The Graybeards - KWVA - Korean War Veterans Association

Photos by: Mel Bennett, 2566 W. 234th Street, Torrence, CA 90505
More ➤
L
M
N
O
P
Q
Photo by: Irwin Brawn, 2287 Howes St., Merrick, NY 11566
Photo that I took on July 27th, 1953. It shows the men of HQ Co., 32nd Infantry Regt., 7th Division hearing
the news at 10AM about the truce that would take effect at 10PM that night. Our CO, a captain, is
holding the orders that we were to follow. What is remarkable about the photo is it shows the expressions
on the faces of the men. The GIs took the news very solemnly. There were no cheers or shouting.
Everyone thought to themselves---thank God it’s over and I will go home.
I would like to tell you something about the
photo that you printed dated July 28th, 1953.
At that time I was the intelligence sergeant for
the 32nd Infantry Regiment, 7th Division.
No patrols would go out that day or night and
everyone would just hunker down in their
bunkers awaiting the cease fire. We were not
allowed to fraternize with the enemy or even
meet them in no-mans land.
The ROK artillery that night fired a massive
artillery barrage right up to the l0 PM deadline
and then a sudden stillness descended over
the MLR. Lights went on and the Chinese
began to play music over loud speakers.
The next day we packed up all our gear and
moved south to an area near Uijongbu.
However on July 28th, there were a few GIs
who decided to disobey the orders and they
decided to meet the Chinese.
The Chinese had erected banners (note signs
in your photo) and were encouraging the
Americans to come over and greet them. The
soldiers who met the Chinese as shown in the
photo were arrested by the MPs when they
returned to our lines
May/June, 2004 Page 27