October 18, 1954
By Sgt. Harold R. Kallenburg
TAEGU, Korea (S&S)-The radian smiles on the faces
of more than 2,000 children Saturday attested to the success of Taegu
Orphans Day. An estimated 2,300 Korean youngsters representing 32 orphanages
in the Taegu area assembled in the TMP compound at 10:00 a.m. to enjoy
a full day topped off with a picnic lunch. Maj. Gen. E.J. McGraw, KComZ
commander, opened the day's festivities with a welcoming address to
the boys and girls, orphanage directors, and the U.S. troops whose generosity
made the day possible.
The program began with a half-hour concert by the
ROK Band, which has been rapidly gaining fame throughout the country.
A continuous showing of movies and cartoons enable every child to enjoy
films. Games and model airplane exhibitions were conducted simultaneously.
No youngster remained unoccupied for long. Picnic lunches consisting
of sandwiches, oranges, cookies, candy bars, hot chocolate and plenty
of ice cream. Chocolate smeared faces quickly became the latest style.
The orphans stole the entertainment spotlight as
boys and girls took to the stage with carefully rehearsed singing and
folk dancing acts. Colorful costumes and high pitched voices received
attention for nearly an hour. American troops, with their own brand
of entertainment followed the orphan's contributions. The children
were wide eyed and breathless and Cpl. Gary Mix, TMP Special Services,
gave a demonstration of fire eating and bull whip handling. Cpl. Joseph
Long, also TMP Special Services, did a live tap dance on roller skates,
while Pvt. Red McKuen, KCAG sang several American and Korean folk songs.
Cpl. Don Potter, TMP Special Services was emcee.
SSA-750
