Pacific Stars and Stripes,
Jan. 3, 1951
TOKYO (AP)- Operation kiddie kar opened the hearts
of Americans to the war orphans of Korea.
Thousands of offers of assistance have been received
since 1000 of them were flown to an island sanctuary by FEAF Combat
Cargo Command transports on Dec. 20.
Lt. Col. Russell Blaisdell of Fort Worth, Texas,
chaplain of the 314th Air Division headquarters at Nagoya, Japan,
has received most of the offers.
They started pouring in to the chaplain after the
giant airlift of the orphans to an island off Korea.
Operation "Kiddy Kar" was proposed by
U.S. Fifth Air Force pilots when they saw the hopeless children wandering
through the debris of Seoul's streets. They went to headquarters with
the suggestion.
It was adopted and the big transport planes were
rushed to the Communist-threatened South Korea capital. They flew
the children to safety without a hitch.
When news of the operation reached the United States
the response was immediate. Typical of the thousands of letters reaching
Chaplain Blaisdell is one from Mrs. Floyd Widener of Alhambra, Calif.,
who, after reading Associated Press correspondent Hal Boyle's account
of the evacuation in the Los Angeles Times, wrote: "Thank God
for the wonderful American soldiers. If our offer of help can be accepted
in any manner, please tell us what we can do."
Mrs. Widener was speaking for 4000 women of Southern
California churches.
There were other offers from many towns and cities.
Relatives of Chaplain Blaisdell in Texas, Iowa, and Minnesota made
known the needs of the orphanage to American women's clubs, Missional
societies, and other organizations, some of which were quick to respond.
Chaplain Blaisdell has received from ten to 15
large boxes of clothing daily.
Koreans have done their utmost towards establishing
the island orphanage. The governor and mayor of the island where the
orphanage is located have arranged for the housing, fuel, and much
of the food necessary for the present needs.
Chaplain Blaisdell said the immediate needs of
the orphanage are medical supplies and funds with which to purchase
them and equipment for the school buildings where the orphanage is
located.
PSS-041
