Jan/Feb 2008 - KWVA - Korean War Veterans Association

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Feedback/Return Fire This section of The Graybeards is designed to provide feedback—and generate more feedback. It gives readers the opportunity to respond to printed stories, letters, points of view, etc., without having to write long-winded replies. Feel free to respond to whatever you see in the magazine. As long as it’s tasteful and non-political, we will be happy to include it. If you want to submit ideas, criticisms, etc. that you prefer not to see in print— with your name attached to it—then we will honor that. Make sure to let us know, though. Mail your “Return Fire” to the “Feedback Editor” at 152 Sky View Drive, Rocky Hill, CT 06067-2859. E-mail it to: sharp_arthur_g@sbcglobal.net, or phone it in to (860) 563-6149. Whatever the medium you choose, we welcome your input. 64 We cannot do it alone I am a member of virtually all the national veterans’ organizations, and I receive all their publications. The Graybeards is by far the best of all veterans’ magazines. All the departments are well managed, the stories from fellow vets are interesting and exciting, and the photos sent in by members bring back many poignant memories. The “Tell America” photos and stories, as well as Chapter news, bring us all up to date. Being a news junkie, where but in The Graybeards could I learn that in Kaesong, South Korean companies employ both North and South Korean workers totaling more than eighteen thousand working together side by side? I also learned about “KORUS,“ the third largest free trade area in the world. I did not know of those facts from the countless news sources to which I watch, listen and read. Thank you for keeping us informed. Thomas G. Hannon, 4721 Mount Vernon Drive, Bradenton, FL 34210 941, (941) 795-5061 EDITOR’S NOTE: Normally, modesty prevents us from publishing letters like this (even though we never tire of reading them). However, since we don’t do it often enough, we should use this letter as a springboard to thank our many contributors. As I have mentioned on many occasions, The Graybeards’ staff comprises two people, the editor and Mrs. Editor. Most of the information we print in the magazine comes from contributors who believe it will be of interest to KWVA. That is how we learn of Kaesong, KORUS, and other interesting items of concern regarding Korea. Mr. Hannon has provided us with the impetus to thank everybody who contributes, and invites more people to join them. Thanks—and keep the information coming. Let’s fade away in dignity Is not the KWVA nearing its twilight years? What memory do we wish to leave? We should focus on the perpetual care of our memorial in Washington, DC, close our doors, and fade away in dignity. Sherman S. Dantzler, shermansdantzler@bellsouth.net Bad review of a review The review and evaluation of David Halberstam’s work, “The Coldest Winter,” was negative and offered no encouragement for veterans to read the book. It even complains that the book is too long, too many pages. I say, if a reader requires brevity then he should read the COMIC page, not a history of war nor any part thereof. The review says that Halberstam’s views of leaders of the day are biased, but every Korean War history book gives much the same evaluations, except for official writers such as Col. Roy Appleman, who could hardly have been entirely candid about his superiors. A positive review and encouragement for veterans to read history for themselves would have been better. I have read and kept copies of about every book on the Korean War on my shelves for reference, and none are better than “The Coldest Winter” by David Halberstam. I’ve worked with veterans by letter, e-mails, and reunions for years and can say that few of us know enough about that war or the times to ignore this great book. A check of amazon.com does not reveal the title of a personal account or a history of the Korean War by the review writer. Will somebody help me on this? After Art Sharp’s treatment of “The Coldest Winter,” I don’t feel quite so bad about his dismissal of my own book, “At Mama-san House,” as fiction. Joe Christopher, POOO569, Japan 1948-50, Korea 1950-51 Mystery Photos In the September-October issue, under the caption “More Mystery Photos (p. 71),“ the first picture in the series of three is of the Han River Bridge on the main thoroughfare south of Seoul to Yong Dung Po and Inchon. The second picture in the series looks like the main Seoul Railroad Station identified in an earlier edition. I don’t have a clue for the next. The Han River Bridge I copied a couple photographs from my album. I only have poor pictures of the Han River Bridge, taken during the winter period of 1947-48. They are the two smaller ones at the lower right on the enclosed page. Due to the rapid advance of the North Korean forces, the South Korean Military prematurely blew up this bridge in the early hours of June 28, stranding the bulk of January-February 2008 The Graybeards
Stairway leading up to Shinto Shrine (left with stone gate at bottom of stairs (below) Air view of Seoul their Army, supplies and transport north of the Han River, If I am Japanese as a Shinto Shrine. I find the magazine very informative and interesting. I served in the Korean occupation (1946- 49) and again in the war years (1950-51). Keep up the good work. Joseph V. Newland, 675 Sandy Avenue Angola, NY 14006 It may have been a House of Worship Here is a picture of the “Mystery Building” on the right in the three mystery photos mentioned above. I took it sometime in 1952. As for what type of building, I have no idea. It may be (or have been) a House of Worship. Domenick Carrero, 525 Westminster Road Wenonah, NJ 08090-1444 (856) 468-1097 (538th Ordnance Co., 8th Army) Post card that looks like it was photographed from the roof of the Seoul City Hall facing south. not mistaken, it also got the nick name of “the Rubber Bridge” during the war. That is because during the daylight hours the Air Force would bomb the bridge causing damage. During the night the North Koreans would rapidly repair it. The other pictures on my enclosed copy I find interesting; I thought you would also. The “Air View of Seoul” was cut from an 8th Army periodical published sometime in 1948. The picture directly under it is a Korean post card that looks like it was photographed from the roof of the Seoul City Hall facing south. The pictures in the upper right were taken on South Mountain (Nam San). The Japanese had a Shinto Shrine built at the top. The view is from the bottom of the stairway leading up to the shrine. The Torii (stone gate) pictured had a duplicate at the top entrance to the Shrine. The time line would be about the summer of 1947 (I think). The picture directly under it shows what the Koreans thought of the Japanese Shinto Shrine. The stone gates were torn down sometime during the winter of 1947-48 (again—I think). Some people who served in Korea after the war knew about the steps but not that it was built by the Was this building a House of Worship? The Missing Clock Of the three “mystery photos” at the top of page 61 in the Sept/Oct 2007 issue, the center photo, I believe, is the bombedout railroad station in downtown Seoul. I have a color slide which I took sometime between Nov. ’51 and Nov. ’52. More likely closer to May, ’52. 65 The Graybeards January-February 2008
Page 2 and 3:
In loving memory of General Raymond
Page 4 and 5:
4 January/February 2008 COVER: 1st
Page 6 and 7:
The Editor’s Desk Art Sharp 6 I w
Page 8 and 9:
Mark your Calendars! Korean War Vet
Page 10 and 11:
BUSINESS SUMMARY MINUTES, CALLED BO
Page 12 and 13:
BUSINESS POW/MIA Update Soldier Mis
Page 14 and 15: 14 BUSINESS Chapters and Department
Page 16 and 17: BUSINESS Chapters and Departments:
Page 18 and 19: BUSINESS KWVA Accounting and Tax Su
Page 20 and 21: BUSINESS October 12, 2007 To the Of
Page 22 and 23: BUSINESS 22 THE GRAYBEARDS DEADLINE
Page 24 and 25: 24 How To Visit Korea Without Leavi
Page 26 and 27: CID 135 - Harry S. Tuman Chapter Re
Page 28 and 29: Update Tell America 17 - LT RICHARD
Page 30 and 31: 121 - CINCINNATI [OH] We made Tell
Page 32 and 33: Monuments and Medals Korea: the For
Page 34 and 35: 34 of the actual citation that desc
Page 36 and 37: Memorial Dedicated in Wetumpka, AL
Page 38 and 39: Chapter News NOTE 1: CID = Chapter
Page 40 and 41: Again, we had our Veterans Affairs
Page 42 and 43: 142 KOREAN WAR VETERANS [MD] We hel
Page 44 and 45: 221 TWIN CITY [TX] We participate i
Page 46 and 47: 46 Radio Operations Company (304th
Page 48 and 49: ABOVE: Preparing for IG inspection
Page 50 and 51: Capitol in Seoul, built by Japanese
Page 52 and 53: Korean War Veterans’ Mini-Reunion
Page 54 and 55: H-3-1 (USMC) Unit members got toget
Page 56 and 57: Wonju and Hill 342 North Wonju, sub
Page 58 and 59: Images Of Korea Why It’s Not Wise
Page 60 and 61: 60 VA’s National Suicide Preventi
Page 62 and 63: 62 OPINION Reasons for awarding a K
Page 66 and 67: At that time, someone told me that
Page 68 and 69: 68 trip home on a “banana boat.
Page 70 and 71: Official Membership Application For
Page 72 and 73: ALABAMA ✯ MALCOLM W. AKRIDGE ✯
Page 74 and 75: Recon Missions Harry Bell/Hank Meer
Page 76 and 77: HILL 342 rom page 57 76 Temple outb
Page 78 and 79: APPLICATION FOR KVA SEOUL REVISIT T
Page 80: RODRIGUEZ LIVE FIRE COMPLEX, Republ
show all

Jan/Feb 2008 - KWVA - Korean War Veterans Association

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?