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Memorial Day....Lest we forget!!!

The Punchbowl.....National Cementry of the Pacific

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"She is ever watchful....
and her talons are treacherous!!"



Yea, though I walk through the
valley of the shadow of death I
will fear no evil, for thou art with me;
Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
(From 23rd Psalm)

*~* KOREA *~*
*~* June 25, 1950 -- July 27, 1953 *~*
*~* The Memory Of It All.....Goes On!!! *~*
*~* American Casualties *~*
KIA 36,629 *** 3,262 were Non-hostile *** WIA 105,785 *** MIA 8,177 *** POW 7,140

Dear Jules;

Last year at our National reunion, I was asked to help a friend write a poem for the POW/MIAs. Since a couple of very close friends ( Harley Coon, George Bingham each spent 39 months and 38 months respectively in a POW camp) and a few other friends who lost their brothers as POWs in Korea , I was able to write this within 5 minutes. I shared a room with Harley and he was sleeping while I wrote this , so I guess that's why it came to me so easy.

You are the only person outside of the few that I read this to that will have a copy. If you would like to use this on your site, you have my permission to do so.
Just dedicate it to all those MIAs and all who returned as POWs. For only they really know of the torment and the sacrifices that they themselves made. So through tears that will be shed as I type this for you---here it is.
Joe

It is my honor and sincerest priviledge to dedicate the poem below on behalf of Joe, ... to ALL MIAs and to all who have returned as POWs.

My Plea

Why have you forgotten me
For all these fifty years
For I have sat in darkness
Thru beatings and bloody tears

Not once have I forgotten
All the freedom I once had
But to know that you've forgotten
Makes me very, very sad

We all came here with a purpose
To defend and fight
For a people who had lost their freedom
And many died of fright

We were all so very young then
Infallible , we thought
But Lord we learned a lesson
One that cannot be taught

We watched a lot of our buddies die
As we struggled to live on
But some of us were captured
And some never made it home

I know those of you who fought here
never gave up hope
And know that you still pray for us
That with this prison I can cope

Please don't let America forget
And tell them of My Plea
Let them know these bloody tears
Beg them to set me free!!!!
[ Joseph F. Shearer ]
[ Notice of Copyright 7-27-99 ]

Graphic by Charles Thompson, thank you so much Charlie

Graphic by Jules... if you use please link to https://www.angelfire.com/ar/jule2/index.html

Born April 20, 1932, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Died May 15, 1951, An-Dong, North Korea.
Private First Class, U. S. Army
K Company, 21st Infantry Regiment,
24th Infantry Division

Ralph was captured on July 11, 1950 while fighting the enemy near Chochiwon, South Korea.

He bravely survived the infamous "Death March" and died on May 15, 1951, of starvation while
a prisoner of war at An-Dong, North Korea.

Remembered, loved, and missed by his brothers, Beyer and Alfred McKinley, and sisters,

Juanita Biffle and Rose McKinley
Click on name to contact Juanita or Rose if you served with Ralph

"May God take care of you, brother, and some day we will meet again."

Medals and ribbons that Ralph so bravely earned:

C.I.B.Badge

Bronze Star Purple Heart

POW Good Conduct Army of Occupation

National Defense Korea Service Korea Service(UN)

Pres. Unit Citation (US Pres. Unit Citation (Korea)

[ These two citations are worn above right pocket. ]



Many thanks to "Shorty" Estabrook for the use
of Materials and images.

Tiger Survivors



Please click on image to visit the "Tiger Survivors Site"





"TIGER SURVIVORS" is a veterans group headed up by:
Wilbert R. "Shorty" Estabrook
3366 3-B Punta Alta
Laguna Hills, CA 92653
(949) 583-1841
tiger53@ix.netcom.com

Tiger Survivors is a veterans group of American soldiers,
one British Marine, and 79 multi-national civilians who
were held as prisoners by the Communists in North Korea
for 38 or more months from 1950 through 1954.

The name Tiger Survivors is taken from the cruel and murdering North Korean
Major who was in charge of the group from late 1950 through early 1951.
A madman who enjoyed killing, "The Tiger"
shot his first victim, Lt. Cordus H. Thornton, in the head.
Sixty-five percent of the group died in captivity from a variety of causes.
Many were shot or beaten to death, but the majority died because
of exposure and untreated respiratory infections. Out of nearly
850 who were captured, only 175 are alive today.

Hopefully, many of these will contribute their stories to the
Tiger Survivors Web site. It is acknowledged that
Tiger Survivors is a small group when compared to the total number
of prisoners of war held by the communists.
There was much suffering and death in all the camps
and all the prisoners are our brothers.

As the founder of Tiger Survivors, I am the leader of the group.
A quarterly newsletter is published and annual reunions
are held in conjunction with the Korean War Ex-POW Association, Inc.
My work is a labor of love.

SPECIAL THANKS

To the Korean War Project and the tireless work of Ted and Hal Barker
who graciously support the Tiger Survivors Web site.

To Johnnie Johnson for having the wisdom to keep his list and to understand
its importance at a later time.

To Command Sergeant Major Timothy F. Casey, U. S. Army, Retired,
who spends endless unpaid hours analyzing and maintaining
accurate Korean War and Tiger Survivors records.
In June 1997, he traveled to New York City, at his own expense,
to address the North Korean delegation on behalf of the
Tiger Survivors, asking permission to search for remains
of American servicemen in North Korea. Casey is an Honorary
Tiger Survivor. Without him, the records would not be complete.

To Rose McKinley for her superb secretarial skills in helping me put every
period and comma in the right place.
She has been invaluable in this endeavor.
Rose lost her brother, Ralph H. McKinley,
K Company, 21st Infantry Regiment,
24th Infantry Division, on May 15, 1951,
at An-Dong, North Korea.

To my wife, Marti, who is the assistant editor of the "Tiger Survivors"
newsletter. Marti also assists with the Annual Reunion and Chop-Chop.
She is the computer literate one in the family.
Without her, I would be doing all this in long hand.



The Roster of the Tiger Survivors is dedicated to:

1st. Lt. Cordus H. Thornton

Lieutenant Cordus H. Thornton,
L Company, 34th Infantry Regiment,
24th Infantry Division,
United States Army,
was the first soldier to be murdered by the "Tiger."
On November 1, 1950, near Manpo-jin North Korea, he died
like a man. He died like a soldier. He did not beg.
He died bravely. Lieutenant Thornton was and still is
an inspiration to all of us. His blood was not shed in vain.

The roster is also dedicated to every brave man and woman who
died while a prisoner of war or civilian internee in South
and North Korea, and to those who have departed this
earth since being released in 1953 and 1954.





Wayne Archer "Johnnie" Johnson

L Company, 21st Infantry Regiment,
24th Infantry Division, U. S. Army

"Johnnie" captured on July 11, 1950. Johnson became part of the Tiger Survivors
group and was held for nearly 38 months by the North Koreans
and then by the Chinese Army. He was from Lima, Ohio.

Johnson started keeping a record of the men so that the families back
home would know what happened to their loved ones.
The fact that he could have been punished or even shot for
keeping such a list did not stop him.

Along the way, buddies would tell him about someone dying and
others would stand guard while Johnson recorded the deaths.

When Johnson was released in August 1953, he told the authorities
on the ship about his list and the debriefing officer noted
it in his file. But, nothing was done about it until 1994
when Johnson announced to several of his buddies
that he still had the list.

Wilbert R. "Shorty" Estabrook, B Company, 19th Infantry Regiment,
24th Infantry Division, U. S. Army, founded the Tiger Survivors in 1970.
He was working on rosters of the living and dead and
Johnson's list brought the Tiger Survivors roster to completion.
Estabrook was captured on 16 July 1950.

Command Sergeant Major Timothy F. Casey, Retired U. S. Army,
was also interested in POW affairs of the Korean War,
though he was not a POW himself.
It was Casey who brought Johnson's list to the attention of
the authorities. Casey soon became an unpaid analyst for the
Tiger Survivors group and is considered by many to be an
expert on Korean War POW's.

With Johnson's list and other information, Estabrook and Casey
began the long process of reconstructing Tiger Survivors
records which now include complete information as you see it.

Because of Johnson's efforts in keeping his secret list,
he was awarded the Silver Star Medal at a reunion of former
American POW's, Korean War, in Chicago on August 3, 1996.

There were others who kept lists as well. Colonel John Dunn,
ranking officer of the group, kept his list only to see it confiscated.

Sergeant Major Austin Flack returned home with his list in his rectum.
Although he told the authorities, they were not
interested and, after a few years, he threw the list away.

Due to the efforts of many, the complete Tiger Survivors roster is
now on the World Wide Web. Every Tiger Survivor is accounted for.

Click on button for "Johnny Johnson's List"

Korea
(The Police Action War)
By Frank G.Gross
(1972)

In the words of a five star general,
as he spoke to the USA.
Old soldiers never die,
they just fade away.

But speak not of the Korean vet,
As you hear him coming through,
in remembrance of his comrades
with his tears of gratitude.

In the year of nineteen fifty,
the communist had a plan
to capture South Korea
as the free world made a stand.

Yes, John Q., there was Korea,
but not like the wars before,
for this action came
with a policemans name,
when the bear had knocked on the door.

Many countries remember there fallen,
in respect of honor due,
but in these states,
such little relates,
and our history’s words are few.

For in the hallway of the high school,
mahogany plaques stand out,
of the names engraved
and the sacrifice made
to remind us what War is about.

There are names there,
of the first war,
and very first bugle call,
and for the taps that blew
in World War Two,
and the boy’s from Nam on the "Wall."

But the Korean War forgotten,
fiftyfour thousand lost their place,
and the eight thousand more ... our MIA’s
of them there’s little trace.

So hear us, Five Star Generals,
we heed to the words you say,
that old soldiers never die--
but WHY must we fade away?

Note: The Korean War Memorial and others have been erected since this writing........no longer "Forgotten are the Korean Vets"

Frank was a survivor but a casualty of Chosin Reservoir. See more of Franks story and Ballads by clicking here
Frank Gross

They went not for conquest and not for gain,
but only to protect the anguished and the innocent.
They suffered greatly and by their heroism
in a thousand forgotten battles they added a
luster to the codes we hold most dear:
duty, honor, country, fidelity, bravery, integrity..

William Sessions, former FBI director and a veteran of the Korean War.

THE STORY OF FATHER EMIL JOSEPH KAPAUN
Chaplain (Captain), 8th Cavalry Regiment
By Ralph Eli Culbertson, Lieutenant Colonel, L Company, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, a POW in Camps 2 and 7.

INTRODUCTION:

The story of Chaplain (Captain) Father Emil Kapaun
is very powerful and inspirational.
It was first printed in the January 16, 1954 edition of
the Saturday Evening Post. Curtis Publishing holds the copyright.

I did not know this fine person, but I knew Mike Dowe, a West Point
graduate who was in Camp 2 with me for about a year and a half.
I also heard stories about him from Lieutenant Ralph Nardella,
now deceased, who was charged by Father Kapaun to carry
on with the prayer services using the missal which
Father Kapaun used himself.

Nardella carried on with rosary services for the remainder of the
POW ordeal. He was an unusually gifted person and would be
called on at times to recite what the Communist teachers
had just said. In his rapid fire recitation, he would say,
"Ah, yes, we have learned what Engles and
Marx and Amos and Andy taught us."

Due mainly to the fact that everyone listened to Nardella and paid attention
when he spoke, the Chinese would always call on him to
recite the lesson during these mandatory brainwashing sessions.

Father Kapaun spoke in parables, in phrases that the most unlettered
soldier could understand. He touched those
of all faiths. One Turk prayed to his god, Allah.

His Chalice was recovered from the Chinese
and is now on display in his home town parish in Kansas.

Credit belongs to Ralph Nardella (now deceased) and to Mike Dowe in their efforts
to memorialize the Good Father in his home parish and to perpetuate his memory.

THE STORY:

Father Kapaun was a POW in North Korea in the Camp called
Death Valley. To all POWs, Protestant, Catholic, Jew, Muslim, or men who
professed no faith at all, he was "Father."

As a son of a Kansas farmer, he spoke in a farmer's flair.
He told of Christ's sufferings: the agony in the garden,
the way to Calvary, and the Crucifixion.
This became real to the POW's who bore their own crosses
of blows, cold, starvation, and outright murder
at the hands of the guards.

This gave the POW's hope. He gave them his food and took care of
them when they were sick. Many survived the ordeal because of him.
In his own way, he brought cheer and hope to his fellow POWs.

He spoke of St. Dismas, the good thief. He would sneak out at night and find
where the Koreans stored their grain and corn shocks and bring
it back to the starving men. He risked being caught by
urreptitiously sneaking
food in daylight, right out from under the noses of the guards.
He did many things to keep the men from losing hope and to keep going.

When he became sick and weak with dysentery, the Chinese took him
to the hospital, which was no hospital at all but rather where
they took sick men to die. The Father was doomed.

As the Chinese took him away, he made no protest.
He looked around the room and smiled at everyone.
He held in his hands his ciborium which held the sacramental bread and said,
"Tell them back home that I died a happy death."
He then gave Lt. Ralph Nardella his missal and said to him:
"You know the prayers. Keep holding the services.
Don't let them make you stop."
He gave comfort and advice to those around him.

He said to Mike Dowe, "I am going where I've always wanted to go.
And, when I get up there, I'll say a prayer for all of you."
As the Chinese took him away, tears came to Mike Dowe's eyes
and Fezi Bey, a Turkish Muslim, said,
"To Allah who is my God, I will say a prayer for him."

A few days later, Father Kapaun died.
Ralph Nardella continued to hold prayer services, as
instructed by Father Kapaun. Ralph asked to hold a remembrance service
for him on the anniversary of his death.
The Chinese refused. This told Ralph that their refusal meant that even though
the Father was dead, they still were afraid of him.
They feared him because he was the symbol of what they could not kill
– the unconquerable spirit of a free man, owing his final
allegiance only to God. And, in this sense,
he and the things he believed in could never die.

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I have made two, (a Christian and a Hebrew) 'virtual memorial plaque', if you have a loved one that has 'passed on' and you would like a plaque in his/her honor.. I'd be happy to personalize one for you.. free of charge, of course. Click on the word "plaques" to view samples near bottom of page, then if interested e-mail with the info you would like on it!!
PLAQUES