Korean War Project

Note: Original postings on the Korean War Project from 1995 to about 1999.

23rd Signal Const. Bn - 22nd Signal Group

On Thu, 23 Oct 1997 
Updated: 24 Jun 2010
Jude Lehrer Email address wrote:

Attached to Eight Army

datein: 1951 dateout: 1953

Served as a draftsman in 23rd Signal Const. Bn. Hq Co. S3 Section
Joined up with "B" Company at Taegu on my arrival from Fort Sill, where
I took basic training. 

I remember being part of 22nd Signal Group. 

We reconstructed open wire from Taegu to Kosho Ri (Near Heartbreak
Ridge). pent most of my time on a compound near EUSAK Hq. on Army Ave.

On Thu, 30 Apr 1998 

In regard to the hostile environment we worked in:

Our biggest hazards were mines, rock, World WarII equipment, Japanese
pole line hardware.

The Army Engineers cleared the pole line right always.  Not always as
wide as we would have liked.  We lost a few pole trailers as a
consequence.

C3,  a plastic explosive,  was a great help, blowing holes for the
poles, particularly north of Uijonbu and warming our "C" rations.
(Without a detonator it really burns well during a Korean winter.)

We lost three men when our Duck sunk in the Han River. The cold winter
water was no help.   It seems the sea plugs had been removed during
renovation.

While stringing wire across the Han river we also lost one or two men.
The messenger cable lag bolts,  they we hanging on pulled out of the
telephone pole.   It seems the Japanese turned the threads with a lathe
and cut the threads too deep.

We were very fortunate in that we never lost any one due to enemy
encounters.  We worked under enemy observation on a couple occasions. We
rescued a bunch of Marines in a Weasel on the Han river about 16 miles
north of Seoul.  It seems our Duck was at the right place at the right
time. A wench on the from of a 2 1/2 Truck is a real can help a lot too.

All the pole line we repaired had been set by the Japanese during their
40 year occupation.  Many of the poles were in need of repair.  During
the time I was in Seoul 1951 to 1953  the phone system went from assault
wire to a full blown dial system.  Along with 85 miles of open wire
renovations.

Hope this helps.

Jude Lehrer