My wife, Cathy, and I are volunteers aboard my old battleship, USS Missouri (BB-63). I am one of the Volunteer Supervisors. During 2008, I had the privilege of working with "Wounded Warriors" (Marines) back from Afghanistan/Iraq. A group of those warriors volunteered to come aboard and help in the repair and preservation of the ship.
I am frequently called upon to speak to groups visiting the Mighty Mo. I spoke to 57 newly appointed CPO's at the third CPO Legacy Academy held aboard the ship (2008). On 30 Aug 2011, I was guest speaker for the CPO Legacy Academy Class of 43 new CPO's. Command Master Chief of the Naval Surface Group, Middle Pacific, Patricia M. Roebuck and 7 Senior Chiefs from local commands were also in attendance. I was asked to speak during the CPO Legacy Classes of 2010, 2011, two classes in 2012, and will be speaking with the two classes of 2013.
I was asked to be the Keynote Speaker at the Veterans Day Sunset Ceremony held aboard the battleship USS Missouri on 11/11/11. More than 250 people attended; including a dozen or so active duty Flag & General Officers. I heard one of the best renditions of our National Anthem, sung by a TSgt Laura Murdzia, USAF. I was completely surprised when, at the conclusion of the Flag ceremony performed by the Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Old Glory Detail, the ceremonial Flag was presented to me. It was, to say the least, an awesome experience! Please see "Family New" section for some photos.
As a result of an article I submitted to AMVETS Magazine, the Commander of Post #1 in Honolulu, Hawaii contacted me. After a rather lengthy discussion, I was offered the position of Post Legislative Director and Editor of the Post's Newsletter. I agreed, with one proviso; I would be a volunteer.
Other Comments:
In 1970, I was personally selected by RADM Dean L. Axene to be his Writer and Administrative Assistant. I was later officially assigned the duties as his Enlisted Flag Officer Personal Aide. I was, at that time, the first and only Enlisted Flag Officer Personal Aide in the U.S. Navy and I was issued shoulder Aiguillettes signifying that I was a Personal Aide to a Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy.
I also served aboard the USS Forrestal (CVA-59) in the Operations Office (1957/59), a couple shore duty assignments, 10 years with NATO Commands (including NATO HQ Paris, France and Brussels, Belgium) and a tour of duty as a Naval Advisor in Vietnam (1966/67) with MACV/SOG.
I am a member of The Battleship Missouri Association and am a Plank Owner/Crewmember of the "Friends of the Mighty Mo." I am also a member of the USS Missouri Association Legacy Society. I am a member of the USS Forrestal (CVA-59) Association .
I shall be among the 88 veterans invited by the Republic of Korea for the Re-Visit Tour (MilCom Tours) 11-17 Sep 2013. My wife, Cathy, will be accompanying me.
While there, I plan to present a color photo of the USS Missouri (BB-63) taken during a bombardment mission at Chongjin, N. Korea on 19 Oct 1950 and one of my personal Challenge Coins to the Minister of National Defense - Kim, Kwan-Jin and the Minister of Patriots & Veterans Affairs - Park, Sung-Choon who will be attending the ceremonies. There will be Incheon Landing Ceremonies on the Anniversary of the landing in Sep 1950 and a banquet on our last evening. I have been asked to be Guest Speaker at the Korea Ambassador For Peace Awards banquet on 16 September.
The S. Korean government is subsidizing most of the expenses of the trip! They are paying 50% of my airfare, 30% of Cathy's airfare, the hotel bill and all meals, and fees charged for tours which have been scheduled.
I shall report on the visit and post photos upon our return. We are certainly looking forward to the trip.
As promised, here is my trip report:
Aloha All :o)!!
My wife and I returned 9/17/13 from a week in South Korea at the invitation of the Republic of Korea (ROK). Along with 87 other invitees, we were treated to a fabulous visit!
We flew Hawaiian Airlines non-stop from Honolulu, HI (9 hours). Had to upgrade tickets to first/business class because of spinal injuries incurred while aboard the USS Missouri (BB-63) in the Korean War in 1950/51. The trip was organized and handled by milcon.com, headed up by retired Army Colonel Warren Wiedhahn and son Jamie.
The ROK paid part of our airfare, all of the hotel bill (including meals at its fabulous restaurant), all tours and lunches/dinners taken away from the hotel. Most rooms had two queen size beds and a beautiful view of the city. The bathroom was simply awesome, including a heated toilet seat (really).
The Korean War Veterans came from all over the country and were met as we approached the baggage area in Seoul by a sign that read ?Milcon Visitors.? We were provided copies of the week?s itinerary, I.D. Cards, etc. and were given a very warm welcome. When all veterans scheduled for arrival during our arrival time block had arrived, we boarded buses for the one hour trip to the city of Seoul.
Our hotel was the Lotte, in the heart of the shopping mecca. It is a 32-story, luxurious hotel (almost $300 per night).
Day 2. After breakfast, we travelled to Daegu, had lunch and then attended a Victory Ceremony for the Nakdong River Battle. At lunch, I was seated next to Brigadier General Choi Hwa-Sik of the ROK Army. We were able to speak to each other with very little difficulty.
The battle at the Nakdong Rover was vicious and many soldiers died preventing the North Korean Army from successfully crossing the River. There was a reenactment of that battle. The area from the river to the viewing stands was suddenly engulfed by smoke and we saw small boats carrying enemy troops approaching our side of the River. Lots of explosions and gunfire and soon the landing area was strewn with bodies. The defenders held their ground and the day was won. Pretty realistic, too! Then, we had dinner at a local restaurant and back to the hotel.
Day 3. After breakfast, we travelled to the Korean National Cemetery, witnessed the ?Ash? Ceremony? and then went on to the War Memorial. Then, back to the hotel for dinner. The cemetery was immaculately groomed (grass and bushes). There were seemingly endless rows of grave markers, perfectly aligned with each other!
Day 4. After breakfast, we travelled to Incheon for the Victory Ceremony and a pretty realistic reenactment of General MacArthur?s successful Incheon Landing Operation.
Upon our arrival, the veterans were separated from family members and escorted to a tent (out from under the sunshine) to await a ?grand entrance.? We were escorted back to the viewing stands by Korean children. Two veterans walked into the area holding the hands of one of these wonderful kids. Family members clicked away with cameras to catch this emotional show of friendship. I must admit to wiping away a tear, myself!
There were several ROK naval vessels in the harbor; many small boats & landing craft. ROK troop dropped into the harbor by parachute. We watched as small boats picked up the troops and salvaged the parachutes. Two ?choppers? flew by carrying on a rope a ROK SEAL Team and four Green Berets hanging from the ?string? (a descending rope). Sure reminded me of MACV/SOG recon teams being extracted from the Laotian jungle on a ?string!?
After lunch, I was personally greeted by U.S. Navy Captain Philip W. Yu, our Naval Attache at the US Embassy in Seoul. We were introduced to the Admiral?s Chief-of-Staff. I had earlier (by mail) presented Captain Yu with one of my Challenge Coins and an autographed color photo of the USS Missouri in action off Chongjin, North Korea on 19 October 1950. He confessed that he had already hung that photo on the wall in his office at the Embassy. We then visited the Memorial Hall for the Incheon Landing Operation, then back to the hotel for dinner.
Day 5. After breakfast we travelled to Camp Bonifas at the DMZ. Accompanying each of the Korean War Veterans was a Korean college student. Our student was Tae Jin EOM of the Kyung Hee University. He was studying New Politics and Future Governance. He was a joy to chat with. Most of the students already spoke fluent English.
We received a briefing by JSA and then moved to Op Dora, where discussions of the armistice were held. Cathy & I stood on the side of the table which was considered North Korean Territory; the other side by the South Koreans. There were two rather small buildings used for those discussions. (We learned later in the day that a 42 year old defector was shot dead by the North Korean soldiers manning their side of the DMZ). We then visited the US Monument for a Wreath Laying Ceremony. One of our USMC veterans participated. Then it was lunch with solid Korean atmosphere and chow.
We then returned to the hotel to make ready for the ?Thank-You Banquet? to be held in the Crystal Room at our hotel. This had to be one of the very best banquets/dinners I ever attended. As Guest Speaker, Cathy and I were seated at the Head Table. Sponsor of the milcon visits was Korean Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, the Honorable Park Sung Choon. I was seated just two chairs to the Minister?s left, with Major General Walter M. Golden Jr., Eighth United States Army Deputy Commanding Geranral, between the Minister and me. I felt quite honored, to say the least! Across the table were two high-ranking retired military officers. One was the President of the Korean Veterans Association (KVA), a retired four-star ROK General.
General Golden graciously engaged me in conversation and we chatted about his career and mine. He was retiring later this year, but wasn?t sure of what he was going to do after 37 years in service.
Minister Park?s remarks were filled with praise for his invited guests. He made it quite clear that South Koreans firmly believed that we, along with several other countries, prevented the South Koreans from losing their country and their freedom!
Speeches following the Minister were intentionally short in duration. Mine was less than 10 minutes and described the battleship Missouri?s trip from Norfolk to the East Sea off Korea?s shoreline. I also gave them a very brief history of my naval career. I intentionally used three Korean phrases (in their language) to show my desire to communicate with the Korean people. Immediately after using those phrases, there was loud applause and nods of approval. The only other pause for applause was when I related how the battleship provided covering fire while the Marines and Soldiers moved out of the Frozen Chosen Reservoir to march to the Eastern Coast for evacuation by naval ships.
As I returned to my seat at the table, I received a polite bow and a handshake by the Minister. When I was again seated, I received another bow from the President of the KVA. I stood up and returned that act of respect! Wow, did I ever feel honored!
I was called again to the stage as the U.S. Representative, along with a gentleman who was the U.K. Representative. We stood on either side of the President of the KVA who bestowed upon us our Korea Ambassador For Peace Award which was hung around our necks. We also received a beautiful Certificate! I was covered with goose-bumps. The other 86 veterans received their awards, at their tables, by other Korean dignitaries.
For the third time, I was called to the stage to pose for a photograph of those who were a part of the Incheon Invasion. As my ship provided the covering fire for that fighting withdrawal, I was considered eligible to stand with those who fought with ?boots on the ground!? What an honor! The following morning brought news of the media coverage of some of the events of the week. Someone came running up to me with a copy of the Korea newspaper (largest newspaper in the country) that had a photograph of some of the veterans in the stands at the Incheon reenactment and I was shown in the middle of that photo. Too awesome!
It is my hope that the word be spread to all Korean War Veterans that there is such a wonderful tour available. (Go to milcon.com and click on Korean Re-Visits).
I shall provide copies of photographs as soon as Cathy finishes separating the ?wheat from the chaff?!
It was quite a feeling of ?letdown? as we prepared for our departure from Korea. Our group was treated to a ?shopping tour? and lunch at yet another local restaurant on the way to the airport.
All in all, it was easily the best organized trip I had ever taken part in! My congratulations to Warren and Jamie Wiedhahn for an absolutely great re-visit to that war we left some 63 years ago.
