TIGER SURVIVORS
A veterans group headed up by:

Wilbert R. "Shorty" Estabrook
3366 3-B Punta Alta
Laguna Hills, CA 92653
(949) 583-1841
TIGERSURVIVORS@AOL.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 165 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.

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 travelled 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.