Newspaper article that appeared in the Philadelphia
Evening Bulletin in early 1953. Lt. Spector sent a copy of the letter
printed by Drake in January of l953 to the paper over his signature.
The article tells of another major orphanage drive by a different Army
unit. KOC-111
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The humanitarianism of Americans shows up under even
the most trying circumstances. New evidence of this comes from Korea.
Last summer [1952] in Pusan, Lieutenant
Colonel George A. Bachman, of Reading, Pa., commander of the 296th Transportation
Battalion, mentioned that his outfit ought to do something for the destitute
Korean kids. The idea grew and plans were made to hold a Christmas
party.
A letter was drafted to send the folks
at home requesting used clothing, toys, and anything else the children
and needy adults could use. About 2,500 of these letters were mailed.
One such letter appeared on this page and was sent by M/Sgt. Karl W.
Smith-Greer.
Now Colonel Bachman reports on "Operation
Christmas." Boxes rolled in by the hundreds. By December
15 over 2,000 packages had arrived.
The climax in the pre-Christmas arrival
of packages occurred after three Texas cities collected almost seven
tons of clothing and appealed to the U.S. Air Force to fly them to Korea.
The Air Force did.
Beginning at midnight on Christmas Eve,
people lined up at the gate to the battalion, awaiting the start of
the party. By six on Christmas morning, thousands were there, eagerly
pushing and shoving to get in.
As they received clothing, their expressions,
said colonel Bachman, could not be described, because most of them had
never seen anything like this.
A look of amazement was most prevalent.
Altogether, over 4,000 people were given
clothes, but this was by no means the end. The clothing arriving later
was distributed through American missionaries, chaplains, and welfare
organizations of the Republic of Korea.
Now Lieutenant Alan L. Spector writes:
Over a year ago our company started supporting
55 children in a Korean orphanage near our camp. As we could not provide
the attention needed to have them brought up properly we moved the children
to Seoul Sanitarium and Hospital Orphanage.
Here are the true victims of this war.
Thirty percent have TB; others are hospitalized with communicable diseases
and many others are suffering from malnutrition. They had been starving
and freezing in their small orphanage while the overseer was stealing
the money given by the government for their food! Now they are in good
hands. Two Americans at the hospital, Mrs. George Rue, the Director's
wife, and Miss Robson, the head nurse, have accepted full responsibility
for these derelicts. But the burden of our company has not lessened.
We now have 374 small charges. All are in dire need of our help.
Basic food staples are scarce, powdered
milk, chocolate, cereals, dried fruits and vegetables, all are desperately
needed. Outing flannel for infant's clothes and corduroy and other
material for larger children's clothing is needed. Shoes of all sizes,
but especially for the smaller tots. Waterproof material is needed
to protect infants' bedding.
Please send packages to me but marked "For Orphanage"
so that if I am no longer with the company they will reach the children.
2d Lt. Alan L. Spector 01931423,
326th Comm. Recon. Co.,
APO 301, c/o Postmaster
San Francisco, California
KOC-111.1
