News-Info-Alerts

To: ALL

From: Andi Wolos & Bob Necci
(POW-MIA InterNetwork)

Re: APPEAL: Korean War MIA Family Needs Assistance

Date: September 20, 1998

Anyone who can help please contact James Ruska Email... please pass this info along.

"Subject: Request for Information
From: "James Ruska"
To: andi@earthlink.net

My father was MIA during a B29 bombing mission to Korea, leaving Kadena, Okinawa in January 31, 1952. I have documentation indicating he was assigned to the 327 Bombardment Squadron, 307 Bomb Wing (Combat Echelon) and documentation (historical record) of the involvement of this Squadron in the Korean War. I also have a letter from President Eisenhower stating that my father died with the United Nation Forces in Korea.

The AF Awards and Recognition Department has told me my father is not entitled to the "Korean Service" medal because there is no evidence indicating his plane reached the Korean Theatre. No remains of the wreckage were found after extensive search. The Awards department tells me the ÒKorean ServiceÓ medal is awarded to all those attached to military units assigned for combat in the Korean Theater (air, land and sea). Based on this definition and the available documentation, my father is entitled to this medal even if he died enroute to Korea. My request to the Awards and Recognition department has been rejected twice, the second time I went through Texas Senator Barton. I requested assistance from the DPMO earlier this year, with no response yet on this matter. I also requested from the Awards department an updated list of my fatherÕs awards, since two more awards were recognized upon their review. I have not received a response to this request.

My father was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal in WWII. I intend to request a headstone with an engraving of all his medals, which he is entitled to. This is why I would like to have his Korean service recognized. Please let me know if there is any organization that advises people on these matters. I believe the problem to be one of interpretation and someone with experience in similar cases might be able to clarify this. The process of obtaining documentation and obtaining responses to my requests has taken several years, any information that may help me get closer to a resolution would be greatly appreciated.

I can send my documentation for review; I am willing to pay any expenses. The DPMO has copies of all my documents and requests. I thank you in advance."

Part 2:

"I am not having any luck getting responses to my requests.
Let me briefly tell you that I believe my father's elgibility can be proved by the following:
1. It is clear from the doc he was in the 307th B.W.
2. The Navy's elgibility requirements includes the Combat Support units as elgible for the medal.
3. My father was on combat-pay, therefore combat-duty from the time of take-off.
4. The "special orders" to my father, dated 11/51, mentions the 307th B.W., although other details are "restricted".

My father's records were lost in the fire of 73. I do have a casualty and a death report.
My father's name is in both the Washington and Hawaii memorials and in the DPMO's Korean POW/MIO database.

The problems are that it is assumed that it was his first mission and the that plane did not make to Korea.

Part 3:

Two individual veteran's from the Korean War have found, in the last couple of days, some key information that may help me solve the elgibility question. They have searched their files and come up with "GO" orders and elgibility statements that are very usefull. I also found out the Casualty Report for my father had a "typo", stating my father was in the 327th BS, while he was actually in the 372th. I will update once I submitt my request again. My father's only brother has alzymers and his health has deteriorated within the last year. That is why I am in somewhat in a rush to resolve this and give him something he will enjoy while he still has memories.

My mother will also enjoy it.

Regards.