Pacific Stars and Stripes, S&S Korea Bureau
- 21 Dec 60
By PFC John A Hernandez
Seoul-Col. Dean Hess, a second
father to hundreds of Korean orphans, arrived at Seoul City Airport
Monday to complete final steps toward adopting a small Korean girl.
Hess was greeted by On Soon Whang, director of
an orphans' home which the American founded; Maj. Gen. S. W. Chang,
vice chief of staff, Republic of Korea air force; and other civic
leaders.
Hess, a famed fighter pilot in the Korean War,
is head of the U.S. Air Force Office of Information in Hollywood.
Among the group at the airport was Penny Defore,
daughter of movie and television actor Don Defore. Miss Defore recently
joined the staff at the Hess orphanage.
During a brief interview, Hess, a former clergyman
and a veteran of many combat missions, said he was scared.
"I'm going to meet my daughter for the first time,
and I'm actually frightened," he confided.
He was referring to 6-year-old Mee Wha, whom he
came here to adopt. He has chosen Marilyn K. Hess for her adopted
name.
Monday he revisited the orphanage he founded 10
years ago to help children who were victims of the Korean War. There
he met his daughter-to-be.
Hess was to receive the ROK Order of Cultural Merit
award Tuesday from President Posun Yun at Kyungmudai, the presidential
mansion.
Tuesday afternoon he was to be honored at a celebration
in the Bando Hotel by members of the Social Workers of Korea.
PSS-631
