Veterans Day November 11th, 2024
Today, we pause to reflect and remember.
Veterans Day November 11th 2024 - Never Forget
Ted Barker here: the earliest Veterans Day that I can remember is from 1949 when I was four years old. Hal was just barely two at the time. The most impressive memory from my early years was at Quantico 1950.
Dad was completing advanced training with HU-2 among mostly Navy pilots and crew. We went to the base on the 10th for the Marine Corps Birthday Ball and again on the 11th. Those were busy days for our servicemen and women.
1949 through 1951 was a blurry/flurry of movement as our family shuttled from California to New Jersey to Pensacola, Cherry Point, Edenton, and back to Orange County, California.
All that activity made an impression on me as it was clear something big was underway. It all came to a climax in September of 1951 as we stood on the flight line at El Toro to see Dad off to Korea with VMO-6.
Dad's deployment was delayed for a few weeks in August as I came down with a mysterious illness and had to be shipped off to the Naval Hospital in San Diego. I realized, a few years ago, that the illness was probably anxiety over the war effort and Dad's deployment.
WE REMEMBER
From Jack Morris 363rd RTS, 5th Air Force
On June 25th, 2022 in response to our June newsletter Jack sent us the following.
The Death of S/Sgt Michael Russo
By best friend Cpl Jack Morris
A close friend of mine died today at 6:04 am and passed away in his sleep. I shall remember 8 June forever, for, with his passing, much of the factual history of our two lives disappeared forever. He was with me from almost the first days of my military service and every day during our 15 months in the Korean War.
Chief Master Sergeant Mike Russo (Ret) of the US Air Force managed to see combat many times, Korea and Vietnam, married Ruth Ann and they had two daughters, mastered aerial photography, worked with Eastman Kodak, and was always a leader of men; sometimes thousands of men.
There was a time when many in the rank and file felt our war was lost - including me. Just before General McArthur began the Inchon Landing, S/sgt Mike needed a writer for our base Pubic Information Office. War stories were happening and no one on base was there to compose them. I was an educated writer then assigned to process aerial film in the lab and spend hours in the darkroom.
Mike entered my laboratory world and had me quickly transferred. Overnight, I was an Air Force war correspondent, and Mike Russo was my very own photographer.
Years later, both of us retired and with our children grown, we came together again, two brothers once very much at war. All this brotherhood came to end this morning. My personal combat photographer and best friend was 95.
Note: Jack Morris was one of the first KVETS to send us recollecions for our website. Be sure to read his narrative in the link below.
See:
363rd Recon Tech Squadron Korea Part 1
THE KOREAN ADVENTURE
An excerpt from the war diary of Jack Morris, Sgt., AF19328825
This first segment from Morris' war diary focuses on the arrival of the 363rd Reconnaissance Technical Squadron in Taegu, Korea during the winter of 1950.
Excerpt from Part 1 :
The flights to our new station at K-2 (Taegu) consumed one day and within several days more the squadron was in full operation. While we unpacked and positioned our main equipment, hundreds of cans of exposed aerial film began to backlog in our holding area. A temporary lab for the emergency-classed films received rush priority. This temporary structure set up by a small work party that arrived several days ahead of the main transport of squadron personnel from Fukuoka, Japan.
Current issues for the Korean War Project
Supporters of the KWP whether donor/members or just visitors continue ask the question: "What will happen when you finally shutdown operations"?
Several considerations have been discussed to include asking places like the Truman Library, or Presidential Libraries to take documents. Our real hope is to find a location that is able to utilize our KCCF1 Korean War Casualty Files.
We cannot transfer all the personal web postings of our many thousands of contributors without permission. That choice is a practical impossibility.
Moving data to the National Archives or to online data locations like Ancestry/FoldThree or The Church of Latter Day Saints are considerations but no discussions have taken place.
However, we continue to work, every day. Support from the public is still needed for us to continue. See our Membership/Donor section father down this newsletter.
Book Update: Korean War Project Remembrance 1950-1953
Since the books arrived at our garage in late August 2021 550 books have been delivered. On November 6th, 2024, the last two, reserved copies, were shipped.
WE ARE SOLD OUT
Thanks to all who purchased these books.
Post Truce Korea (DMZ Era)
Well over 60% of our correspondents on the website and by email served after July 27, 1953. Everyone is welcome to be part of our extended "family". We have routinely posted information of value for this grouping since our first newsletters.
POW/MISSING ACCOUNTING:
DPAA continues to make progress with over 700 identifications and repatriations having taken place.
We have updated our casualty files to reflect DNA samples accumulated by DPAA. Ted has determined that only 869 cases still require FRS - Family Reference Samples to be acquired as of December 2023. That number has probably changed in the interim.
We continue to direct families to DPAA staff regarding providing samples as well as current phone, mailing addresses, for DPAA reference.
Hal continues to post updates on each of the fallen to our website and sister Facebook page.
Books-Films
We shall continue to feature published books, films or videos, or upcoming projects on the website, Facebook, Twitter, and here, in the newsletters.
Our December 2024 Newsletter will have a full accounting of all new books or digital media with full listings items received but not featured on our website or newsletters.
Donor / Member Update:
Consider supporting the mission of the Korean War Project by donations in the form of Membership/Sponsorship.
Our Pledge Drive is an ongoing process. We are recruiting from those who have not participated, so if you can, jump on in, it will be appreciated.
The site is free for all to use and those who participate help to ensure that we remain online whether the donation is $15.00 membership or more.
For those persons or groups who cannot participate, we certainly understand. Our overall donor base has declined as former donors pass on or are no longer able to assist.
Membership: Link to Membership | Donor page
Donations/Memberships are tax deductible if you use long forms for tax deductions. IRS reports. Our EIN: 75-2695041 501(c) (3)
Everyone may still continue to communicate with us by direct email, phone, or letter.
The following link will allow you to see those who became he first financial contributors in 1997-98. Click through to check out the list.
First Contributors To The Korean War Project
Subscribing and Unsubscribing to our email delivered content has been hit or miss in the past. Everyone that will receive this email has consented in the past to getting copies of our email.
If we have missed any message from you to leave our list or pause delivery, this delivery system will make sure there is no further contact for group email. Regular email, phone, or letters will always be available.
Those who choose to "unsubscribe" will not get any more group email from us. The process is now automated. If you have sent us "unsubscribe" in the past, our apologies, we did not get the notice.
Everyone may still continue to communicate with us by direct email, phone, or letter.
To subscribe: Subscribe to our newsletters - here | Or contact Ted Barker with the header of "Subscribe" in it. Finally, phone calls are always welcome.
Korean War Project
About the Korean War Project
PO Box 180190
Texas 75218 United States
