The Graybeards - Korean War Veterans Association
The Graybeards - Korean War Veterans Association
The Graybeards - Korean War Veterans Association
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Carl McClendon and I were the<br />
only Prisoners of <strong>War</strong> that were<br />
in the same platoon and squad<br />
for all the time we were interned<br />
over 33 months.<br />
next day. After we had marched for several<br />
days over the snow covered mountains,<br />
I stopped to let some soldiers go down this<br />
steep hill. A Chinese guard hit me in the<br />
back with a rifle butt and I went tumbling<br />
down the hill, knocking down soldiers in<br />
front of me like a bowling ball. I could<br />
barley walk and Carl helped me along for<br />
several days. Over the next 33 months we<br />
helped each other. I remember after we<br />
moved to Camp # 4 Carl had night blindness.<br />
I would let him put his hand on my<br />
shoulder and lead him to the latrine. Carl<br />
McClendon and I were the only Prisoners<br />
of <strong>War</strong> that were in the same platoon and<br />
squad for all the time we were interned<br />
over 33 months. <strong>The</strong>re may have been others<br />
but I don’t know of them.. In<br />
September 1953 Carl McClendon and I<br />
boarded the USS Black to return home.<br />
Our parents met us at Ft. Mason, CA. I<br />
met his mother (She passed away on<br />
Wednesday two days before Carl), and he<br />
met my parents. For the next 50 years we<br />
would call each other on our birthday (his<br />
January and mine March) and on the 27th<br />
of November I always asked him “Do you<br />
want some bean paste?” Now my phone<br />
will be silent.<br />
As they say in taps “Day is done” now<br />
my Friend is gone. and I know we will<br />
meet in Heaven because we have lived<br />
through hell here on earth. “Mofung will<br />
be sadly missed”.<br />
Listen Up<br />
Winners<br />
Machine Gun<br />
Marge Curtis..................Price, UT<br />
Clarence Peterson, Wellington, UT – Seller<br />
M-1 rifle<br />
Jack Tamplin ................Boomer, WI<br />
M-1 rifle<br />
Ray Slanda ....................E. Hartford, CT<br />
45 Pistol<br />
<strong>War</strong>ren McLintock ........ Cartland, OH<br />
$ 500.00 Bond<br />
Berwin Nelson ..............Arcadia, CA<br />
Financial Results<br />
Income ....................$ 110,471.25<br />
Expenses ................$ 20,221.60<br />
Net Profit ................$ 90,249.65<br />
Official KWVA Notices and<br />
Announcements<br />
Raffle Report<br />
Over 5,000 checks were registered,<br />
which means over 5,000 members participated<br />
in the raffle. You, the membership,<br />
made this raffle a great success. I thank<br />
you for your letters, notes, and telephone<br />
calls offering support and your expressions<br />
of happiness that we have turned the<br />
KWVA around and to continue on course.<br />
It is a great honor to serve and to witness<br />
your support. Without question the<br />
strength and lifehood of the KWVA is the<br />
individual members. If I was a field commander,<br />
I would be extremely proud that<br />
the morale of the troops was so high.<br />
Thank you and take a minute to say a<br />
prayer for this great country of ours.<br />
Thomas J. Gregory<br />
National Treasurer, KWVA<br />
National VA/VS Representative Report<br />
By Michael Mahoney<br />
I just received the listing of all the<br />
Representatives, Deputies and Volunteers<br />
for the <strong>Korean</strong> <strong>War</strong> <strong>Veterans</strong> <strong>Association</strong>.<br />
Now I can get out the paper work and<br />
whatever to you.<br />
I stated in my last report that this voluntary,<br />
and after I received this report, I<br />
have reached the conclusion that you are<br />
just that. We are now in 62 V.A. facilities.<br />
I wish to take my hat off to Melvin C.<br />
Goodman of the Muskogee, OK facility.<br />
Melvin has since he entered the program,<br />
donated a total of 15,789 hours. God<br />
Bless You!<br />
Also, <strong>The</strong> Department of Florida’s Bay<br />
Pines Volunteers, their number 63 volunteers,<br />
and total hours of these volunteers<br />
in the past three years are 22,070. God<br />
Bless all of you too.<br />
To all of you who are in this program,<br />
Thank you from the veterans you assist,<br />
and from the <strong>Korean</strong> <strong>War</strong> <strong>Veterans</strong><br />
<strong>Association</strong> for job well done.<br />
Golf Shirts, T-Shirts & Sweat Shirts for Sale<br />
Golf Shirts, T-Shirts and Sweat Shirts for Sale<br />
Golf shirts — $20.00 plus $3 shipping (White Only)<br />
T-Shirts — $10.00 plus $3 shipping (White Only)<br />
Sweat Shirts — $20 plus $5 shipping (Lt. Gray)<br />
Patches (of logo above) – $5.00<br />
Decals (of logo above) – $3.00<br />
Shipping costs for 2 is $3.00<br />
Shipping costs above 2 is $5.00<br />
All sizes are available.<br />
Order from or contact: Sunshine State Chapter, KWVA<br />
P.O. Box 5298<br />
Largo, FL 33779-5298<br />
Telephone: 727-582-9353<br />
September/October, 2000 Page 7
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