Pacific Stars and Stripes,
Oct. 17, 1952
WITH U.S. 7TH DIV, Oct. 17-
A picture story in Pacific Stars and Stripes concerning a pathetic
Korean orphan has started a charity drive snowballing in Pasadena,
Cal.
A letter from Capt. Bob Southern, motor officer
for the 17th Regiment, to his mother, Mrs. Vena Cochevar, Pasadena,
started it all.
SOUTHERN SYMPATHIZED with a story he read regarding
the death of a poverty-stricken Korean orphan and "the numerous other
tragic cases of hungry and parentless tots throughout Korea."
The Pacific Stars and Stripes story reminded the
captain of the "countless other cases in both small and large Korean
towns involving children from the ages of one to four whose parents
have been killed. With the approach of subzero weather these children
are going to need clothing."
Southern wrote to his mother, who wrote back informing
him of a giant-sized campaign. A columnist from the Pasadena Star-News
picked up the story and the city started its drive.
THE JUNIOR CHAMBER of commerce, representatives
of municipal clubs and societies and other units started gathering
drugs, medicinal supplies, food, and clothing. Each box with this
material is labeled with the estimated sex and age of the recipient
and the contents of the box.
According to the Junior Chamber of Commerce, the
collection is one "of the biggest projects ever attempted by the organization."
The turnout of material is so extensive that a storage house was utilized
to store the equipment. Facilities of a local van and storage house
were donated for holding the equipment until it is ready to be shipped
to Korea.
PSS-221
