretary of the
Department of
Veterans Affairs.
Secretary Principi
will be our key
note speaker at our reunion banquet on
July 27, 2001.
On January 7th the DPMO
(Department Prisoners of War/Missing in
Action Office) requested six (6) Korean
War Vets, at the invitation of the Peoples
Republic of China Red Cross to meet with
veterans that fought with the peoples voluntary
liberation army (PLA) in Korea.
The six (6) Americans were Don Byers
(Ret. Col U S Army) National Director
Ken Cook, KWVA Editor Vince Krepps
(his twin brother died in Prisoner of War
Camp # 5.) Jerry Doyle (his brother also
died as a Prisoner of War), Jack Carney
(Past National Commander VFW and
Corpsman and served with the 1st. Marine
Division Korea) and myself as President
KWVA and former Prisoner of War.
Our mission was one of great importance
and that was to establish a line of
Harley with the Honorable Anthony Principi; the newly appointed
Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
communication with the Chinese that may
lead to learning the fate of the 8,100 U.S.
soldiers still listed as Missing in Action.
We were escorted by Mr. Bob Jones,
Director of DPMO, Cortez Cooper, Maj.
Tim Wulff, and Phil O’Brien. Our Chinese
Counter parts were Xiang Xu Propaganda
staff officer 116th Division of the 39th
Army, Shi Dawei Party Secretary of the
38th Army, Li Dechen Operational Staff
Officer to the 187th Division of the 63rd
Army, Liu Qun Female Cultural Troupe
38th Army, and Cheng Shaokun POW
camp #5 Administrator of their Chinese
Red Cross leaders.
We spent 2 days talking and getting
some information. The DPMO will now
evaluate what we have gained. We feel the
meetings were very successful.
On February 21 The Peoples Republic
of China Embassy invited the same six (6)
American Solders to a banquet at the
Chinese Embassy. Once again we had a
positive meeting. This is the first time
anything like this has happened.
We hope the Chinese will let us get into
their archives and gain more information
on our 8,100 Missing in Action. This is
the first step.
The Korean War Veterans Association
continues to grow. Jerry Lake has been
working extra hard in getting new members.
We are approaching 16,500 members;
that is a increase of almost 3,000 in
the past 2 1/2 years. The Department of
Florida. has grown to
22 chapters thanks to
the Department
President Tom
Gaffney.
The KWVA financial
condition is in
great shape. (see
financial statement in
this issue).
We have one problem
to get resolved. I
hope to put this issue
to rest before our July
reunion. I assure the
Membership that they
will be informed of
the outcome.
I want to thank the
Department of Florida
The Korean War Veterans
Association continues to
grow.
We are approaching
16,500 members; that is a
increase of almost 3,000 in
the past 2 1/2 years.
President Tom Gaffney for his hard work
and working with Al Silvano of the
MOPH in helping the Korean touring cultural
dancers. They performed in 7 cities
in Florida and 2 cities in South Carolina.
After each performance they presented
each Korean Veteran with a large medallion.
There were over 2,000 medallions
presented to Korean War Veterans.
Mike Mahoney is doing a great job as
the VAVS chairman. We are getting more
volunteers every day and we have over 66
hospitals with volunteers.
Blair Cross is working hard on getting
our National Federal Charter. We have a
fine reputation in the Washington D C
area. See Blair’s report.
The National KWVA and Gathering is
having its 18th annual reunion. Sign up
early. Information and registration form is
in this issue of The Graybeards. We are
having a program book again this year.
One line with your name is $5.00. We will
have a Memorial page you can honor
someone. The pages are $25.00 for 1/4
page, $50.00 1/2 page, $75.00 3/4 Page
and $100.00 for full page or inside front
or back cover. Back cover $150.00 page
has been sold. Program book will help to
defray the expenses for 2001-2003
reunions.
We have an election for four (4) directors
this year. Your vote does count.
Check each candidate and see what positive
action he has to offer for the KWVA.
The Organization will be run by those you
elect.
Till next time I remain
Harley
Page 4
The Graybeards