Sep/Oct 2005 - Korean War Veterans Association

The new bridges and the
new mountain pass now afford
a route with no grades steeper
than a moderate seven percent.
THE 430TH ECB’s Company
[personnel] and guests, in
addition to Palmer, included Lt.
Col. Robert W. Love, 2d
Division; Maj. Clifton S.
Lindsey and Capt. John B.
Dahin, 7th Division; Lt. Col.
August L. Vogt, 1st Marine
Division; Maj. Dok Ri Kim, 7th
ROK Division, and Col. Giles
Evans and Lt. Col. Denis
Grace, 19th Engineer Combat
Group.
Col. Raymond B. Oxrieder, X
Corps engineer section; Lt.
Col. Ellis O. Davis, EUSAK
engineer section; Lt. Col.
Claude M. Rhoades, commanding
officer, 430th
Engineer Construction
Battalion, and his executive
officer, Maj. Fred Millican Jr.,
completed the guest roster.
The 430th ECB, builder of
the new bridges and mountain
pass, is a reserve outfit from
the Washington, D.C. area. It
was recalled to active duty in
August 1950, trained at Camp
Carson and entered Korea in
February 1951. Of its original
members, approximately 30
enlisted men and 20 officers
are still in Korea, the remainder
Last night on Koje: Robert Warren, Red Willis,
Gene Lloyd
ABOVE: Still on the road
RIGHT: The Inge Pass
having returned to civilian life
or to other assignments. Many
of the reservists were
employed by the Army at Fort
Belvoir, the Potomac Electric
and Power Co., and governmental
agencies prior to being
recalled.
Low Boy drivers Dursteter and Mason
The Domain of the Golden Dragon
22
A Pleasant Experience
My old Korea vet buddy, John, and I
had a really nice experience today.
We were having lunch with our wives at a
northern Michigan resort when a large
party of Orientals, men and women, sat
down near us. It’s been a long time, but I
still recognize Korean when I hear it—
and I heard it then.
So, after lunch, as the four of us were
leaving, I stopped and asked, “Excuse
me, but are you from Korea?”
“Yes, we are,” answered one of the
older men, probably wondering why I
was asking.
“I just wanted you to know that my
friend and I were in your country fiftysome
years ago. He was a Marine, I was
Army,” I explained.
He translated this for the others, and
they all broke into big, friendly smiles.
They were obviously delighted.
“Thank you, thank you,” said the older
gentleman, pumping my hand, “Thank
you for saving our country!”
“Yes, thank you,” said another
younger man, “We wouldn’t be where we
are today if it weren’t for you.”
Everyone was still all smiles and nodding
in agreement. They were truly grateful.
It was unexpected and a bit embarrassing.
All we could say was, “It’s been nice
to meet you. Thank you for coming to our
country.”
John and I left feeling more than a little
proud of ourselves. It was something I
wish every Korean War vet could experience
for themselves.
Source Unknown
September - October 2005
The Graybeards