We extend this greeting to all our servicemen and women who are
answering the call of duty. For those of you in Afghanistan or
Iraq and other dangerous spots, do take care and come home safely.

Ted and Hal Barker

This issue is dedicated to Gary P. Geidel 9/11 Firefighter - RIP.

Gary was the brave firefighting son of Paul Geidel, NYC, Korean War
Veteran. Gary lost his life while responding to the attack at the
World Trade Center on September 11th, 2001.

With this dedication, the Korean War Project wishes to remember all
those who died or were injured on 9/11.

We also wish to remember all those who have given their lives serving
in Afghanistan and Iraq, their grieving families and fellow unit members
wounded or still serving.

This will be the third Christmas season for our troops to be serving
in war zones. We shall not forget!

===========================================================
December 24th, 2004 Newsletter
===========================================================

Table of Contents

1. This Mailing List
2. Membership, Pledge Drive
3. Running the DMZ: Korea on the Front Lines - History Channel
4. Bookstore
5. Christmas - Korea
6. A Christmas Poem
7. 58th Engineer Treadway Bridge Company (Float Bridge CO)
8. Buried Veterans Records on Web
9. Lt. General Raymond Murray, USMC - RIP 11 November 2004
10. Colonel Robert D. (Bob) Taplett, USMC - RIP 12 December 2004
11. A Trip to Korea with Troy Watson E/2/7 1MARDIV
12. Wounded Vets need calling cards

==========================================================
1. This Mailing List (going to 32,000 + persons)
==========================================================

We began this newsletter mailing in December of 1998.

This list is a private list for our visitors and members.
A person may join or leave the list at will. It is compiled
from our Guest book and is for public service messages of
general interest to veterans and families.

To join or leave the list: email to: Ted Barker tbarker@kwp.org
with Subscribe or Unsubscribe in the subject line.

Consider forwarding the Newsletter to your friends.

==========================================================
2. Membership |Pledge Drive
==========================================================

December 24th, 2004,

Thanks to all the groups and persons who have responded to our
recent Pledge Drive notice. The support is gratifying and much
appreciated by the Korean War Project!

Consider supporting the mission of the Korean War Project by
donations in the form of Membership/Sponsorship.

See: https://www.koreanwar.org/html/membership.html

You will find first donors, current, top group and individuals
listed as well as our background and mission.

See:

Do remember that all donations are tax deductible.

Hal and Ted Barker

==========================================================
3. Running the DMZ: Korea on the Front Lines - History Channel
==========================================================

Airing December 28th, 2004 on History Channel.
Times: beginning at 9:30am EST with repeat at 3:30pm EST.

Web Link: https://www.historychannel.com/

Video tape: via The History Channel 29.95
(available in February 2005)

Program note:

The conflict in Korea never came to an official end. More than
half a century after the end of outright hostilities, soldiers
from the United States and the Republic of Korea still stand
together at the edge of the no-man's-land separating North
and South Korea.

RUNNING THE DMZ recounts the crises of the Cold War, a litany
of North Korean aggression, infiltration, terrorism, spies,
and presidential assassination attempts. Soldiers and diplomats
offer an intimate view of the delicate balance of statesmanship
and strategy that has kept Pyongyang at bay over the decades.

See how North Korea's attempts to obtain nuclear weapons have
ushered in a new era at the DMZ, and tour the area that remains
a global flashpoint despite the end of the era it symbolizes.

=== From David Benbow====

December 2004
Dear DMZ Vets:

The History Channel will be presenting Michael Slee's
documentary entitled: "Running the DMZ: Korea on the Front Lines" on
Tuesday, December 28, 2004, first at 9:30 a.m. (that's 0930 for you
officers - 9:30 "in the morning" for us enlisted men) and a repeat
showing at 3:30 p.m. (for you Marines, Mickey's big hand will be on the
6 and his little hand will be between the 3 and the 4).

In October of 2003, I was invited by a terrific filmmaker,
Michael Slee of Zaragoza Pictures to fly to Korea to be interviewed for
this documentary. At first I was very excited to be returning to Korea
and to be a part of this TV documentary. But as the time to leave drew
nearer, I began to feel a sense of responsibility to all DMZ Vets,
living and dead, to "tell your stories". I wanted "to get it right" and
to tell about all of you and about those who had died. I wanted the
viewers to know about the constant fear of another North Korean
invasion, which I felt the whole time I was there, nights sitting in a
fox hole in the rain, being 19 or 22 and spending Thanksgiving and
Christmas away from your family, about never getting enough sleep, the
North Korean loud speakers and all that happened so long ago and far
away. I knew I couldn't tell everyone's story. I called a fellow DMZ
Vet, Bill Holinger, and told him how I felt. Bill told me just to tell
my story because in telling my story, I was telling all of your stories.
So I tried to do that as did the other vets who appear in this
documentary.

I hope you and your family and friends will watch the show
and will gain a better understanding of what happened in Korea and what
was accomplished in Korea.

We left our homes and families as young American soldiers.
We helped keep the peace for people we didn't know in a far away land
called Korea.

I hope you have come to or will come to the same conclusions
that I have come to about our service in Korea: Mission accomplished.
It was an honor to have served.


David Benbow
Statesville, NC

== From Mike Slee =======

In great appreciation to all involved;

I want to say thank you to each and everyone of you
for your help in making this show possible. But most
of all, This program is dedicated to all of you that
served your country with great pride and distinction.

I recognize the amazing task each of you were given
and I want others to recognize you and all the others
for the sacrifices made in the defense of your fellow
countrymen.

"So that others never forget the sacrifice of a few
for the country".

Thank you,
Michael Slee mikeslee@flash.net

Don't forget to tell All of your friends.

Links on the KWP: https://www.koreanwar.org/html/dmzvets.htm

==========================================================
4. Bookstore
==========================================================

Thank you to all who have submitted your valuable books, film
music and CD ROM's to the Korean War Project.

===a.===

Photographic Aerial Reconnaissance and Interpretation
Korea, 1950-1953 Yokota, Taegu and Kimpo Air Bases

by Ben Hardy and Duane Hall

From KWP member Ben Hardy this book is 124 pages with many
illustrations and documents.

Hardy and Hall have put together a record of their very
personal experiences while stationed in the Far Air Forces
during the early stages of the war, with well over 100 photo-
graphic and document illustrations.

Missions were flown by un-armed planes piloted by dedicated
aircrew. Supported on the ground by the flight line crews and
the technical staff of the photographic and operations staff.

From Ted Barker: As a former "PI" and "OPS Intel" type, this book
strikes a personal chord.

ISBN 0-89745-275-5 $25.00 US Sunflower University Press

The authors are having to sell direct due to the publisher going
out of business, 3,000 copies on hand.

Ben Hardy
9443 E.Heaney Circle
Santee, CA 92071-2919

Email: cptdlttl@aol.com

PH: (619) 448-0659

===b.===

Korea
by Mike Block

A simple title but the contents reveal professional quality photos
taken by KWP member, Mike Block, while serving in Korea.

Per Mike, " This book consists of only a small part of the photos
that I took while serving in the Air Force during the Korean War.

Mike joined his unit in Korea at age 19, serving as a jet mechanic.
In his spare time Mike and his Roloflex captured the people and the
events of wartime Korea on film.

ISBN 1-4134-3835-0 Borders Books $15.99

Michael Block
14 Azalea Dr
Lumberton, NJ 08048

Link to remarkable photo:

===c.===

Operation 'War Dance'

Korea U.S. Naval Siege 1951-53 Task Force 95

by Alfred Smith McDonald

Presented to the KWP by Kathleen McDonald-Shonaker
daughter

Author Mcdonald succumbed to prostate cancer in May of 2004 while
the new book was in production. He was a World War II Navy vet
and Korean War Vet. The book is about his experiences during the
war in Korea aboard the USS Silverstein, a Destroyer Escort.

ISBN 0-9749346-0-7 Orffeo Printing Co, Inc.

Sales: (price contact seller)

Talking Leaves Books
3158 Main Street
Buffalo, NY 14214

Email; tleaves@tleavesbooks.com
PH: (716) 837-8554
Web: https://www.tleavesbooks.com

===d.===

Two books sent by Pat Avery

Letters From Korea
A story of the Korean War

by Pat McGrath Avery
(Member Korean War Project)

This book is written for middle school children. In it she
tells the story of the war through a series of letters, based
on interviews with veterans.

This book is dedicated to all Korean War Veterans and their
families.

ISBN 0-9663276-5-9 $5.95 River Road Press

Kids World Series River Road Press
PO Box 1214
Kimberling City, MO 65686

Email: riverroadpress@yahoo.com
PH: 417.739.3452
Fax: 417.739.2251

Web: https://www.riverroadpress.net


They Came Home: Korean War POW's Tell Their Stories

by Pat McGrath Avery

This is Pat's second book centered on the Korean War.

A must reading for Americans to understand the price of freedom,
and the people who paid the price.

ISBN 0-9743758-6-1 $14.95 Branson Creek Press div. River Road Press

Web: https://www.riverroadpress.net

riverroadpress@yahoo.com

Pat Avery pat@rrpress.biz

--------end---------

Visit: https://www.koreanwar.org/html/bookstore.html

!Click any title to see all book covers and details!

==========================================================
5. Christmas - Korea
==========================================================

Sent: Thursday, December 25, 2003 2:11 AM

I remember the day before Christmas, 1951 - we didn't have a tree,
but there was a bent over dwarfed piece of pine that the wood
gathers missed. Only problem it was out front where nobody
wanted to go.

For that tree, however, I moved out, retrieved it, and we
decorated it was tinfoil from cigarette packages and candy bars.

Small and ugly, but it was great.

Chuck Stepan CHISHOLMRANGER@aol.com
-----------------------------------

Sent: Saturday, December 06, 2003 11:49 AM
Subject: Re: CHRISTMAS IN KOREA

There isn't a Christmas that goes by that I don't think of the one
that I spent during a Korean winter. There must have been something
wrong with the oil burners in our tent. You could sit next to the
damn things and freeze to death!

I remember the pleasure that we received from the box my mother sent
to me. I had asked for Camp-bell's soups, and she also enclosed a
tin of ham and cookies--the whole packaged in popcorn.

The soups were a great hit with the men in my section, and they even
ate the cookie crumbs (none survived the trip whole) and the popcorn.

Number 2 square crackers served for ham sandwiches, washed down by
cans of grapefruit juice provided by the cooks (who shared the ham
in return). My mother had also sent Christmas tree ornament that glowed
in the dark. These dressed a tree cut down by the section and
subsequently placed in the middle of the squad tent.

For a brief moment in time, that tree took us all home again.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL:
Jim of Joliet frowein@juno.com

==========================================================
6. A Christmas Poem
==========================================================

From: Don Masztak marine@buckeye-express.com
Sent: Thursday, December 25, 2003 7:02 PM

I found this in a letter to 'Sgt. Grit' from an old
Korean War Vet....Sometimes we forget....

A KOREAN CHRISTMAS CAROL......................

'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the tent
was the odor of fuel oil(the stovepipe was bent

The shoepacks were hung by the oil stove with care
in hope they'd issue each man a new pair.

the weary GIs were sacked out in their beds,
and vision of sugar-babes danced through their heads,

When up on the ridge there arouse such a clatter
(A Chinese machine gun had started to chatter).

I rushed to my rifle and threw back the bolt,
The rest of my tent-mates awoke with a jolt.

Outside we could hear our platoon Sergeant Kelly,
A hard little man with a little pot belly.
"Come Yancey, Come Clancy, Come Gomer and Watson,
"Up Miller, Up Shiller, Up Baker and Dodson".

We tumbled outside in a swirl of confusion,
so cold that each man could have used a transfusion.

"Get up on that hilltop and silence that Red.
"And don't come back till you're sure that he's Dead".

Then, putting his thumb up in front of his nose,
Sergeant Kelly took leave of us shivering Joes.

But we all heard him say in a voice soft and light:
"Merry Christmas to all-- and may you live through the night."

Author Unknown....................USMC 50/54

==========================================================
7. 58th Engineer Treadway Bridge Company (Float Bridge CO)
==========================================================

During the Korean War, I served as a combat engineer with
the 58th Engineer Treadway Bridge Company (re-designated the
58th Engineer Float Bridge Company), then as acting
sergeant-major of the 1169th Engineer Combat Group.

I am the unofficial historian for the 58th, and in that capacity
I am responsible for a newsletter (MEMORIES of the 58th).

Editor note from Bill: excerpt -- if you would like to receive
back issues and be added to our mailing list for future issues,
please send me your snail mail address.

Consider sending bill enough money to cover his costs.

Bill Redstreake redstreake1509@msn.com
1509 Gwynedd View Road
North Wales, PA 19454
Tel 215.699.2997


==========================================================
8. Buried Veterans Records on Web
==========================================================

From: Robert Rohrer RLRohrer@aol.com

Buried Veterans Records on Web
The VA has made it easier for the public to get answers about old war
buddies or famous war heroes. The agency has put 3.2 million records
for veterans buried at 120 national cemeteries since the Civil War on the Web.

The VA's Nationwide Grave site Locator also has records for some state
veterans cemeteries; and burials in Arlington National Cemetery since 1999
Link: https://www.cem.va.gov/

The navigator includes names, dates of birth and death, military service
dates, service branch and rank if known, cemetery information and grave location
in the cemetery. The VA will withhold some information, such as next of kin,
for privacy purposes.

==========================================================
9. Lt. General Raymond Murray, USMC - RIP 11 November 2004
==========================================================

From recent email to the KWP:


LTGEN Raymond Murray passed away on Veterans Day, 11 November,
of this year 2004. In his obituary it was said he wanted to be
a teacher, having graduated from Texas A&M with a degree in
English. He was one of the very best.

I was privileged to be among those in the Hagaru perimeter
during the 1st week of Dec., 1950 when Col. Murray led his
5th Marines into our lines, marching in step, in formation,
in 40 below zero weather, in the middle of the night.

From: Gary Hall g.hall.g@sbcglobal.net
633178 23 December, 2004 W/3/1 I MAR DIV Korea

(Gary also attended Texas A&M University)

==========================================================
10. Colonel Robert D. (Bob) Taplett, USMC - RIP 12 December 2004
==========================================================

From: Gerald F. Merna gmerna@adelphia.net
Sent: Friday, December 17, 2004 9:40 PM
Subject: "Dark Horse Six" died today!

Editor Note: Jerry is a long time contributor to the KWP and frequent
contributor of letters to the Washington Post. He served in
Korea with the United States Marines.

I am sure that Jerry would be glad to share the full contents of
his moving tribute to his friend and fellow Marine, upon request.
-Ted Barker

"Dark Horse Six" was the "call sign" for the Commanding Officer, 3rd
Battalion, Fifth Marines in Korea in 1950. Bob Taplett was that
Commanding Officer. He just finished writing his book "Dark Horse Six"
telling of the sacrifices made by his Marines during that War. Just in
time too, as we lost Colonel Robert D. "Bob" Taplett, U. S. Marine Corps
(Ret.) today, as he accepted his new orders to "guard Heaven's scene's."

Others wrote too, of the heroism Bob Taplett displayed.

"For two miserable weeks, with temperatures hovering between 20 and 40
degrees below zero, the outnumbered allied ground troops held off a
Chinese army that had been ordered to annihilate them. When the running
fight ended on Dec. 11 (1950) nearly 7,000 allied troops had been killed
or wounded, and many of the casualties were victims of frostbite. The
Chinese suffered an estimated 30,000 casualties. Historically, only the
battle of the Alamo and Custer's Last Stand matched such seemingly
hopeless odds. Like the Alamo, Chosin produced its own famous battle
cry. According to a Time magazine account From Dec. 18, 1950, Major
Gen. Oliver P. Smith, Commander of the First Marine Division, (the very
same Marine Division fighting in Iraq today), set the tone for the
battle by snapping, "Retreat, hell! We're not retreating, were just
advancing in a different direction!" (Washington Times, November 27,
1984).

=========================================================
11. A Trip to Korea with Troy Watson E/2/7 1MARDIV
==========================================================

TO UNITED STATES VETERANS OF THE KOREAN WAR

A "Revisit Korea Tour" for the period 30 April-12 May 2005
(11 nights and 13 days) will be hosted by Mr. Won Pae Pak,
for U.S Veterans of the Korean War (and their wives).

You may go on this trip even if you have been on a revisit trip before.

Maximum Number of 32 people may sign-up. Complete tour Package Cost,
$1,750.00 per person, double occupancy (15 seats still available).

Round trip non-stop to and from Inchon, Korea will originate from
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. For out of state veterans,
Mr. Pak will assist with connecting flight arrangements from your
home city for an added charge of only $50.00 round trip per person
to and from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.

Veterans will receive at FREE a 50th Korean War Commemoration Cap
and a Korean War History Book as well as a Veterans Badge.

The South Korea "Korean Veterans Association" and Korea National
Tourism Organization will host the first Hotel Reception Dinner in
your Honor and present you the "AMBASSADOR FOR PEACE" Medal and
"Official Proclamation Certificate".

Other Major cities will be visited and Dinners will be hosted by
City Mayor in your Honor.

If interested, please contact:
Mr. Troy Watson
972 716 9928
or
Mr. Pak at 210 432 1200 as soon as possible.

More from Troy:

My website for my Marine Co. www.e27marines-korea.org is up &
running. Also, We are having our Reunion on Feb 27, 28 &
Mar 1 & 2 in Vegas and I will be getting that info posted
ASAP on your reunion page.

==========================================================
12. Wounded Vets need calling cards
==========================================================

Ray Walton, frequent newsletter contributor forwards this
from Lucie Marx Titus, President of the AUSA

From: Ray Walton VetKorean@aol.com
Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2004 6:22 PM

Dear friends and colleagues:

This sounds like the best idea in years. I hope everybody pitches in.

So please consider the following:

The NUMBER ONE request at Walter Reed hospital is phone cards.
The government does not pay long distance phone charges and these wounded
soldiers are rationing their calls home. Many will be there throughout
the holidays.

Send phone cards of any amount to:

Medical Family Assistance Center
Walter Reed Medical Center
6900 Georgia Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20307-5001
They say they need an "endless" supply of these -- any amount even $5 is
greatly appreciated.

COSTCO, Wal-Mart has good prices on AT&T cards, Sams Club is even better, if
you are a member.

I am sure you would feel better about doing this; together we will make it
possible for them to hear the voice of a loved one.

Please pass this on to whomever you believe wants to help our wounded troops.

Thanks so much.

LMT

Ray continues:

You can still send directly to Mrs. Titus

LUCIE MARX TITUS
P.O. BOX 2484
DANVILLE, CA 94506
PRESIDENT OF AUSA

---end-----

Thanks to all of you for helping make the Korean War Project
successful.

Regards,

Hal and Ted Barker
hbarker@kwp.org tbarker@kwp.org

Korean War Project