KOREA VETERANS REUNION
THE PRESENTATION OF THE PLAQUE CEREMONY
Korean War Veterans Memorial, Washington D.C.
November 11, 2006
CHAT SESSION I
November 9, 2006
Holiday Inn, Room 215
Somewhere in Arlington in the WA., D.C. area
Korean War Veterans Memorial, Washington D.C.
November 11, 2006
CHAT SESSION I
November 9, 2006
Holiday Inn, Room 215
Somewhere in Arlington in the WA., D.C. area
THE DISCUSSION CENTERED ON THE HONORING OF OUR POST
1953 FALLEN BROTHERS AND TO CONVINCE THE GOVERNMENT THAT
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF NORTH KOREAN VIOLATIONS LEADING TO
RELATED UNRECOGNIZED CASUALTIES IS LONG OVERDUE.
OPEN FORUM WITH GENE MOSER LEADING THE DISCUSSION
1953 FALLEN BROTHERS AND TO CONVINCE THE GOVERNMENT THAT
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF NORTH KOREAN VIOLATIONS LEADING TO
RELATED UNRECOGNIZED CASUALTIES IS LONG OVERDUE.
OPEN FORUM WITH GENE MOSER LEADING THE DISCUSSION
CONCERNS WERE VOICED BY
MEMORABILIA WAS DISPLAYED
THE ICE WAS BROKEN AND THERE WERE SMILES
THERE WAS FELLOWSHIPPING . . .
THEN THE YARNING BEGAN. . .
AVESS AND_____________
SOME WAR STORIES WERE BELIEVABLE . . .
SOME WAR STORIES WERE BELIEVABLE . . .
TODD AND DAVID
OTHER TALL-TALES? WELL . . . .
OTHER TALL-TALES? WELL . . . .
BILL, MRS. HAYNES, AND_________________
ALL IN ALL IT WAS AN ENJOYABLE EVENING WITH NEW
FRIENDSHIPS, THE SHARING OF CONCERNS AND EXPERIENCES,
AND OF A SPIRITUAL AMBIANCE OF BROTHERLY CAMARADERIE . . .
ALL IN ALL IT WAS AN ENJOYABLE EVENING WITH NEW
FRIENDSHIPS, THE SHARING OF CONCERNS AND EXPERIENCES,
AND OF A SPIRITUAL AMBIANCE OF BROTHERLY CAMARADERIE . . .
FAMOUS LAST WORDS: "THE SOUTH'LL RISE AGAIN . . ."
SEE YA'LL TOMORROW
KAY GRUENDEMANN AND JUDY SCHOENFELDT
MRS. HAYNES AND THE BARRETTS
THE HEBERTS
THE APODACAS
THE DONOVANS
THE ROBARGES
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PHOTO COURTESY DEB AND RUSS DONOVAN
GENE LANGE, BOB HAYNES, AND RUSS DONOVAN
DAVID BENBOW JULIO MARTINEZ TODD TAGMEYER
RONNIE AND TODD
ROGER AND DICK BOB AND RUBEN BILL MYNATT
Postscript: A DMZ-IMJIN SCOUT. In the words of an attending veteran,
Hello Julio, I was hauling what seemed like a ton of weight in my heart since November of
1967. That was when I reported to my new duty station upon return to CONUS from THE LAND
OF THE MORNING CALM. When I made formation on my first morning, the platoon sergeant
asked me what "that patch" was. Of course it was my IMJIN SCOUT patch sewn on the right
pocket of all my fatigue uniforms. Around mid-morning I was called to the orderly room where
the C.O. told me that I was to remove that "unauthorized insignia" from my military uniform.
What a slap that was to a nineteen year old after having spent nineteen months and some days
in the DMZ. That was my only proof that I had been there because you couldn't find anyone who
knew what or where the DMZ was. You see, I was awarded that patch for attending the Advanced
Combat Training Academy (ACTA) located north of the Imjin. How can a soldier be sent to an
"academy" and receive an unauthorized award signed by commissioned officers? I have had that
empty feeling inside of me all these years.
Finding all of you men from "over there at that time" has lifted that terrible feeling off me.
After the dedication of the plaque ceremony I felt like I had finally returned to finish a job that I
had abandoned when I had to remove "that unauthorized patch" from my uniform. You see, I was
"RA, ALL THE WAY" and full of patriotism, gung ho, as you put it. I was still seventeen years old
on my first three months in THE SECOND INFANTRY DIVISION.
For years when people asked me "Are you a Vietnam vet?" I would answer "No," in a half-
ashamed manner, feeling that if I wasn't in "NAM," and therefore had not done my patriotic duty.
I would either change the subect or end the conversation. NOT ANYMORE. I can now proudly
answer, "I am a Korean War Veteran."—Anonymous.
Brothers, I am sure that this author reflects the experiences and feelings of many, if not all, DMZ-Imjin
Scouts--Julio.
Hello Julio, I was hauling what seemed like a ton of weight in my heart since November of
1967. That was when I reported to my new duty station upon return to CONUS from THE LAND
OF THE MORNING CALM. When I made formation on my first morning, the platoon sergeant
asked me what "that patch" was. Of course it was my IMJIN SCOUT patch sewn on the right
pocket of all my fatigue uniforms. Around mid-morning I was called to the orderly room where
the C.O. told me that I was to remove that "unauthorized insignia" from my military uniform.
What a slap that was to a nineteen year old after having spent nineteen months and some days
in the DMZ. That was my only proof that I had been there because you couldn't find anyone who
knew what or where the DMZ was. You see, I was awarded that patch for attending the Advanced
Combat Training Academy (ACTA) located north of the Imjin. How can a soldier be sent to an
"academy" and receive an unauthorized award signed by commissioned officers? I have had that
empty feeling inside of me all these years.
Finding all of you men from "over there at that time" has lifted that terrible feeling off me.
After the dedication of the plaque ceremony I felt like I had finally returned to finish a job that I
had abandoned when I had to remove "that unauthorized patch" from my uniform. You see, I was
"RA, ALL THE WAY" and full of patriotism, gung ho, as you put it. I was still seventeen years old
on my first three months in THE SECOND INFANTRY DIVISION.
For years when people asked me "Are you a Vietnam vet?" I would answer "No," in a half-
ashamed manner, feeling that if I wasn't in "NAM," and therefore had not done my patriotic duty.
I would either change the subect or end the conversation. NOT ANYMORE. I can now proudly
answer, "I am a Korean War Veteran."—Anonymous.
Brothers, I am sure that this author reflects the experiences and feelings of many, if not all, DMZ-Imjin
Scouts--Julio.
