The Graybeards - Korean War Veterans Association

Letters
Korean War Memorial Tree
A Pin Oak Tree was donated by a Korean War Veteran, Mr.
Robert Scully U.M.C. on October 25, 1991 to celebrate the completion
of the Education Hall of the Cherry Hill First Korean
United Methodist Church.
We are gathering here today to dedicate and name this tree the
“Korean War Memorial Tree.”
The Korean War, which became a just historical event, was
one of the most destructive and wretched in the histories of war.
It caused five million casualties and the entire Korean peninsula
was trampled by battles. Ten million Koreans were separated
from their families, and many are now dying without ever fulfilling
their dreams of meeting their family members.
1. Through the naming ceremony of this tree:
2 We want to remind everyone of the tragedy, so as to remember
that we do not want it to happen again.
3. We want to remember that our freedom today came in part
through the blood and sacrifice of the 54,000 deaths of young
American soldiers, and to give thanks to those who served in the
war and to their family members.
Let us all participate for the unification of the two Korea’s.
The unification is the longing of the whole Korean folk and is the
only way to solve the agony of the ten million Koreans separated
from their families.
Myong Chol Lee, Korean Advisor to the President of KWVA
(Thanks Myong for letter. We remember and thank the church for
the Memorial Tree.)
Killed in Action... Lost in a File Cabinet!!
Situation: Airman Samuel H. Rainey was a B-29 air crewman
(gunner) in the Korean War. During a mission over North Korea
in late 1951 or early 1952, his aircraft was severely damaged by
enemy action. The B-29 was crippled and on fire. The pilot
ordered the crew to bail out. Airman Rainey jumped and was lost
in the Yellow Sea (life expectancy 20 min.) or over North Korea.
His body was never recovered. Subsequently, his family was
notified of his death (KIA) in early 1952 and his mother (now
deceased) received his government insurance. Airman Rainey’s
sole surviving next of kin is a brother John, who has no verifying
paperwork or details in his possession.
Dilemma: The NJ Korean War Veterans Monument
Committee (4710 Ventnor Ave, Atlantic City, NJ 08401) is in the
process of erecting a monument to those South Jersey Veterans
killed in the Korean War. There are currently 181 names, but this
nineteen year old combat veteran will not be represented !!
Reason: His name does not appear on the KIA or MIA computer
databases. Not only lost in action, but overlooked in the
conversion of paper records to computer data!
Background: Sam and I were friends, enlisted in the Air Force
on the same day (July 6, 1950), at the same place (US Post
Office, Camden, NJ), and went through Basic Training together
at Lackland AFB, TX. Our service numbers should be within two
or three digits of each other. Mine was AF 123xxx56, his should
end in 55, 57, or very close to it. His brother has requested information
from NPRC in St Louis, MO but does not anticipate any
immediate results.
His brother is seeking his Rank, Service Number, Unit of
Assignment, Aircraft Number, Date of the KIA, and the circumstances
relating to this action. I was amazed to find that Rainey’s
name was not on the list of those to be placed on the NJ Korean
War Monument. It is devastating for me to think that this young
man died by enemy action in the service of his country, and may
not be recognized in his home state for this service. As a close
friend and Korean veteran, I am hoping to bring to this veteran
the recognition he justly deserves. Does anyone remember this
mission, or Airman Rainey? I am available through American
Legion Post 150. Contact James B. Lorenz, PO Box 152, Mt
Ephraim, NJ 08059, or E-mail at jbl-adanj007@juno.com
(Thank you James for the letter. This is sort of a looking for but
has a more important message. Many who have died because of
actions over or near Korea while the war was raging have been
eliminated from memorials due to many reasons. We need to correct
these omissions if we can, so please respond.)
Revisiting “Operation Big Switch”
Having read and enjoyed Robert B. Latour’s, article
“Operation Big Switch”, I want to add some things that, from his
point view of he no doubt could not see.
1. Coming by Chinese truck from the “hospital” where we
were held for the last couple weeks, we noted that the returning
Chinese, going the other way, were to put it mildly, fat as pigs.
The road was strewn with new GI fatigues and boots and the
Chinese were in their skivies. By contrast most of the Americans
were rather thin, I weighed 147 lbs., down from a normal 175,
but couldn’t complain too much because I had gained some 40 or
50 lbs. from my low point.
2. The Chinese and no doubt the N. Koreans were in for a
shock when they got past the big reception they received. At our
camp, (Camp 2 annex) the Chinese had hauled in dozens of truck
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