Pfcs. James A. Gray and Richard W. Lindsay dig in at the Imjin Orphanage on a job that may make the institution self sufficient within three years.   (USA Photo by Sgt. Ken Marvin)

Stars and Stripes, date?

CAMP HOWZE, Korea (Special) – Ten thousand saplings, planted for the Imjin Orphanage by the 2^nd Inf. Div.’s 4/7^th Cav., will mean independence from outside donations and assistance in a few years for the orphanage and its 75 children.

Kyung Soon Cho, the orphanage’s director, said the saplings were donated by the mayor of nearby Munsan-ni and she mentioned they should be large enough within two and a half to three years to bear a crop.

The crop she said, would be silk, provided by worms living on the branches of the trees.  With the income from the silk, she contends, the orphanage should be self sufficient.

Lt. Col. Charles M. Belt, squadron commanding officer, said when Miss Cho asked for assistance to plant the small trees, he mustered volunteers.  Almost all of his squadron armed with their entrenching tools chipped in and the 10,000 saplings were quickly planted.

In thanks for their mission the children of the orphanage offered several songs in Korean and English to the men.

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