The Graybeards - Korean War Veterans Association

To my knowledge there is no “Korean Service” medal for
which one is now eligible for service there. I would have been
overjoyed, as a commander, to have pinned such a medal on the
chests of my soldiers as they DROS’d when I served there ... but,
there was no such award ... no such recognition for spending a
year or more away from their loved ones in a hostile environment.
We have recognition, in abundance, for the troops who
went to Kuwait and Southwest Asia ... they are veritable heroes.
A four day war ... and these soldiers return with Bronze Star
Medals, Southwest Asia Service Medals, etc. I understand how it
feels to be sent forth, struggle valiantly and not be recognized for
at all for one’s efforts.
My service in Korea is almost twenty years old now ... and to
my knowledge the military services have still not developed a
proper way to recognize our soldiers who put their lives on the
line, in a hazardous environment. I wonder, what is being done
to recognize the men who stood on the DMZ all of these years ?
I hope, after a tremendously successful fifty year anniversary of
the commencement of our obligation to preserving the peace in
remote and inhospitable regions of our globe, that we do not forget
about those who are still there ... still making the sacrifices ...
are we going to wait another fifty years before we recognize their
service?
Sincerely
John W. Powell, Lt Col. USAR
Republic of Korea 1983-’84.
Contact at FRGRP@aol.com
(Dear Col. Powell. No one knows any better then the Korean
War Veteran about being forgotten. I normally would not print
such a long letter and also a reply. The KWVA organized after
the Vietnam Veterans and our children woke us up. We started
from scratch. We now have about 16,000 members voicing our
causes and we are growing and getting the long overdue recognition
we deserved 50 years ago.
This organization gives membership to anyone that served in
Korea prior, during the war and after. We also allow membership
to veterans that served anywhere in the world during the
Korean War era. This association is your voice also. We will
proudly accept membership from the DMZ veterans from 1953 to
today and tomorrow for we are all brothers. We veterans of the
war are growing older and sincerely hope to see younger veterans
taking our place to remember all our sacrifices to make and
keep South Korea free. I took your letter seriously, now it is time
you and the younger veterans to step up to the plate and carry on
this great association. Editor.)
The Korean War Postal Stamp
In June of this year, a local newspaper did an article on me
and my efforts to locate the families and relatives of the
MIA/KIAs from Columbia County, NY. As a result of that article
I received a telephone call from Mr. Peter P. Cuva of
Madison, NJ who stated that he had copies of the original photograph
used by the United States Postal Service to produce the
stamp to honor Korean War Veterans. He asked if I would be
interested in receiving copies of the photograph, and of course I
said “yes.” I am sending you copies of what I received from Mr.
Cuva, along with other information relating to the efforts that
have been made to
identify the men in
the photograph, as
well as to the subjects
branch of service.
The individual in
the foreground was
originally identified
as Dick Bernard, a
United States
Marine. As you can
see by the attached
correspondence, Mr.
Bernard states “I
dont think it was
me.” A stamp collector
newsletter identifies
the group as an
“Army Medical
Platoon marching
from Chosin through
Funchillin Pass”.
David Douglas
Duncan, the photographer
states “I can
tell all of you flatly,
the man was not
Bernard.” First, the man was not even a Marine. He was a member
of a group of Puerto Rican soldiers who had been brought
north to act as a holding force.” Bernard, or any Marine looking
at a copy of my shot will instantly see that these are Latin-type
troopers (or South Korean in appearance) who are wearing fresh
gear, are obviously warm enough to be comfortable, not freezing
in the 30 degrees of that area when the Chinese were attacking the
reservoir.” Finally of course, not one trooper is wearing Marine
camouflage helmet covers. One must only look closely at the
original photograph to determine that these were not Marines”
The questions remain— who is the man in the picture? Were
the men in the column Marines or Army? Are any other men in
the column identifiable?
Is it possible that a reader, or readers of the Graybeards could
answer the questions? Anyone who can shed any light on this
mystery is asked to contact Thomas J. Flavin, NY State Dept.
KWVA, 33 Paul Street, East Greenbush, NY 12061_1006. Tel:
518-477-5593. I will of course share any information with the
Graybeards and Mr. Cuva.
He Was There
by Bridget Hecox
It has been fifty years since he has fought in Korea, but somehow,
Korea has always stayed with him. When he joined the
Army at seventeen, he was doing the right thing, helping out
Americans; he was going to be a hero. He never dreamt of this.
He did not look back with regret, but he often wondered. He
wondered what life would took like to someone who has never
shot at an enemy. He wondered what dreams other people have.
What filled their thoughts? Did they think of the orphans in
September/October, 2000 Page 23