Sep/Oct 2005 - Korean War Veterans Association

RIGHT: Former 176 President,
founder, and “Godfather” holds the
wreath to honor Korean War veterans
(Photo by Hank Nicol)
42
Chaplain Bob Leep, Bill Odonnell, and 176 President Frank C. Mendes
share a solemn moment aboard the Coast Guard vessel
Bosun¹s Mate 2d Class Terrell Horne gave us an orientation
on the 47-foot motor lifeboat on which we were to go out. The
boat is built to survive 30-foot seas and 20-foot breakers. Horne
passed out lifejackets, not the fore-and-aft pillows we wore three
years ago, but new orange and black (my high school colors)
beauties. They could pass for team jackets as well as save your
life. “Coasties” should wear them around town. Every high
school kid would want to sign up.
I put on the only extra large in the pile, but had to give it up
to Times-Standard reporter Chris Durant, who is a more honest
XL. I expected the crew to be wearing the government version of
topsiders, since it might be difficult to swim in the bloused combat
boots they all wore. Our Skipper, Bosun¹s mate 1st Class
Hank Nicol (unseen)
takes a photo of Ray
Marquardt taking a
photo
(L-R) Coast Guard crew members BM-1 Ryan Sanford, Fireman Evans
Drew, Seaman Jean Charles, and Seaman Frederick Ryals hosted 176
members (Photo by Hank Nicol)
BELOW: 176 members leave the
vessel with their “sea legs” intact
(Photo by Hank Nicol)
Ryan Sanford, said they were for kicking heavy machinery without
being being kicked back. I made an insurance stop where I
learned why BM-2 Horne had the lifeboat specs down pat. They
are posted above the paper dispenser in the men¹s head (and I
expect in the women¹s as well).
We boarded and pushed off. The deck crew was Seaman
(Seawoman? Seaperson?) Jean Charles and Seaman Frederick
Ryals. Fireman Evans Drew was engineer. They carried us out to
about the midpoint of the channel, where the boat marked time
while we held our brief ceremony for those who died in the
Korean War. An orchestra being unavailable, and the deck being
small, Bill Odonnell Jr. played appropriate music on his block
blaster. President Frank C. Mendes dedicated a wreath with,
“We have not forgotten our soldiers,” he observed. His words
were halting, and I saw several handkerchiefs out. I was busy
with the camera, but I, too, suffered damp eyes. I thought not
only of those who died in the war, but also of Richard Anderson,
Andrew Terry, and John McLain, who survived the war, but who
were recent and personal losses to me and the rest of the
Christmas Hill Gang. Chaplain Bob Leep gave a prayer to
“honor those who served our country,” and Frank cast the wreath
onto the outgoing tide.
I didn¹t take the two pills as I promised, only one-and-a-half.
The water did only a slow roll. I survived, the ceremony was a
success, and we returned to shore safely. BM-1 Ryan Sanford
didn¹t let us go without thanking us for our service. That has happened
a lot recently. I¹m not used to the new generation¹s
remembering us better than our own did. Our war was forgotten
while we were still fighting. At least nobody jeered when we
came home.
September - October 2005
The Graybeards