News-Info-Alerts

Re: Foregotten War Vets Remember

From: POW-MIA InterNetwork

Date: June 13, 2003

"Veterans share memories of 'Forgotten War'
DANIELLE FLORIO , For The Saratogian

Korean War veteran John Bruso, left, talks about his experiences in Korea Thursday at the Saratoga Springs Public Library. ED BURKE/The Saratogian SARATOGA SPRINGS - Local Korean War veterans shared their stories Thursday at the Saratoga Springs Public Library.

John Bruso and Gene Slavin of Glens Falls, Glen Hammond of Greenfield, Ferdinand Chouinard of Saratoga and Bill Shaw of Malta participated in a panel discussion that concluded the Brown Bag presentations sponsored by the Saratoga Visitors Center. Denise McDonald, executive director of the Visitors Center, coordinated the event with Gene Corsale, vice president of the Korean War Veterans Association of Saratoga County.

"What was the worst day of your military career?" Corsale asked to get the discussion under way.

Chouinard, a combat engineer, was missing in action along the border of North Korea and China for about a month. His duty was to take reports and transfer them into codes, which needed to be changed every two hours to prevent the enemy from cracking them. He said that the Chinese knew he was there and kept him from getting back to his station. After a month, he decided he was "going to get out of there, one way or another."

"I quickly punched out a code that was picked up by four jet fighters," he said, "and they cleared it out."

Hammond, a prisoner of war, remembered an instance when the M1 slung over his shoulder protected him from being hit by a sniper round.

"Our unit was traveling the wrong way, and a sniper must have caught sight of the red scarf I had tied around my neck," he said.

Slavin and Bruso both served on destroyer ships.

"These boats were made of thin aluminum and bounced around the ocean, taking awful poundings," Corsale said

More than 50 percent of the destroyers were hit by mines during the course of the war. Many even lost their bows, Corsale said.

Slavin said the manual promised if the boat was moving fast enough through the mines, it would remain safe. His crew quickly learned this was untrue.

"When you get hit, you throw the book overboard," he said.

The audience was curious about Hammond's 21/2-year experience as a POW. With the help of his son, Hammond explained that many POWs were submitted to brainwashing from the Chinese, who tried to convert the men to communism. He suffered severe starvation and deprivation while a POW.

"What was your reception like upon returning home?" asked another Korean War vet who sat in the audience.

A parade was held in honor of Hammond and his cousin, George Burke, Corsale said.

Shaw said he appreciates not being treated like many Vietnam veterans.

"They received extreme feelings of hatred from anti-war supporters," he said.
Corsale's wrap-up question was: "If you had to do it all over again, would you still stand up and fight for your country?"

"Yes," "Absolutely" and "For sure," the veterans replied.

The Elks annual Flag Day parade will start around noon Saturday, moving from North Broadway to Congress Park. The theme honors Korean War veterans, many of whom participate in the parade. Also, Korean War vets and the public are invited to a celebration from 7-10 p.m. at the City Center on Saturday, June 21. To attend, notify the mayor's office by Friday at 587-3550, ext. 520.


©The Saratogian 2003"