December
10, 1962
Sgt. Richard C. Whited, communications chief, Hq.
Btry., 77th Arty., clasps hands with 2 of 10 Korean Sea Scouts the
unit “adopted” after learning they had not eaten for two
days. The two youths are Moon Sung Wong (left) and Yan Tae Son. (USA
Photo)
HQ., U.S. 1ST CAV. DIV., Korea (IO)—The officers
and men of Hq. Btry., 1st Howitzer Bn., 77th Arty., 1st Cav. Div.,
responded to the pleas of 10 Korean Sea Scouts who had not eaten for
two days and who needed building equipment to strengthen their crumbling
living accommodations.
Sea Scout Master Yun Tae Son, 19, approached Capt. Edward C. Hackney,
commanding officer of Hq. Btry., and asked if he and his nine Sea
Scout friends could help around the battery doing odd jobs to earn
money to buy rice. Hackney learned the youths hadn’t eaten for
two days. The Sea Scouts, all orphans, usually shined shoes in the
village of Sonya-ri, where they got meager earnings, but now they
all were completely without funds.
An emergency drive was started at Camp Pelham by
Hackney and enough money was swiftly contributed for the purchase
of several bags of rice and pots full of kimchi. The men of the 77th
Arty. decided to help the Sea Scouts and immediately sponsored them
to give the youths as much assistance as possible. Wooden beams and
bags of cement were obtained and the youths rapidly applied them to
their crumbling living accommodations.
A committee organized to assist the youth is composed
of Sgt. Richard C. Whited—who has helped the youths winterize
their home—PFC Alan R. McQuade, Sgt. Ronald E. Hance, PFC Donald
R. Ledtter and PFC Daniel A. DiPenti.
SSA-305
