Honor our Veterans, Korean Armistice 7-27-1953



My hubby's late dad was a World War II and Korean War Vet. Here are some excerpts from a letter: Korea, December 1950. It was onion skin paper, written on both sides, and the writing shows through when I scan it.


Dear Mom and Dad,

Well, guess I better write you a letter, as I haven't done so in quite some time. I don't have any excuse, except that we have been fairly busy. As you'll probably have heard by now, we evacuated Hung Nan. That was really a deed to see, no fooling. Such an array of ships, boats, soldiers, gunfire, and Koreans, I've never seen. It took us just about 4 days of continual work (24 hour days) to get 30,000 troop, and God only knows how many trucks, jeeps, tanks and artillery. Then, while the last G.I's were being taken off the beach, the V.D.T. men, along with some of us from the Begar, carried in and set T.N.T. and dynamite all up and down the dock and industrial area. Then at 2:15 p.m., the whole works went up. Well, we were about 1000 yards from the beach, and it blew some of the guys helmets off. The ones without chinstraps, I mean. If it hadn't been destructive, it would have been a pretty sight.........................................

By the way, Mom, save all the Life Magazines from now until this is over, will you? The signal corps and Life photographers were over on the beach while we were setting charges and I had my picture snapped by a movie camera and regular one, along with some other guys. Can't tell, maybe it'll come out in Life. I know the pictures of most of the deal will be in there..........................

Are Joan and the kids all right? I guess they are, but I get worrying every once in awhile. I know it's hard on her, and I know she is being true to me, at least I hope so, but guess I just won't feel at ease until I get home again........................

We are giving our Xmas program tomorrow night. Three other guys and myself have got up a little orchestra. I wrote some music out, and it doesn't sound bad.....................

Take it easy now, tell everyone hello, and don't worry, because I'm going to be all right.

Your Loving son,
Wallace

Comments

Anonymous said…
That is really neat to see something from grandad like that. Do you have more?
jen and kids
9:11 PM, July 27, 2006
At A Hen's Pace said…
I love old family letters! My grandmother showed me some when I was home. One was from 1885! So glad she's saved them. Thanks for sharing yours!
8:32 AM, July 28, 2006
Biker Betty said…
Hi Pamela,

Thanks for sharing this family letter. It was neat to read. I will have to go thru my dad's albums and see if he left anything like that. I do have two photo albums of when he was in the Navy.

Thanks for visiting my blog and leaving a message, Betty :)
8:40 PM, July 28, 2006
Bonnie B said…
What a nice peak into your family's history.
Did he ever end up in Life?

Thanks for sharing.
8:08 AM, July 29, 2006
Pamela said…
I have never heard anyone mention if his picture was in life.
I think that would be a good library/micro film search to do.
11:05 AM, July 29, 2006
Walker said…
Interesting letter! Love those old letters. Such a sweet hint about their lives.
2:39 PM, July 31, 2006
Rebecca said…
These letters are such a treasure. What will be left of us, I wonder? What will our grandchildren run their hands over and say, "Wow, this was Grandma's."

Hard drives?
5:59 PM, July 31, 2006
Amanda said…
Wow, would love to hear more... It's neat to have stories and letters like that - tells me a little more about the grandpa I never really knew.
8:26 PM, July 31, 2006
Anonymous said…
Thank you for visiting my blog. But most of all thank you for sharing that sweet letter. It was a true blessing to have a peek into the life of a man who defended my freedoms not once, but twice.
9:46 AM, August 01, 2006
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