About three years ago, this newsletter featured a story by our member, Al Simpson, about his memories of Korea in August, 1953. It was a moving story of an eye witness to the “Big Switch” operation as prisoners were exchanged after the war.
Last winter, during the annual Christmas Party held in our post home, Al Simpson was able to reminisce about his experiences in Korea with one of our newer members, Pio Park, and some members of his family.
Cleone Christian, members of the Park family, and Al Simpson at the December 2017 Social.
A little later that night, Pio told me, “It is because of your country and soldiers like Al, that Korea is free and our people are able to live in freedom and enjoy prosperity.”
I have often remembered that scene and Pio’s words have echoed in my mind ever since. This was a genuine tribute from those who were helped by our veterans. Other people who have been helped have expressed similar sentiments wherever our veterans have served.
The Korean Conflict has often been called “the forgotten war” or a “police action” by Americans. Our veterans who served there and the families of those who died there will not forget the war. The Government of the Republic of Korea wants to honor those vets with the Korean Ambassador for Peace Medal.
During the 65 years since the armistice was signed in July, 1953, the Korean peninsula has been a study in contrasts. South Korea has had its ups and downs but has progressed steadily toward freedom and prosperity. North of the DMZ, on the other hand, those years have seen endless misery and hardship for the people.
These past couple months, there have been some favorable signs that peace may come at last to the Korean peninsula. It’s still early and there have been aborted efforts in the past but I hope this time will be a charm and a peace treaty will finally replace the armistice.
As discussed during our March business meeting, I recently had the privilege of meeting with Arni Thomson and Brian Dodd, from Ballard Elks Lodge 827. Brian and Arni are working on a very ambitious project in hopes to pay tribute to some of the 4.7 million U.S. service members that served in WWI. Arni and Brian are embarking on a journey to catalog the names and burial sites of any known WWI veterans. Don’t we have a government agency for that? Well, I was surprised to learn that there isn’t an official list of U.S. service members who lost their lives in WWI. Additionally, finding said service information from the U.S. National Personnel Records agency is extremely difficult, if not impossible. A large amount of WWI veteran records were lost in the 1973 fire at the U.S. National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis.
November 11, 2018, will mark the 100th Anniversary of the end of World War I (WWI). As many of you know, Ballard-Eagleson Post 3063 was named to honor local UW alum, Lt. James Eagleson, of the US Army’s 69th Coast Artillery Corps. Nearly 5 million Americans served in WWI with approximately, 116,516 never making it home. Lt Eagleson was one of those 116,516. He died of Pneumonia on his journey back from France. Sadly, just as many service members succumbed to disease during and shortly after the war (~63,114) compared to actual combat (~53,402). It’s sad to think that some of these names have been forgotten in many hometowns across America. This is where Brian and Arni have stepped in.
So far, Arni and Brian have walked through Ft. Lawton Cemetery and photographed 135 headstones identifying WWI veterans, and they have created an alphabetized database with date of birth, date of death, branch of service and designation of WWI service. They have also embarked on similar activities at private and public cemeteries in Alaska.
There are a few other cemeteries in the Seattle Area that Arni and Brian would like to survey. This is a big undertaking. As such, they have reached out to Post 3063 to see if we would be interested in assisting with this project. Ultimately, Brian and Arni would like to add to the database and eventually provide it to the WWI Centennial Commission. They hope that the idea will catch on and other VFW posts will join in and help spread the word.
I’m very inspired by what Arni and Brian are trying to do and would very much like to assist them in any way we can. Perhaps we can even consider a joint project with Boy Scout Troop 80? We will be talking about this project some more during our April business meeting. If you have any interest in this project and would like to lead or assist in some way, please come on out to the meeting on Thursday, April 5 at 7 p.m. Alternatively, please send me an e-mail to [email protected].
It is with great sadness that we mourn the passing of Post 3063 Life Member Herb Leake who passed away on Nov. 21, 2017 at the age of 97.
Herb was born on April 8, 1920 in St. Charles, Illinois. Herb was a Veteran of WWII and served in the U.S. Army, a member of the 101st Airborne. Herb attended ROTC at University of Washington, and studied Aeronautical Engineering. He was working at Boeing when he received a letter from the Army saying he had been selected for the service. He wanted to join the Navy but was told he could join the Army and transfer later. That never happened, of course.
Boeing tried to keep Herb working there instead of going off to war, saying he was a critical employee to the aeronautical industry. Herb was initially a riveter on the B-17 program at Boeing, then a few months later he transferred to Material as an estimator. He remained there until he entered the U.S. Army on June 14, 1944. He had received a deferment for a few years but eventually joined the Army and was sent to Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, GA. He was wearing PFC stripes on his uniform and was asked where his stripes were. He was given corporal stripes and told to sew them on right away. He was eventually commissioned a second lieutenant after completing OCS.
Herb was sent to the Pacific Theater, which he felt guilty about as he spoke German and thought his language skills could be used in Europe. Many of his OCS buddies went to Europe and they were all killed in the Battle of the Bulge. As his wife said, “Herb’s life seemed to be charmed.” He wasn’t sent to Europe and survived the Philippines. In the Philippines he served as an aide to General McArthur. He was told that his unit would be a part of the invasion of Japan and that there would be no survivors. Luckily, Herb survived his WWII service.
Herb and Anne Leake at a post holiday social.
Sometime during the war Herb met his first wife but soon after he returned home from the war his wife asked for a divorce. A few years later he and Anne met in Seattle. Herb was dating Anne’s sister when they first met; she was attending Cornish College. After she graduated and went on with her career in commercial art, Herb started calling Anne. Anne was teaching dancing in Westlake Center at night. She also was working a job in Port Angeles. She said she had to quit that job to marry Herb due to the long distance between the two cities. Eventually they married on Feb. 14, 1953. They would have celebrated their 65th Anniversary in 2018.
Herb was in the National Guard at the time they met. He retired as a lieutenant colonel after serving 40 years in the National Guard. One of his duty stations was at the old Armory at Seattle Center. He and Anne had three children together and they each had one child from previous marriages. Herb also worked for Boeing at the same time and retired after 40 years. After retirement Herb served as a volunteer at the Museum of Flight and helped restore the Boeing Model plane 247D, which was United Airlines flagship plane for many years. Herb had a private pilot’s license and was allowed to help fly the 247D partway from Tucson to Seattle. Herb also belonged to the Highline Flying Club and was active in the Boeing Seahorses scuba diving club where Herb was President.
Anne Leake has been an active member of our post auxiliary and has played Santa Claus for our Christmas parties. Her father used to play Santa Claus for many years.
In November 2016, Bill Griffith, Post 3063 Chaplain, organized a remembrance to honor all the WWII Veterans in our Post. Herb attended the celebration.
We will all miss Herb and greatly appreciate his service in World War II. We extend our sincerest sympathies to Anne and her family. A Celebration of Life will be held April 8, 2018, 1-3 p.m. at the Museum of Flight, 9404 E. Marginal Way. Internment of ashes will be April 9, 2018 at Acacia Memorial Park and Funeral Home, Lake Forest Park.
A 48-star flag was donated to the post. (The 48-star flag flew from 4 July, 1912, to 3 July, 1949.) It has some minor moth damage but overall it’s in pretty good shape. If you’re a history buff and would like to have this flag, please contact Quartermaster Rodenberger at [email protected].
Recently Comrade Aaron Stoltz and I visited a museum that we never knew existed. Nestled within a residential neighborhood in Tacoma is the 9th and 10th Cavalry Buffalo Soldiers Museum. Founded in 2005, the museum showcases an overlooked part of American history: the Buffalo Soldiers. The museum began operating in 2012.
Buffalo Soldiers originally were members of the U.S. 10th Cavalry Regiment of the United States Army, which was formed on September 21, 1866 at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Buffalo Soldiers later comprised other regiments, including the 9th, 24th, 27th and 28th cavalry divisions. These African American Soldiers got their nickname by the Native American tribes they fought. The term became a generic term for all-black soldier units and is used by U.S. Army units that trace their direct lineage back to the 9th and 10th Cavalry.
Notable facts about the Buffalo Soldiers include:
First to experiment with bicycles.
In 1898, saved the 71st New York in the now famous charge up San Juan Hill.
Instrumental in the victory of the Spanish American War.
Represented over 20 percent of all U.S. Calvary Units until early 1890.
19 Congressional Medals of Honor.
Five West Point Graduates.
The museum is filled with many artifacts, memorabilia and fascinating information and facts. It is one of only two of its kind in the country dedicated to the Buffalo Soldiers. The other is the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum in Houston, Texas. The museum has hosted a tribute to the famed Buffalo Soldiers with an evening with famed actor Danny Glover, who starred in the 1977 film Buffalo Soldiers.
