Pacific
Stars and Stripes, September 26, 1951
HQ, FEAF, Tokyo-A surprise flight of a United
States Air Force C-54 Skymaster recently delighted the hearts of some
75 Korean war orphans by bringing them more than 2000 pounds of food
and clothing as a gift from Air Force personnel and dependents on the
island of Guam.
Eager children of the orphanage at Onyang, southwest of Pyongtaek, crowded
around three Far East Air Forces chaplains as they assisted in the distribution
of the presents.
The chaplains were Lt. Col. Herman E. Kines, 19th Bob Wing, Catasauqua,
Pa; Capt. Arthur E. K. Brenner, Guam, Bennington, Vt.; and Maj. Justin
A. Eeles, Fifth Air Force, Franciscan Fathers of St. Elizabeth, Denver,
Colo.
Collection of food, clothing and money for the orphanage was inaugurated
after Kines received a letter from 19th Bomb Group B-29 Superfort crewmen
stationed on Okinawa.
These crewmen had already unofficially "adopted" a group of the Korean
orphans, who were being cared for by two Korean Christian ministers.
Officers and airmen of Andersen Air Force Base on Guam were quick to
lend their support to the appeal. Personnel of the 54th Strategic Reconnaissance
Squadron, traveled through the dependent housing area in a motorized
contraption labeled "Korean Orphans' Friendship Train" offering the
children rides in exchange for clothes, shoes and canned goods. The
Boy Scouts and other organizations assisted.
The 19th Air Installations Squadron donated $409 in cash. A 54th Strat
Recon C-54 was then loaded with the collection and took off for Korea,
piloted by Lt. Col. Jack H. Pelander, San Angelo, Tex.
The orphans were both surprised and delighted. In return they staged
an impromptu entertainment for the visiting crewmen and chaplains.
PSS-017
