Pacific Stars and Stripes, July 31, 1951
With U.S. 24th Div-100 mile journey
over hot dusty roads ended happily for two Korean women when a little
eight-year old girl in an American dress rushed into the arms of her
mother and grandmother.
Chae Yang Ja was one of the war's lost children
when WO J. R. Norman, Lawrence, Mass., found her in the streets of Seoul
during the painful retreat from North Korea last December. She was hungry,
tired, and suffering from the bitter cold. Norman shared his C-rations
with her and from that day until her happy reunion, little Chae was
"mothered" by Norman's outfit.
"The boys acted like a bunch
of old grandmothers with their first grandchild," Norman said. They
brought her warm clothes, dresses, toys and dolls, and other little
girls' delights when they came back from R&R leaves in Japan.
All during the "adoption," Norman and his men questioned
refugees on their way to Seoul about her parents, and told them where
Chae could be found in case they found the girl's mother.
It happened. Chae's widowed mother and her grandmother
started out on their journey to the 24th Division when they heard the
child was safe and in good hands.
PSS-007
