Sep/Oct 2005 - Korean War Veterans Association

Battery “A,” 300th Armored Field Artillery Battalion, Wyoming Army National Guard
“A” Battery, 300th
Armored FA Bn. Mini-
Reunion attendees:
Back(L-R) Walt Slane
(WY) Bob James (WY)
Chuck Jones (WY), Bill
Whitt (WY) Howard
Norskog (ID), Ray
Peterson (CO), Dick
Thune (MN), Leo Cline
(ID), Ken Tveit (MN), Bill
Bellis (FL), Ron Fry (CA),
A.J.Burns (OR), Bob Whitt
(WY)
Front row (Kneeling, L-R)
Gunar Lapins (WA),
Henry Mizutani (NV),
Chuck Mills (WY), Pete
Cavelli (WY), Frank
Manning (WY), Vern West
(TX), George Romagno
(CA), Laurel Auxier (CA).
A total of 29 Battery “A” Korean War Veterans and 22 wives
and guests were in attendance at the unit’s mini-reunion at the
Holiday Inn in Thermopolis, Wyoming, 13-15 July, 2005.
The 300th Armored Field Artillery Battalion was equipped
with M-7 full tracked artillery pieces (affectionately known as
the “Priest”) that had WW2 combat history from North Africa,
through Italy, and up to Bastogne and the Battle of the Bulge.
The first of 514,212 rounds of 105 mm ammunition expended by
the 300th in the Korean War were fired in support of the 9th and
23rd Infantry Regiments—2ND Infantry Division at Soyang
River.
Then, it was on to Inje to join the 187th Airborne Regimental
Combat Team and the 72nd Tank Battalion in Task Force Baker.
In the first 26 days of combat, the 300th exceeded the 100,000
mark in rounds fired at the NK and CCF.
At war’s end the 300th was nearly overrun by the CCF at
Kumsong River while firing support for the 6th Republic of
Korea Infantry Division. Only with a great concealment barrage
of smoke rounds fired by the 176th A.F.A. Bn., Pennsylvania
National Guard did the three firing batteries of the 300th escape
amid a hail of small arms and automatic weapons fire.
Men of the 300th were awarded 12 Silver Stars, 83 Bronze
Stars, 283 Purple Hearts, 48 Air Medals for Meritorious
Achievement in Flight, and 12 Prisoner of War medals.
Dick Thune, 5880 Parkwood Court, Baxter, MN 56425-7432
38th Ordinance
Unit members and their guests
gathered in Branson, MO, for their
biannual get-together. The 38th
Ordinance was a combat support unit.
The Association holds a reunion every
two years.
Anyone who wants to get more
information about the Association or
its reunions can contact Bill
Mack D. Owens, Jr.,
101 Springtree Dr
Brandon, MS 39042-2327
34
Members and guests of the 38th Ordinace
unit gater in Branson, MO
September - October 2005
The Graybeards