Freedom Rock Countdown

—2nd Gun Salute . . . Korean War

 

CRESCO - Meet Rick Slifka. He is a Freedom Rock Member and Commander of VFW Post 4561.
He is sharing information on the Korean War.
The United States Air Force became a separate military service on Sept. 18, 1947 with the implementation of the National Security Act of 1947. Prior to that, the responsibility for military aviation was divided between the Army, for land-based operations, and the Navy and Marine Corps, for sea-based operations from aircraft carrier and amphibious aircraft.
• Slifka has some interesting facts about the name of this war. President Truman never asked Congress for a formal declaration of war, so it is deemed a ‘police action’ and, in the United Nations, a ‘peace action.’ Americans call it the Korean War and sometimes the Forgotten War. North Korea calls it the Fatherland Liberation War. South Korea calls it “625” because it began on June 25, and China calls it the War to Resist United States Aggression & Aid Korea. 
• In 1950 there were less than 50 miles of paved road in all of North and South Korea combined. Service comes in many forms and Slifka wants you to know about two unique stories. 
• A U.S. Army pack mule shipped to Asia during WWII was captured by Americans six years later during the Korean War. The mule likely served in three different wars (WWII, Chinese Civil War, Korean War) and for three different armies (U.S., National Chinese, Communist Chinese). 
• A Marine in the Korean War, who earned two Purple Hearts, was Staff Sergeant Reckless, a Mongolian chestnut mare. She was listed by LIFE magazine as one of the U.S.’ 100 all-time heroes but had a habit of eating her own blanket. 
• Slifka also noted that U.S. mortar teams accidentally ordered hundreds of crates of Tootsie Rolls instead of rounds because U.S. military sometimes used “tootsie rolls” as code for mortar rounds. 
• MASH (Mobile Army Surgical Hospital) units were first used in Korean War, and Astronaut John Glenn and Baseball legend Ted Williams were wingmen in the war.
• The USO was brought back during the Korean War with over 113,000 American volunteers working 294 centers at home and abroad. There were 126 units that gave 5,422 performances to servicemen in Korea and the wounded in Japan. Many stars, both well-known and new, came to perform, including Bob Hope, Errol Flynn, Debbie Reynolds, Donald O’Connor, Piper Laurie, Jane Russell, Paul Douglas, Terry Moore, Marilyn Monroe, Danny Kaye, Rory Calhoun, Mickey Rooney, Jayne Mansfield and Al Jolson.
Rick Slifka invites you to learn more about the Korean War at the dedication of the Howard County Memorial Park featuring the Freedom Rock on June 23, 2018. 
[This weekly countdown will feature members of the Freedom Rock Committee and information about military history.
The Howard County Memorial Park, with the Freedom Rock as a focal point, is located at the crossroads of Hwy. 9 and 3rd St. West in Cresco.]

Cresco Times

Phone: 563-547-3601
Fax: 563-547-4602

Address:
Cresco TPD
214 N. Elm Street
Cresco, IA 52136

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