The Graybeards - KWVA - Korean War Veterans Association

President’s Message
Harley Coon
President, KWVA
The
membership
and
Chapters have
grown quite a bit
thanks to Jerry
Lake and Sam
Naomi. Jerry is
our membership
and chapter formation
chairman.
I feel that we have
many potential
members that could
join KWVA. The
Korean War era Veterans that did not
serve in Korea (both men and women)
feel that they are not Korean War
Veterans. This is not true, the Military that
served during that time are very much
Korean War Veterans.
They may not have been in Korea but
the jobs they had were very important to
support the military that did serve in
Korea. In Europe the forces were keeping
the Communists in check. In the United
States the forces were keeping our loved
ones safe. We would like to invite these
Veterans to join us.
Blair Cross our Washington Liaison
will be working to get our National
Charter in process again. We have a new
Congress, Senate, and a new President.
Blair will need your help in contacting
your Representatives. The person working
with the last Congress didn’t have too
much luck. I am certain Blair will get a
National Charter this year. Our reputation
and creditability is at an all time high with
several government agencies and other
veterans organizations.
In the December issue of the VFW
Magazine the address of the Korean War
Veterans Association was listed wrong. I
have talked to the VFW editor and it will
be corrected in the February issue. When
a person leaves office he/she should have
the address corrected and all mail sent to
Membership person Nancy Monson or to
National Headquarters.
I can not believe it was 50 years ago
that many of us spent Christmas as
Prisoners of War or on the front lines.
How can one forget the agony we suffered.
The temperature well below 20
degrees, many were bruised and beaten
and wounded from both friendly and
enemy fire. Our meal in the POW Camp
that night consisted of millet (boiled bird
seed) most did not have anything but their
hands to eat with. We rolled the millet in a
ball and pretended we were eating an
apple, at least it was hot. Later in the
Korean huts we huddled together trying to
keep from freezing. We started to sing
Christmas carols. Most of our thoughts
were on our families back home, worrying
about what must be going through their
minds not knowing what has happened to
their fathers, sons and family members.
What we didn’t realize was that we were
to spend Christmas two more times in the
hells of North Korea not knowing who
would and who would not survive. Those
on the front lines also suffered from lack
of food and the cold trying to survive
another day. Ernie Pyle once said “there
are no atheists in a fox hole.” During a lull
in the fighting at the Pusan Perimeter we
received a mail call. I was setting on the
edge of my fox hole reading a letter from
my sister. Lt. Ace Adams came by and
asked if I had any good news. I told Ace
that my sister asked me if I found God.
Ace said, “If you find him, send him up to
the 2nd platoon, we need another rifleman”.
That night we got hit hard by the
North Koreans.” The next morning I went
into the area where the wounded and dead
The bullet went around the inside the
helmet and came out the same hole. I
asked Ace Adams if he found God, He
replied, “I found him last night.” No
one knows the feelings of a soldier on
the front line in war, unless you have
been there.
were assembled. I saw Lt. Ace Adams setting
there with his helmet on his knee. The
helmet had a bullet hole dead center just
above the eyes. The bullet went around
the inside the helmet and came out the
same hole. I asked Ace Adams if he found
God, He replied, “I found him last night.”
No one knows the feelings of a soldier on
the front line in war, unless you have been
there.
This past year has been a busy one for
me in representing the KWVA. Starting in
January for the Dedication of the State of
Florida Korean War Memorial. My wife
and I had the honor of meeting Jeb Bush
(Brother of President Elect George W
Bush). I then went to several chapters in
Ohio swearing in Officers. Then I
returned to Mt. Dora, Florida to swear in
Officers. Went to Washington D C in
February for meetings, returned to
Arlington, VA for our Executive Council
meeting in March. During the month of
April, I went to Australia for the dedica-
Please turn to PRESIDENT on page 10
Harley at 49er’s football game representing all Korean War Vets for the 50th Commemoration.
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The Graybeards