Vote! Vote! Vote! - Korean War Veterans Association

McCREIGHT from page 59
ate a diversion for the Chinese. Dr. Francis
was there when the USS Partridge exploded.
He saw it all happen from ashore. Maybe this
is why Tommy believed the operation would
work.
Dr. Francis was confident, candid and
could see what Tommy couldn’t see. He
could see a man who didn’t really want to
lose his leg. He could see a man who had a
chance to live with a limp as a gentle
reminder of what he didn’t lose that day in
1951.
After the doctor sawed out diseased bone,
cut out putrid flesh, and salvaged a spirit that
almost drowned on that day in February,
Tommy was in traction for weeks. He caught
a glimpse of what was left of his leg when the
nurse changed his dressings and was horrified.
He screamed for Dr. Francis to amputate
this monstrosity that was left dangling from
his hip. The doctor ignored Tommy because
he was convinced the operation was successful.
Not by the look of his leg, but because
the leg no longer reeked of rancid, rotting
flesh. The infection was gone and Tommy’s
leg was given a second chance.
Years went by and people still laughed.
People still stared. The steel brace from foot
to hip on his 6’ frame was hard not to notice.
But what was even more noticeable was the
anger that would swell up inside him. Even
after 35 years. But just as quickly as the
anger surfaced, he could dampen it and
replace that anger with understanding. And
Tommy’s ability to wrangle with such a powerful
emotion and turn it into an awareness
that is larger than life itself is what makes a
man truly a man.
Author’s note: Tommy’s strength of character
was incredibly contagious when he was
alive, and we hope that after people read this
story his strength will be just as contagious—
even though he’s no longer with us
Sponsor’s note: Mandy Stevens is my
granddaughter, outstanding and the best of
the best. I want to thank her for gathering
Tommy’s thoughts and putting them on
paper so the story of my childhood friend
could be told.
Dan Brandi, President of the NYCITY/Long
Island Chapter of the Chosin Few, 100 Daly
Blvd., Unit 3308, Oceanside, NY 11572-
6035, served aboard USS St Paul (CA-73)
If you are going to have a reunion,
have it now
You must know that army buddies are like real brothers, and you should support
each other. Now our reunion will only take place in Paradise—and I guess they
don’t serve Iron City beer there.
Iam writing this from “Down Under,” in
New Zealand, where I now live. Here is
a short background to my story.
I served in Korea in 1963/1964. My
close buddies, more like real brothers, were
Joe MacCarthy, from Pittsburgh, the home
of Iron City Beer, Marcellino Gomez, originally
from Panama, and a KATUSA sergeant
named Umm Moon Chong.
I was originally a “Limey.” After Korea
I was stationed at Fort Story, Virginia. Joe
Mac was at Washington DC. All leave time
was taken at Joe’s home. His parents were
like my parents. After service, we shared an
apartment in San Francisco. Later, I came
to New Zealand with my wife and family.
Ever since I left I kept in touch with Joe
Mac and Marcellino, both of whom were
back stateside. But none of us knew what
happened to Umm.
For the past ten years or so I have written
letters with photos to English language
newspapers in Seoul, to the Korean Vets
Assoc., and even to the Korean
Ambassador in Wellington, NA, but to no
avail. I drew a complete blank.
Finally, a friend gave me the name of a
lady in Seoul. I wrote and provided photos,
etc. I don’t know what job she has, but she
went straight to the top, e.g., Korean
Defense Dept, Army top brass, etc. My
story went into the Army Times newspaper.
Within a couple weeks I received an
email from a Mr. Park Sung Yong of the
KATUSA Veterans Association. (See the
copy nearby.) It turns out that Umm has
been living just outside Seattle since
1970—only one hour’s drive from where
Marcellino lives. So, we have all been
burning up the phone lines and planning a
reunion.
Now comes a sad twist to this story. Two
weeks after the four of us made contact, Joe
Mac died. He passed away on 15 July 2008
due to complications from an operation last
January.
The moral of this story, which I want to
impress on The Graybeards readers, is this:
if you are thinking of a reunion or searching
for old army buddies, do it now. Go to
a reunion, find a buddy. Tomorrow may be
too late.
You must know that army buddies are
like real brothers, and you should support
each other. Now our reunion will only take
place in Paradise—and I guess they don’t
serve Iron City beer there.
If any other veteran who served with me
at ASCOM EUSA Department 1963/64
wants to contact me, please do.
Incidentally, anyone looking for a
KATUSA buddy can email Park Sung Yong
at psy964@hotmail.com. He would be only
too happy to help.
Fraternally yours,
Ian Blissett
Flat 3, 7 Leefield Street,
Blenheim 7201, New Zealand
Zayd@xtra.co.nz
RE: Letter to Korean Brother
Subject: RE: Letter to Korean Brother
ParkSung Yong’s email to Ian Blesset
From: ParkSung Yong Date: Mon, 9 Jun 2008
To: Zayd Ian
Dear Ian.
I was very happy to hear your news.
I hope you can make happy reunion in the
U.S.
Our Katusa Veterans Association tries to
find any information or record of KATUSA or
KATCOM(Korean Augmentation Troops
Commonwealth) members who fought in
Korean War(1950-1953)
We got some information of KATCOM who
were augmented Australian Army, but none
of New Zealand.
So, would you like to help me to find any
information of KATCOM in New Zealand?
(any members who worked with KATCOM,
Unit name, record of KATUCOM etc.)
Keep in touch, Park. Korea.
P.S : I appreciate your honorable service in
Korea, and I will not forget it. Thank you.
65
The Graybeards
March – April 2009