In November of 1950, the Communist Chinese "Volunteers" were deployed by the Communist Command to join forces with the North Koreans in their offensive in Korea. On 29 November 1950, the 79th was ordered from Camp Fuchinobe, Japan to the port of Hungnam, North Korea, to aid the Eighth United States Army in halting the combined Chinese and Korean offensive.
We arrived in Korea on 2 December 1950, and immediately departed for Hamhung, Korea. From 4 December to 10 December, the battalion performed maintenance and repair work on roads and bridges in this area. - Bobby Thompson's History of the 79th Engineer Battalion
The Hungnam Evacuation
During the major Chinese offensive of 1950, the Battalion, then assigned to the 2nd Engineer Group, was forced to return to Hungnam, and there assisted in the evacuation by water of some 60,000 refugees and three troop divisions. This was a 24 hour-a-day operation, and the safety record established by the Battalion during this period is still outstanding. On Christmas Eve 1950, the evacuation was completed. - Office of History at US Army Corps of Engineers
On 10 December, the 79th was assigned the task of helping in the now historic evacuation of Hungnam, Hamhung, and the port of Hungnam. In the port area we were faced with the task of moving troops, both into the city and also onto the ships. - Bobby Thompson's History of the 79th Engineer Battalion
In the execution of this assignment, we set up a staging area, supplied stevedores, dock operators, and crane winch operators. Our remaining men dug artitllery emplacements and kept the steady stream of men and equipment moving in an orderly fashion. - Bobby Thompson's History of the 79th Engineer Battalion
All men who could drive were assigned vehilces. Those who could not drive were assigned the task of keeping the roads to the port passable 24 hour a day. All these duties were performed efficiently. On 24 December 1950, our mission was accomplished, and the evacuation of Hungnam was complete. - Bobby Thompson's History of the 79th Engineer Battalion
The 79th Engineer Construction Battalion was the last unit to be evacuated from the port with the exception of members of the 3rd Infantry Division, who were fighting the rear guard action. For our part in this operation, the "Dunkirk of Korea", the battalion was awarded the Syungman Rhee Presidential Unit Citation. - Bobby Thompson's History of the 79th Engineer Battalion
The President of the Republic of Korea takes profound pleasure in citing for outstanding
and superior performance of duty during the period 15 September to 25 December 1950
79th Engineer Construction Battalion for the Award of
THE PRESIDENTAIL UNIT CITATION
Pusan, Korea
The battalion arrived in Pusan, Korea, on 25 December 1950 and was sent immediately to the North, with the mission of maintaining and keeping the MSR's (main supply roads) open for supplies so desperately needed for the combat divisions, if it were to turn the tide of battle and gain the offensive again. The battalion arrived in Kijong-Ja, Korea, where we were assigned to our present parent organization, 24th Engineer Construction Group. - Bobby Thompson's History of the 79th Engineer Battalion
The year of 1951 was a busy one for the 79th Engineers. The line companies were located north from Seoul the MLR. The companies were assigned various tasks. They built bridges, roads, reconstructed railroads, rebuilt towns, and moved other units. During all this activity, the men were constantly subject to guerrilla activity. - Bobby Thompson's History of the 79th Engineer Battalion
1951 The Battalion then sailed for Pusan, and later moving to Taegu. The responsibility for maintaining and repairing main routes of communication was assigned to the Battalion. During the year of 1951 the Battalion worked its way North through the central sector of Kapyoung and Chungchu. While there they repaired roads and bridges and replaced approximately 60 miles of lightweight rails and ties with heavyweight materials. This rail line stands in Korea as one of the better portions of the Korean rail System. - Office of History at US Army Corps of Engineers
On October 18, 1951, a temporary bridge was built near bigger one that the Japanese had built but left unfinished. It became known as The Arch Bridge.
1/4/52 Board MARINE ADDER at 2:15 Sail at 3:30 PM - James N. Patterson
About the Marine Adder
"I had never been on the ocean before nor on a troop ship either for that matter. When I first went onboard, I asked an American sailor if this is what took us to the troop ship. He replied, "This is a troop ship." I was amazed. How small it seemed to be. I found out later that the ship had a displacement of 12, 420 tons. A length of 523 feet. Beam was 71 feet and a speed of 17 knots. Accommodation for 3800 troops. This is small by today's standards but that was what was available after World War II. To put the size of the ship into perspective, the Marine Adder would fit inside a football stadium." - Jim Milton, Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps
1/21/52 Disembarked at 2:20 am. To Camp Drake (Near Tokyo, Japan). - James N. Patterson
About Camp Drake, Japan
Processing at Camp Drake near Tokyo was quick - about three days. Twelve men received orders for the dozer-scraper school at Eta Jima, Japan. Eta Jima Specialist school was near Hiroshima, on an island about five miles out in the Inland Sea. Before WWII, it was the Navy Officer's Candidate School, Japan's Annapolis. The dozer-scraper MOS 3359 course took four weeks to complete. Training was concentrated on the maintenance and operation of D4, D6, and D8 Caterpillar tractors. Jack spent the next 19 months in Korea with Company A, Engineers. He completed his tour of the Korean conflict never having to fire his M1-Garand rifle. He was a supply Sergeant, helping to build roads, bridges and MASH units north of the 38th parallel in Korea. - Robert A. Dixon, Unit Unknown
1/23/52 Lv. Camp Drake by train at 10:00 am - James N. Patterson
1/24/52 Arrive at Sassebo at 3:30 PM - James N. Patterson
1/25/52 On Japanese LST. Slept on mats - James N. Patterson
Lt Patterson Arrives in Pusan, Korea
1/26/52 Arrive at Pusan then on train to Tegue. Arrive about 7:00 am - James N. Patterson
A Canadian's Recollection of Pusan
"We landed in Pusan, Korea, the southern-most port on the Peninsula. An American army military brass band met us at the docks and played military music to welcome us to Korea. It was here that we unloaded our supplied and formed up for the trip to the front. We travelled by truck over a distance of about 250 miles, using makeshift roads and trails. None of us knew the country but the military police marked out the routes which we were to take. Sometimes we only travelled at night to avoid strafing or being shot at by the enemy. The thing most soldiers remember about coming to Korea was the amount of poverty and how poor the people were. They had been exploited and persecuted by the enemy soldiers, had little or no food and their houses had been destroyed by the surrounding battles." - Jim Milton, Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps
24th Engineer Group (Construction)
1/27/52 Assigned to 24th Engineer Construction Group - James N. Patterson
1/28/52 Arrive at 24th, 12 miles NE of Seoul at Singkongdok. Assigned to 79th Engineer Construction Battalion. - James N. Patterson
1/29/52 Colonel Klinkie interviewed me for about an hour in his office.
I was most unimpressed. His shirt was unbuttoned and he had on house shoes. I thought he as a horse’s rear end based on what he said. - James N. Patterson
79th Engineer Battalion (Construction)
Prior to January 29,1952 the 79th battalion moved to Naep Yong Ni. Here we carried out the maintenance of the MSR, from Hongchon through Chunchon and to Kwande-re, the army supply point in the vicinity of Chunchon. While in this areathe battalion constructed concrete and steel bridges, airstrips, railheads, and many buildings, including a residence in Chunchon. - Bobby Thompson's History of the 79th Engineer Battalion
The 79th is located above Chon Chun maintaining
about 80 miles of road and building steel bridges.
Battalion Headquarters is at NAEP YONG NE. I was
assigned to A Co. 3rd Platoon. Lt. COHEN platoon leader is to be adjutant and I will be
platoon leader. We are building a three span steel bridge 5 miles N of Bn.. headquarters.
Hdq’s. and two of the companies are getting 4 points.
From 1 to 6 PM Lt. Col. McCallam took me on a tour from headquarters to the upper limits of the work.
Capt. BABAQ from Ft Sill is here as H & S Co. CO. I live in a tent with 5 other officers. - James N. Patterson
Lt Patterson's First Bridge Job
1/30/52 First day on job. Bridge is 3-42 foot spans 20 feet above stream. It is a steel bridge with a
wood deck made with 2X6s on edge. Ground is frozen. My platoon sergeant is Corporal SHELTON. I
am to use my bridge to prepare lessons on scheduling, and estimating and present part of the lessons for
officers school the next three Saturdays. - James N. Patterson
2/9/52 Open house for new Korean house the 79th built. - James N. Patterson
2/11/52 Erected first steel bent of the bridge. - James N. Patterson
2/12/52 I am assistant defense counsel. We won our case. He was found not guilty. - James N. Patterson
2/16/52 New Lt. BINYON new in H & S Co. Lt. DOWNING from H & S goes to C Co. A Co. CO
Capt. OTTO is leaving and Capt. CARPENTER is new company CO. - James N. Patterson
2/17/52 Capt. DIVER is S-3 - James N. Patterson
2/19/52 Lt. MORRIS uses battalion dark room to print pictures for me. - James N. Patterson
2/22/52 All steel stringers are erected. - James N. Patterson
2/23/52 Battalion Headquarters moves up on hill in Korean house they built as demonstration, I assume that’s why
it was built. We are still working Sundays, but I will give my platoon 1/2 day off for church. - James N. Patterson
3/2/52 Lt. COHEN, Lt. GRANDLE and I go to bridge for pictures then to Chun Chon. - James N. Patterson
3/4/52 Bridge is almost finished - James N. Patterson
3/10/52 My rock and asphalt wall is the only one still standing after rains, so we will reinforce it with
buttresses. We are still working on fill for the approaches. MAJ. DIVER said he would
recommend that Bn. assign A Co. to bridge 5 which has 5 spans at 42 foot each, the longest
yet. - James N. Patterson
3/11/52 Beginning to thaw which means problems for the roads. I bought a 45 so I won’t have to
carry a carbine. - James N. Patterson
3/13/52 I met the new Co. CO, CAPT. CARPENTER, and was told my platoon was to go North to
build roads for an ammunition supply point. B Co. will finish my bridge. - James N. Patterson
3/14/52 We left at 10 am with a truck mounted shovel, 3 dozers, 2 scrapers, a towed grader, 4-4 ton
dumps, 2 - 21/2 ton cargo trucks, and a jeep. We arrived at 8 PM after one scraper wheel over
heated and caught on fire. Eight left for home so I am short on non coms., so I get SHELTON
promoted to sergeant first class. I am living with the two ASP officers. We will work two
shifts. Lots of artillery firing, but it is all ours. - James N. Patterson
3/16/52 Working on haul roads. I found a guard in his tent instead of on post. - James N. Patterson
3/18/52 Maj. Mac Donald flew in for visit. - James N. Patterson
3/25/52 The is at Oumsong a little North of Chipori, on the hwy from Seoul to Kumhua, and NE of
Chorwon. Capt JABULSKI has been here surveying and estimating ( on another job I think ).
He is to be S-3 when Maj. DIVER leaves in a couple of months. - James N. Patterson
3/26/52 I am promoted to 1st Lt. - James N. Patterson
3/29/52 New 2nd Lt. Ross LAMPIE from NC arrives. - James N. Patterson
4/1/52 Working two crews from daylight to dark instead of two shifts. - James N. Patterson
4/2/52 Capt. O’NEIL, A Co. CO comes up. My bridge is still not finished, the thawing roads are
giving them a bad time. - James N. Patterson
New Orders: The Arch Bridge
4/3/52 Got word we will build a concrete arch bridge.
The Japanese had started this bridge but had never finished it. They built two approach spans about 10 or 15 meters long each and one main span 50 meters long. They did not build the other fifty meter span which is fifty meters long and seventy feet above the river, the river varies from two to five feet deep of fast water. - James N. Patterson
4/5/52 I worked out a deal to use a crusher to provide crushed rock for our roads in the ASP. A unit was loading it by hand and getting five cy per day.
We are to operate their crusher. We will get 20 cy per hour and give them five cy per hour and we get the rest for our job. They get 800% more than they had been getting. - James N. Patterson
4/11/52 Sixty men due tomorrow, but no officers will be with them. Col. KLINKIE has set a schedule of having the arch rings poured in six weeks, which doesn’t make sense.
The 24th Group did the planning without our help. They are sending the rest of A Co. up with one days notice which also doesn’t make sense. - James N. Patterson
The Story of David Herring Begins
This is where David Herring's story begins. David is concerned about his current streak of bad luck. He doesn't have a clue that destiny has called him to be at the side of Lt Patterson at the Arch Bridge; which was probably the luckiest thing that ever happened to him up to that point in his life.
En route to Ft Lawton aboard the Sunset Limited and Shasta Daylight. Quote: "After running two blocks (duffel bag on my back) to catch my (moving) train (in San Antonio), fighting two days of bad luck at poker, and sweating out a cattle car from LA to SF, I finally got to see some truly magnificent scenery and won my money plus more back." (Between SF and Seattle) - David Herring
Back In Korea
4/13/52 Supplies are starting to arrive for the arch bridge including low boys of cement which we have to protect for a long time. I had planned for us to live near the site, but Capt. O’Neil doesn’t want us to since it is above the light line. B Co. of the 194th Engineers is moving out so I arraigned for us to take over their area, and their Quonset hut that we can use for a mess hall. It is near the ASP and about a mile and a half from the arch bridge. - James N. Patterson
4/15/52 Lt. SHERMAN came up yesterday and Capt. O’NEIL came up today. I was really glad to see him. Lt. Sherman is to be job manager, and I am to job superintendent. We start tomorrow and the arch rings are to be poured in five weeks. - James N. Patterson
Herring is Indoctrinated, Inoculated, and Orientated
Reported to Ft Lawton. Spent the next 3 days getting indoctrinated, inoculated, and orientated. Was issued a complete new uniform. Departed on the General Brewster about April 20. - David Herring
Lt Patterson's Plan
4/17/52 Rigging concrete mixer on pontoon raft to use to pour footings for the false work, which will be telephone poles.
We will pour more concrete around them after they are set in place. The footings are in the river so the concrete will be poured under water with a tremie. Sherman and I made a schedule to pour the rings in thirty-two days. We received some plans but it was for the end of the job and not what we were needing. - James N. Patterson
4/20/52 Sunday: We got the mixer on the raft and poured one footing. It is really a job. I feel sure we won’t make the deadline. We are not getting support from the Bn. which is really making it a headache. - James N. Patterson
The Importance of the Arch Bridge
Apparently nobody could understand the purpose of rebuilding the Arch Bridge. It always helps to know why you are doing something. On the 21st Lt Patterson finally found out what it's importance was.
4/21/52 I went to the Aggie Muster and I got to talk to Gen. YOUNG, 2nd Div. CG, for about ten minutes and he explained the importance of the bridge, which made a lot more sense. He said when it rains and the river rises our bridge will probably be the only bridge that won’t wash out. With out the arch bridge they wouldn’t have a road parallel to the front to move armor
on if needed.- James N. Patterson
Help is On The Way
Late April. En Route. Uneventful. A little bad time early when everyone else was getting sick in close quarters. Lost about $5 total in poker. In hindsight, I believe one big hand - couple hundred bucks - was rigged. Deal passed about 4 times. Everyone had good hands and stayed in. I had full house. Four somethings won. - David Herring
David is still en route and loosing his money; but slowly he's approaching the front line of America's new war.
5/2/52 Col. Klinkie changed plans for the Falsework back to the way we wanted it in the first place. That is so it would stop directly under the rings instead of by passing them, and having to carry the rings on timbers fastened to the poles. I doubt if they could have gotten us the bolts necessary. The hills are getting green.- James N. Patterson
Hurry Up and Wait
5/6/52 Camp Drake, Japan. "Arrived at 11:00PM and started processing immediately. We were orientated, inoculated, paid, and changed our money to script by 1:30. Made it to bed a little after 2:00, just 3 hours before reveille at 0500 No wasted time. Took up most of our new uniforms which were issued in Seattle. Caught a train to Sasebo, port nearest Korea. "Still no mail. Maybe when I get to my outfit?" - David Herring
A Good Crane Is Coming
5/7/52 We got word that a two yard crane is coming to raise falsework frames.- James N. Patterson
The Old Boat
5/8/52 Aboard ship enroute to Inchon. An old freighter with bunks up the side of the hold. If you fell out you could fall 30 feet. No one did. A three day trip. - David Herring
Murphy's Law
5/12/52 We had a crane on the raft and the boom extension crumpled on the first lift.- James N. Patterson
SFC David Herring's New Home
Apparently life at Hq 79th was pretty good. At least David thought so. Just like Home Sweet Home. In 2004, David recalled, "Unfortunately, this good living was fated to last but a couple of weeks."
5/13/52 79th Engr Const Bn. On the 38th, Near Chun'chon. I was happy with my assignment. Quote: "I have finally found a home and I don't guess I could hope for a better one in this part of the country. H & S Co is well set up. We have an NCO's club (mess and bar) eating out of china, two boys to serve and clean up, plentiful, reasonably-priced bar supplies, and the chow is good. Also have laundry service, a tailor shop, a barber shop and movies about 4 times a week. We can get free toothpaste, soap, cigs, stationery, etc. Not bad. Drawbacks - carry weapons and ammo, steel helmets, maintain foxholes and strong perimeter defense. But no blackouts" Still living in tents, but I was used to that having only lived in a barracks during basic training; then tents in the snowy zero cold of the Colorado mountains; and tents in the boiling heat of the desert of Arizona.
David gets briefed about the 79th's roll in the war.
"Our companies are spread out from Pusan to the front, building roads, prison camps, bridges and whatever else is needed. Right now our big problem is a large concrete arch bridge. The Koreans and Japanese got this much done before the war:
(sketch showing two abutment arches about 100 ft, one large arch 165 ft, and a gap of 165 ft)
"We are filling in the missing gap. It is only a mile or so behind the lines".
Looking Back At The Big Picture
Korea in 1952 was a well-organized war. Unfortunately more casualties occurred during the organized last two years than in the disorganized first fifteen months when the North swept down to Pusan, then we went up to the Yalu, then the Chinese came back south of Seoul, then we moved up to the more or less stable line of the armistice. But by 1952 most troops slept in decent tents, had a hot meal daily unless in combat, could go back a few miles to a shower point with hot water and get a clean set of used fatigues. Get an R and R trip after enough time. Evacuate the wounded to a MASH quickly by helicopter, call in artillery or an air strike within minutes.
Still, the combat dogfaces faced just as much uncertainty and danger as if we were fighting to move back to the Yalu, which was the preference of most troops. - David Herring
The Bridge Goes Up - But The Crane Is Down
5/14/52 Korean contractor is to send five men to work as we see fit.- James N. Patterson
5/15/52 Eusak (HEADQUARTERS EIGHTH UNITED STATES ARMY KOREA) engineer compliments A Co. on job. We raise our fourth frame with the crane on the raft. Two yard crane still not working.- James N. Patterson
5/17/52 Thirty out of thirty six frames erected. Dead line to have arch ring poured is June 10 - James N. Patterson
5/19/52 Capt. S and I redesign caps.- James N. Patterson
Slide Show NOTE: There are 10-20 very large pictures in each slide show. Be very patient. It's worth the wait.
5/20/52 Last frame is erected. We decide to add 8X8 timber between piles. We put Korean contractor’s men to patching holes in old slab. It was dangerous since you have to get under the slab to build forms, and we didn’t wand our men doing that.- James N. Patterson
Dear Mom, Please Send My Shotgun Case
"I completed my tour of the front safely. Quiet except for some artillery and shooting in the hills. Defenses impressive. Primary and Secondary.
"Would take one hell of an offense to root us out. Everything dug in and sandbagged. . .You never see a building of any size standing. Saw some of my old (412th) officers and got updated on some of my friends.
"I had no idea of the total destruction wrought until I saw Seoul - a mass of rubble 12 months after the last battles there. Hardly a building left unharmed after four waves of war washed over.
That however, is where the Engineers come in, and believe me, they've been doing a tremendous job. We're building bridges over here that would do credit to any highway dept. The roads aren't much, but if you could see the terrain, you would agree that any kind of roads are an achievement. Still no mail. - David Herring
5/30/52 "Finally got mail from April. Mom, please wrap my plastic shotgun case and airmail it (regular mail takes two months). Over here it's either intolerably dusty or raining and it's important to keep your weapon in firing shape. Nothing exciting here. I'm going back to the front for a week. I am looking fwd to it because I should see Maj Houston, my old S-3 officer. - David Herring
6/1/52 Col. Klinke, was up and seemed pleased. Capt. Szybalaski S 3, Captain Chapman S 4, and
Mr.Perina, asst. S 4, also visited the job.- James N. Patterson
SFC David Herring is Assigned to the Arch Bridge
6/4/52 "Just my luck. When my mail finally catches up with me, they move me out. Reassigned. TDY (Temp Duty) with A Co, as trouble shooter on the Arch Bridge. (To stay until complete)] Nice sketch of falsework for the arch, with 80 ft piles. (1Lt Patterson did an excellent job of designing and supervising the erection of this impressive structure.)
"Formwork up and planned to pour first of the week, but the Group Commander feels otherwise. Who knows when. We have several hundred Korean workmen. They do everything by hand and move slowly. When several carry something heavy, suspended from poles with ropes, they chant a song to keep all of them in unison. It works. At a conservative estimate, I would say that the US employs 250-500 thousand Koreans to rebuild their country. - David Herring
Napalm In The Punchbowl
"Fairly quiet up here, but a few days ago there was quite a battle in an area they call the Punchbowl. You can see the planes dropping napalm (which makes you appreciate total air superiority and close-in air support which is far better than WWII. A trainer type aircraft (T-3?) would come in and put down a smoke bomb, then the fighters would come in with the napalm and machine guns. (During my tour I recall seeing P51 Mustangs, F6F Vought-Sikorsky Corsairs, F80 Shooting Star jets, and possibly F86 Saber jets. I never saw a bomber - B29s I believe - probably too high) and hear artillery night and day, but they don't bother the engineers, so don't worry about me." "I could use some pocket books, but working 11 hours, 7 days doesn't leave much time. (I seem to have found time for poker, however. Didn't need much sleep then.)" - David Herring
New Orders & Rumors
6/6/52 Orders to turn bridge job over to 62nd Engrs. I am to remain with platoon and turn it over.
That never happened.- James N. Patterson
USO Show. Nice. (This may not seem like much to the current generation, but it was a big deal for me.) Big News. We are moving out. Probably to Japan. I will ask to stay. Would like to see the bridge finished. (Talk about Rumors) - David Herring
USO Slide Show NOTE: There are 10-20 very large pictures in each slide show. Be very patient. It's worth the wait.
6/7/52 On 7 June 1952 the 79th battalion left the Chunchon by train and on June 8 Company "A" left from Chorwon (leaving one officer and ninenteen men to finish the concrete arch bridge) arrivinged at Pusan the 10th of the same month. The temporary headquarters of the battalion was set up at Pusan. - Bobby Thompson's History of the 79th Engineer Battalion
The Battalion's Next Assignment
Our next assignment was to be the building of the Prisoner of War enclosures off the southern coast of Korea on several islands. Company "A" was assigned to the island of Yongcho-Do, Company "B" to Cheju-Dp and Company "C" to the island of Pengan-Do. - Bobby Thompson's History of the 79th Engineer Battalion
OK, Be-Good, Bye-Bye
6/8/52 A Co. loaded on rail cars at Chorwon and left. I remain with nineteen men in two tents.
Tomorrow we will move.- James N. Patterson
6/11/52 We are living with 13th Engineers. Lt. Bussell who I came over with and a Lt. Jones- James N. Patterson
Top Herring Grabs The Bull By The Horns
"Situation normal, FUBAR. Came up for a few days to lend a hand and now the Battalion has left me and about 17 others to do the job where we were shorthanded with 200. (A little exaggeration?) The Bn was given 36 hours alert before leaving, which included breaking camp, policing, and loading the train with equipment tents, everything - normally a 3-4 day opn. During this 36 hours, Gen Wyland, IX Corps CO notified Van Fleet (Gen James Van Fleet, who relieved McArthur) that the bridge wasn't completed, whereupon Van Fleet issued orders to leave men behind to complete the bridge without loss of time. However, by the time the word got out of the stars (Generals) and down to the bars (Company Grade Officers) the outfit was gone except for us. We are to accomplish the job by July 2. (At this time, Jun 16, we were put on Detached Service with the 62nd.)
"You can't appreciate the challenge until you have seen the Koreans work. They're not adapted for technical work psychologically, philosophically or any other way. They are an agrarian people and won't be anything else for many generations. (Wrong! They made it into the industrial age in two generations.)
"For a few days we were on our own, eating C Rations. During that time I acted as 1st Sgt, Sgt of the Guard, and even Mess Sgt. We are lucky to have a good Lt with us here - the best ROTC Officer I have worked with, an Aggie - 1st Lt Patterson from Ft Worth. (Aggie is Texas A & M I attended and eventually graduated from Texas U, traditional adversary of the Aggies.) "Now we are living with the 13th Combat Engrs, a couple of miles N of where we were earlier. Good Chow, but none of the nice facilities we had a Chun'chon.
"Tomorrow I go to Seoul to try to get the latest bridge plans approved. (Construction plans for formwork, scaffolding, concrete sequence, etc) I'll have a jeep, will stay overnight, and try to do some shopping and get some beer for the troops plus whatever else I can find. (JMP Log June 14 says we worked out all out problems on the bridge, so the trip was successful. Even more so, I got beer for the troops.)
"A few days back I managed to get down to the 36th Combat Group to see Maj Houston, my old S-3 Officer. He is the chief coordinator for Operation Mushroom (Atomic Defense) Showed me all around - very interesting - but classified." (Now that I can tell about it, I don't remember what it was other than bunkers.) - David Herring
Let's Do It !!!
6/12/52 Will make first arch pour in four or five days, then every four or five days.- James N. Patterson
6/13/52 Moved back to old A Co. area. Mr. Davis from the 62nd is here with me.- James N. Patterson
6/14/52 Sergeant Herring and I worked out all of our main problems. We will pour about 80 cy of
arch Tuesday using chutes directly from mixers located on the old spans.- James N. Patterson
6/16/52 Men from 79th placed on Detached Service with 62nd:
1st Lt James N Patterson, Cpl Donald P Clarke, SFC David M herring, Cpl robert O Jones, PFC Harry K Mogensen, PFC William W Perry, PVT Martin J Vanm Loon, PFC Richard Trueblood, Cpl Ralph P Collari, Cpl, John J Cummins, PFC Elbert E David, Sgt Joseph W Dufor, PFC Warron I Hardgrove, SFC Charles E Hardin, Cpl Joes T Ledford, PFC Philip J Martines, Cpl Harry A Schlote - David Herring
6/17/52 We started pouring in the afternoon. Due to many problems especially getting material to the mixer we didn’t finish until 26 hours later. We had all been up over thirty hours, but we did it.- James N. Patterson
6/20/52 "Working hard. Sunday 6AM to 7PM, Mon 6AM to 10PM, Tue started pouring concrete at 4AM, poured all morning, poured all afternoon, poured all night, poured all this morning, finished at 1PM. 33 hours straight." (This would have been the arches) - David Herring
Slide Show NOTE: There are 10-20 very large pictures in each slide show. Be very patient. It's worth the wait.
6/22/52 Decided to go against Col. Klinkie’s direction to meet deadline of June 27 to pour arch rings.- James N. Patterson
About The Iron Triangle
Three towns, Pyonggang, Chorwon, and Kumhwa arranged in a triangle around a long valley, the valley surrounded by steep hills. An area attractive to the enemy as a staging area and "key terrain" the possession of which gave the holder a major advantage. The Iron Triangle was fought over again and again. Located in this area was Pork Chop Hill and a series of outposted hills such as White Horse, Arrowhead, T-Bone,Spud,Alligator Jaws, Old Baldy, Arsenal, and Erie. - Korean War Veterans Association (KWVA), Iron Triangle Chapter
Quiet tonight. First time in two weeks there hasn't been a continuous barrage up front. You may have read about the battles at Ch'orwon, Kumhwa, and Shanghai Heights. Our nights have been lit up by the flares they drop or shoot up there. However, you don't have to worry about me. The Chinese are too busy with the front-line troops to worry about us, even when we work all night with floodlights. (Fortunately the Chinese did not seem to have any artillery, for which we would be in range. Just mortars, for which we were out of range, except on the road closer to them.) - David Herring
(NOTE: During the entire "stabilized" period there was a lot of action in the "Iron Triangle" which is bounded by Ch'orwan, P'yonggang, about 15 miles North, and Kumhwa, about 15 miles East of Ch'orwon. The current demilitarized zone runs right thru this about in the middle of Korea, with Ch'orwon and Kumhwa on our side and P'yonggang on the north. [P'yonggang is not the same as P'yongyang, the Capitol] This is what I recall and what I see on military maps. My 2001 National Geographic map, however shows our Ch'orwan as Cheorwan and there is another Ch'orwon N and W about 4 miles, and outside of the Iron Triangle. In this respect I note that the Geographic map spells Inchon as Incheon, so I will use our Ch'orwon. The Hant'on River - we called it the Han Tan River - crosses the main road between our Ch'orwon and Kumhwa, which is the location for the arch bridge.) - David Herring
Party Time
"My first trip to Seoul was business. Went back last night (Saturday) for pleasure. The 62nd has a great NCO Club - pine-paneled walls, a dance floor, soft music, dancing (indigenous hostesses) a nice bar, etc. We, 3 other Sgts (SFC Charles Hardin, Sgt Joseph "Frenchy" Dufor, Sgt________, and W O ____________ left an hour early and got there about 1900. Saturday is party night. Had a fine time, slept a couple of hours, got up at 0400 and came back to work. A break like that is great when you are working 7 days, daylight to dark, no showers, leaky tents, no movies, no PX rations, irregular mail, no nuthin, but we're getting along pretty well considering. (Tough, OK, but a lot better than the dogfaces in the infantry had it a mile away.) - David Herring
Get Your Ass In Gear !
"I told you about working 33 hours straight. Well the next day we worked to 930PM, and today we got a radio message saying expedite! I've been doing everything from drafting to manual labor - construction foreman, designer, KSC honcho (Korean Service Corps foreman) - I'm getting to speak Pidgeon Korean pretty well - inspector, and laborer." - David Herring
Everybody is feeling much better.- James N. Patterson
6/27/52 Pouring plan worked. We finished 36 hours ahead of schedule, so I shouldn’t be
court-martialed for disobeying orders.- James N. Patterson
Slide Show NOTE: There are 10-20 very large pictures in each slide show. Be very patient. It's worth the wait.
The 24th Group S-3 is Killed
6/29/52 Group S-3 Major Parker was killed in plane crash. Rain. - James N. Patterson
No Rest For Lt Patterson
6/30/52 A Co. is on Yoncho Do, four hours from Pusan by boat. Lt. Col. HUBER 62nd CO, and Capt.
STANFORD new Group S-3 came up for a visit which was a pleasure. My R & R is delayed. The
third platoon men are with the co. The men here with me are from the second platoon and
H & S.- James N. Patterson
7/2/52 Finished pouring columns today should pour out August 1.- James N. Patterson
7/3/52 Good day but short of men.- James N. Patterson
Relax, Everything Is Under Control
"Managed a few hands of poker and won $175. Working 4AM till 10PM this week. Finished pouring the main concrete Thursday, so we took off Friday and went to Seoul. Friday night 4 of us went to a party at the home of the Contractor furnishing Korean labor for the bridge.
Very nice. You should have seen me; barefoot, sitting on the warm floor, eating with chopsticks. Best oriental food I ever had. Saturday was the first day off duty since leaving home. (About 3 months)
I stopped by group Hqs to arrange a few things and got there just in time for the presentation of the Korean Presidential Unit Citation to the 24th Group of which the 79th is a part. Impressive. - David Herring
7/4/52 "The Fourth of July - sailboat races and barbecue - boy, would I like to be 9000 miles away tonite. The rear areas took the day off with speeches and parades. Up here the Group Commander sent a message that there was no reason why rain should delay operations. The arch rings are poured so the rising river can't wash out our work. Am worried about the pontoon bridge, tho. Lost 6 men to rotation. Six out of 18. It hurts. Still winning at poker." - David Herring
Pay Day - Go Buy Pa a Box of Cigars
7/6/52 I went to Seoul again. I will have another platoon in a day or so, therefore we will have two crews Mr. Davis in charge of one and a new Lt. in charge of the other. Mr. Benoit from 79th came up to pay us. Started wrecking arch form, thirty feet clear.- James N. Patterson
7/8/52 "Here is another money order. (Apparently my luck or skill was holding out) Wish you would cash it, buy Pa a box of cigars, yourself some candy, and something for Lydia Ann (My neice). Deposit the rest" - David Herring
Continue To March
7/9/52 Got ten new men from 79th and the 2nd platoon from the 62nd arrived yesterday. We now have 50 feet clear.- James N. Patterson
7/14/52 Deck forms going well, started placing beam steel, and patching honey comb in arch ring.
7/18/52 Excellent progress, we will pour deck Monday the 21st. We should finish by August 15
except salvaging lumber.- James N. Patterson
"Received your package with everything I asked for. I need the tape and slide rule a dozen times a day. "The job looks more like a bridge every day. The columns are all poured and the deck forms are built. We hope to pour the deck next week (July 23) and will need another three weeks to build handrails, prepare approaches, and clean up. Then we leave.
"You asked how close to Ch'orwon we are. About 12 miles, but the hot spot is NE of Ch'orwon (is this Old Baldy? Maybe see Jul 27), about 6 miles away. At midnight last night the light from flares and the barrage was almost enough to read by. (Also, there is a battery of 8-inch howitzers behind us, and the flight of that artillery overhead is most impressive.)However, as I've said, they are too busy up there to worry about us back here, so don't worry about me. We did have an air raid alert this week, but nothing came of it except we gave our 50 cal machine guns a good cleaning.
"It is raining steadily, but Group Hqs has okayed it for us to work in the rain. We are working two shifts now - 4 to 12 and 12 to 8. I am on call both shifts, which has meant 12 hours, seven days, because they sent a platoon from another outfit up here, so I have been working a shift with them and a half shift with our old crew. Found time for a poker game and won a hundred bucks, but most of it was what I had lost the last two weeks. (I believe my monthly pay was about $170??)
Life Is Good
"You asked about the rest of the 79th. They are in the islands near Koje Do building PW Camps. (There was a serious POW uprising on Koje Do, and an Aggie Col or Gen was sent in to clean up, which he did.) I would rather stay up here. While there are a lot of things we do not have, there are some good points, too: Good officers, a small group of good men, no formations, no reveille, no inspections or such as that. Yes, I sort of like it up here. It gives me a feeling of accomplishment to see things going the way they should.
Top's In Charge
General Hayden from Corps Hq flew up in a helicopter for a look at the bridge.
The 2Lt (Not 1Lt Patterson) was new at the site and nervous when he saw the bird. I told him to go and hide and I would handle it. He did and I did. I saluted smartly, conducted the tour, giving him the history, the facts and figures. He seemed quite impressed. A very nice fellow." - David Herring
Patterson Becomes The New S-3
7/22/52 The Captain who is to replace me arrived today. I have not been told what I am to do. I will radio group tomorrow to find out.- James N. Patterson
7/23/52 I spend the night at the 62nd. I am to talk to Col. Klinkie tomorrow and find out what I am to do.- James N. Patterson
7/24/52 On the Eusak express to Pusan.- James N. Patterson
7/25/52 I am on Pongam Do at 79th headquarters. I am to replace Capt. Szybalski as Bn. S 3. Capt. O’Neil is Ex Officer. Capt. Sz leaves early next month. We are no longer under the 24th Gp., but we are due back in 24th Gp in mid August. Sherman is to leave Aug 2. Maj. Mc is CO, Capt. O’Neil is ExO, Capt. Lombardo is Adj., Mr. Oliver is Bn. maint officer, Lt. Wright is to
be C Co. CO.- James N. Patterson
Top Misses The LT
7/27/52 "The rains came, the river rose, and one bridge washed out. I haven't been dry for a week. The river rose six feet in about three hours and washed out the temporary Pontoon bridge. "We had just completed the deck on our span and were working to widen and resurface the rest of the bridge. This morning we got orders to rip out the forms and prepare to put traffic on the bridge. Well we no sooner had demolished the week's work when the order came down to continue our work, which is what we are doing now. (We are missing the steady hand of Lt Patterson who probably could have avoided this, but he is on the way to Pongam Do, 79th Hq, as S-3, Bn Opns Officer, a Major's job. Unfortunately he was not even awarded Captains Bars for this. Life's not fair, as we all know.)
"For about the last week there has been a terrific battle for Old Baldy going on just in front of here. No noticeable action in the last 24 hours and there are rumors that the truce would begin yesterday. (This rumor was almost a year off schedule.)" - David Herring
The LT Misses Top
7/28/52 This is a slack time so I am just trying to learn my job. I am really going to be busy when we get some new jobs because we are really short handed. I am supposed to have a 1st lt. and two warrant officers in my section. I am going to try to get Sgt Herring a commission and make him my assistant. We are supposed to go back to Seoul and the 24th about the middle of August.- James N. Patterson
(Lt Patterson did offer to recommend me for a commission. I declined on the basis that this would require an additional two years. I thought to best to complete my education. I would like to believe I would have accepted if I had seen a need as I did at the Bridge. - David Herring)
Something To Sing About
The prisoners really sing. Since we can’t understand them they sound pretty good to me. ...if we could ...be inclined to take a shot at them. Night before last a guard shot a prisoner when he started to attack a captain with and ax. One of the bullets went thru the prisoner and hit the captain is in serious condition the prisoner died.- James N. Patterson
Throw Me A Ringer
7/30/52 Big horseshoe games with: Capt O’Neal my partner, Chaplain, Capt Orwig, Maj. McDonald & Lt Wright; Capt. Lombardo, the adj., Mr Oliver, Bn maintenance. Comments on how S-3 section is organized, and how I will change it.- James N. Patterson
7/31/52 I bought a new (used) camera.- James N. Patterson
Job Security?
8/1/52 Capt Szybalski is leaving tomorrow. Gen Boatner...to inspect the islands tomorrow. ...last time he recommended that Maj Mac be relieved of command. Lot’s of concerns on my new job, S-3, and that I am the junior 1st Lt in the Bn.- James N. Patterson
8/4/52 Big inspection by Brig Gen Kellog another BG who is FECOM Engineer and 4 or 5 Colonels. Maj. Mac and I represented the 79th. Good inspection. Learned we leave about the 15th.- James N. Patterson
Bridge the Bridge
"The rain finally stopped. In one 24 hour period it washed out dozens of bridges leaving ours the only one for 40 miles. We had just gotten our forms back in place (second time) when the order came down to open the bridge. We tore out the forms again, put a Treadway Bridge on top of our freshly laid deck to preserve it, and covered the old spans with planking to protect it, working around the clock and soaking wet. (Concrete requires about 28 days to gain design strength.
The Treadway Bridge was erected by a special Bridge Co using 12 x 12 timbers over the columns to avoid loads on the deck. Very Efficient - less than 24 hours start to finish.)
More Rain
"The rain turned ditches into streams and streams into rivers. Our bridge approaches washed out but we got them repaired promptly. In the two miles between here (camp) and the bridge the road washed out in 4-6 places. Stars and Stripes says we were ready for it and the Chinese have it worse than we have. Probably true, since traffic moved continuously, and all is repaired.
Duck and Cover
"It doesn't appear I will go down to the Islands, since I understand the Battalion is moving back up about Sep 1st. I haven't gone anywhere or done anything recently except for a business trip to Kumhwa - or what was Kumhwa. Not a building left in the whole city except the facade of a bank and the walls of a textile mill. We were looking for a bridge, but we drove right thru Kumhwa because we did not realize that what we saw was the town. A little ways down the road was a sign: 'MLR: Chinese direct traffic from here on.' So we thought it was about time to turn around. Things pretty quiet up here. All we saw were some smoke bombs and a couple of P51s strafing. (On the way back, the Chinese seem to have zeroed in on the main intersection in Kumhwa, because they dropped a few mortar rounds on us. Fortunately they were a few yards off and no damage was done. This part was not in the letter.) - David Herring
Patterson's New Concerns
8/5/52 Water is coming from springs which may dry up if we don’t get rain. We are building a dam
which may wash out if rain comes now. Is Jan getting serious about Lynn again?- James N. Patterson
8/6/52 Turned in sizes for winter clothes. I answer questions about where Bn & Gp hdqs. are. Plus I
add organization chart army in Korea. Lt March is in 378 Engineers.- James N. Patterson
8/9/52 Rumor about where we may go and I would like to up near Chorwon again so we wouldn’t
have to worry about civilians.- James N. Patterson
8/9/52 Advance party to arrive tomorrow- James N. Patterson
8/10/52 Col Randall the island commander has been giving me fits all day about jobs. He acts like he
is our battalion commander. Maj Mac has gone to Seoul.- James N. Patterson
Fait Accompli
8/12/52 Looking forward to being S-3. Got word from the arch bridge that the water rose 32 feet and the bridge was the only one left standing. It doesn’t look like this war will ever end.- James N. Patterson
Herring's New Bridge
Kumhwa. "I'm in Kumhwa now (actually a little to the south, out of mortar range) and I think it will be OK. We are farther away from everything and a little closer to the lines, but things are pretty quiet. It is a pretty good outfit (another detachment from the 62nd, as I recall) and we are bracing up an existing bridge, which should take 3-4 weeks. There is an artillery outfit (8 inch rifles) about a half-mile behind us and an infantry Company in front, so we are well protected. Only trouble is, the artillery fires about every thirty seconds and it sounds like a freight train going over. (Glad it was ours though). - David Herring
The Battalion's New Assignments
8/12/52 We got word the whole battalion is going to Seoul and may build the new 8th Army Headquarters. My
pictures are fuzzy because the A Co. enlarger bulb was broken and we used a regular light
bulb.- James N. Patterson
8-14-52 Part of H & S left today. I would have gone with them, but I had to show a FECOM Engineer around the islands. I will go to Pusan tomorrow, and the take the advance party to Seoul.
Fishing in Korea
I spent last night at A Co. and we went fishing GI Korean style. We used Du Pont spinners for bait: I pound block on TNT with a short fuse.- James N. Patterson
Seoul
8-15-52 I left Yoncho-do with A Co. about 2pm on a Jap LST. we took over the crew mess for our day room. Due in P about 8pm.- James N. Patterson
On August 15, 1952, Company"A" left Yongcho-Do and moved back to Seoul, arriving there August 22, 1952. On 9 September 1952, these projects were completed and the battalion moved back to the Seoul area.- Bobby Thompson's History of the 79th Engineer Battalion
8/16/52 "When you get this, your son will be safely back in Seoul. The 79th is moving there and I will join them. I sort of like it up here. The duty is good, and only 8 hours per day. I have always liked working in the field better than the office, anyway. Things have been interesting. There is only one hill between us and the Chinese and they can observe us as we work. Why they don't shell the bridge, I'll never know. (Possibly because they didn't have artillery, only mortars?) They did let us know they were around, yesterday, though. As we drove thru an area exposed to enemy fire about a quarter of a mile from the bridge, a soldier in a jeep warned us the area was being shelled. I supposed he meant a little farther along the road, so I told the driver to proceed and speed it up a little. We did, and the Chinese dropped a shell just behind and another about 20 yds to one side. Then the driver really speeded up. Nothing more and a few minutes later our artillery silenced the Chinese battery. End of episode" - David Herring
While at Seoul, our present location, the battalion constructed many projects, including building for I Corps, the rehabilitation of three supply points, and also aided in the building of a hemorrhagic fever hospital. - Bobby Thompson's History of the 79th Engineer Battalion
8-17-52 I am on the EUSAK express. Rev. Gary Utter “The Chaplain” is to call Lila in about 3 weeks from the states. I think he
was pastor of 1st Methodist in Birmingham Alabama. He comments on the Pusan commandos who have house girls instead of house boys.- James N. Patterson
8-18-52 The 79th & the 62nd are both short on jeeps so I didn’t get to the job till 4pm, and we arrived
at 7:30 am. We are to be located about 30 min. drive from Gp Hdq. I have an assistant Mr.
Craig, he is a heating and refer. specialist. Our buildings don’t look too good all bombed out.
there is one good bldg for Bn. Hdq and later for H & S to live in. We will fix up old Jap
dependent housing for officers quarters.- James N. Patterson
8-19-52 At our new area today. We are fixing up houses to live in. I don’t approve, but it will be
nice.- James N. Patterson
8-22-52 I went to a big Aggie party at Kimpo Air Base, and saw Bussell and some of the boys I knew
up around Chorwon.- James N. Patterson
I have two assistants now: Mr Price, & 1st Lt. Friedman, an EE, he will be a big help.
Lt. Col Bates of the 62nd is to spend night with us. If I could leave I would. The Chaplain is
leaving me his foam jeep cushion.- James N. Patterson
Seoul. "Here I am in Seoul and I think I would rather be back at the bridge. (I stayed there doing various tasks of little significant interest until I left in late October) - David Herring
8/25/52 Lt Gilliam is to be my assistant. He was moved out of C Co so 2nd Lt Wright could Be CO.
Gilliam just has one month to go. He is an architectural engineer.- James N. Patterson
Maj Perkins who is to be Gp S4 in a month has been assigned to the 79th and will be S3 so I
am asst S3 again. Maj P is a supply officer and not and engineer so Capt O’Neal told me I am
expected to run the section which is not good.- James N. Patterson
“I had gone to Eusak engineering section to see Lt Col Ribbs & he was talking to Capt
Mathews. He asked what I wanted and I told him, and we started talking about the job and he
asked if the S-3 section was handling the job, and I said yes that I was the S-3 so he started
introducing me to people... he got to Capt Mathews and I said I had met him at the arch
bridge, & Lt Col Ribbs said “ Oh are you that Lt You sure did a good job up there.
We started making an estimate on remodeling the Banto Hotel which used to be the American
Embassy.- James N. Patterson
8/28/52 Fred Sherman and I moved into house that is to be fixed our for us and seven more. Leaks
pretty bad. The new Major is pretty nice. Just a good old Okla boy. I didn’t plan to like him
but I do.- James N. Patterson
9/28/52 The battalion was relieved of all road maintenance on 28 September 1952, and on 30 September 1952, the 79th Engineer Construction Battalion was assigned the task of rehabilitation the former Japanese Occupation Headquarters into the Eighth United States Army headquarters.
This project is known as the Yong San Project and, at the present time, 30 July 1953, is nearing the stages of completion. - Bobby Thompson's History of the 79th Engineer Battalion
It is impressive how much we got done in the time available and considering that about 85% of us were draftees. Not just this particular episode, but Engineer and support services all over Korea. - David Herring
Col. Klinke and his Exec, think his name was Hitchcock, were sent home in disgrace. They went through an EM repl depl in Inchon. Quite a disgrace for a full Colonel who was a real wheel at West Point! They should have been court martialed for their stupidity and crazy actions, but the West Point Protective Association probably saved their ass. - Sid Friedman
Webmaster - I've got to share something else with you since I've come to greatly respect these guys. It's something David Herring told me about their lives after Korea, and it goes like this:Incidentally Jim had a successful career as an important builder in Ft Worth, winding up as owner of the Company. I, too, had a good career as a worker, supt, proj mgr, Area Const Manager, and President of a major subsidiary of an international engineering and construction co. This is primarily for you, who have taken such an interest in us. - David Herring
What can I say .... Fait Accompli !
About SFC David M Herring
David Herring dropped out of college and was working in Alaska when the Korean war broke out. He returned home from Alaska in the fall.
The postwar armed forces had been cut to the bone in 1950. David told the draft board he was ready to go, preferring 2 years service. He went immediately into a just-activated National Guard Engineer Construction Battalion, the 412th. David and others were promoted rapidly as troops were sent to Korea.
David M Herring, age 23, was stationed at the Yuma Test Station as an SFC Battalion Operations Sgt for the 412th when a levee for his MOS came up. He volunteered for the spot. The basis for this account is from his letters home. Direct quotes from the letters are in quotation marks. Other comments are in parentheses.
Highlights of Korean War Service
1st Lt James N Patterson, Jr.
Texas A&M, Class of 47
While serving as a platoon leader in "A" Company of the 79th Engineer Construction Bn. of the 24th Engineer Construction Group; "A"Company was assigned the job of finishing a concrete arch bridge that the Japanese occupation troops had started before WW II. The bridge was North of Seoul, North of the 38th parallel and above the light line i.e. where it was close enough to the front that it could be under enemy observation.
The Japanese had constructed two short approach spans, and one fifty meter long concrete arch span over the Han Tan Chan River. They had not started the remaining main span which was to be fifty meters long. The new span would be about seventy feet above the river which runs three to five feet deep.
According to Maj. General Young, Commanding General of the 2nd Division (I talked to him at the Aggie Muster in Korea in 1952) in case of a flood this bridge would be the only bridge that wouldn’t wash out, so without the Concrete Arch Bridge there wouldn’t be a road parallel to the front that they could use to move armor on if needed.
Our company started work on the bridge April 16 1952; I was put in charge of the work at the bridge. On June 6 1952 the company moved South for another assignment and left me and nineteen men to finish the bridge. We did have some Korean laborers and five Korean carpenters to help us.
We made our first arch ring pour on June 17th and finished pouring the arch ring on June 27th thirty six hours ahead of schedule. The columns were poured by July 2nd. The road deck was poured by July 21st. The bridge was finished by August 15th less than four months after it was started.
There was a flood about August 12 1952, the water rose thirty two feet, and the Concrete Arch Bridge was the only bridge left standing.
This is probably the only concrete arch bridge of this magnitude built in war times that close to a front.
I left the bridge on July 23, 1952 to become Bn. S3 which is a job normally assigned to a Major. At that time the 79th ECB was building prisoner of war camps on the islands South of Pusan.
We later went to Seoul and reconstructed the old Yongsan Japanese army base for Eighth Army headquarters. I was Bn S3 or assistant S3 depending on if there was a major available or not.
I was later awarded a Commendation Ribbon With Metal Pendant and came home in April of 1953, after attending another Aggie Muster in Seoul.
There were always lots of Aggies around. We had two more in our battalion that I remember: Lt Marvin Matusak who became company commander of "A" Co. and Lt Wright who was company commander of "B" Co.
LT James N. Patterson, 1952
The real issues are whether the power of Western civilization, as God has permitted it to flower in our beloved lands, shall defy and defeat Communism; whether the rule of men who shoot their prisoners, enslave their citizens, and deride the dignity of man, shall displace the rule of those to whom the individual and his individual rights are sacred; whether we are to survive with God's hand to guide and lead us, or to perish in the dead existence of a Godless world.
