Died in POW Camp-Johnson's List
On Thu, 17 Sep 1998
susan burgess Email address wrote:
Captain Donald S. Sirman, my mother's brother, was shot down, captured
and murdered over Korea in 1950. We know little of his military past
because there was a vast difference in my mom and her brothers ages.
He was born in 1922. and grew up in Philadephia. He attended boarding
school in New England. He married and lived on the west coast , Calif.
or Arizona, I think. We knew little of the circumstances of his death
beyond the War Department telegrams.
Captain Sirman was my mother's older brother. She has scant memories
of the circumstance surrounding her brother's death, but recalls the
family was told that Capt. Sirman and some other prisoners left the
camp, unnoticed, to gather food. They were caught and Capt. Sirman was
shot and killed. His remains were left in Korea.
My other would be thrilled if we would find out anything about is
military life, hear from his fellow airmen.
He received 3 decorations, DFC, PH & AM/
Thank you. We would be most appreciative.
Susan Burgess
Philadelphia, PA
SKBurg@webtv.net
Bout One, June 29th 1950
From: Harold Kenneth Gower
RR 1 Box 100B
Kruger MS 38924
Sent: Friday, November 12, 1999 6:19 AM
Subject: Korean War site
Congratulations on remembering our service.
July 4, 1999, I was priviledged to be honored (for the very first time)
at a church service in Ewing, MO with a salute to veterans. It was
indeed a touching event.
I served from Jan 30, 1948 to Jul 31, 1968, retiring in the grade of
Captain from the USAF.
I was a Corporal at Johnson AB, Japan when the Korean War, began, I
volunteered for Korean service on Jun 27, 1950, shipped out to 8th
Ftr-Bmr Wing at Itazuke on Jun 29, and arrived with Detachment 1,
36th Ftr-Bmr Squadron (Called BOUT ONE) in Teagu Korea on Jul 2, 1950.
I served as a radar operator, when we could find a radar that worked.
When many of my former unit (620th AC&W Sq from Johnson) arrived for
a new unit being formed, I moved to the school grounds in Teagu where the
6132nd Tactical Control Group was located. I asked for and got a transfer
to the unit on Aug 8, 1950.
We evacuated Teagu by rail to Pusan and located on a hill near the
harbor. When Fifth Air Force announced that members of BOUT ONE were
eligible to return to Japan, I left and returned to Johnson AB until my
rotation to the states in September 1951.
I received a promotion to Sergeant on Aug 12, 1950, after only being a
member of the 6132d for four days.
