Feb. 22, 1951
UNSOLICITED AID-Mrs. Syngman Rhee, wife of Korea's
president, expresses appreciation on behalf of the people of Korea
for 1153 crates of warm clothing and toys for Korean refugees sent
by a Marine Corps league detachment in Passaic, N.J., to Marine officers
(left photo). Left to right are Mrs. Rhee; Lt. (jg) Charles E. Webb,
chaplain; Prime Minister Dr. John M. Charg; Brig. Gen. Thomas J. Cushman,
deputy commander of the 1st Marine Air Wing; 1st
Lt. Roy E. Oliver, aide to General Cushman, and Dr. C.S. Choi, ROK
vice minister of social welfare. In right photo homeless children
at the Airyin (Love and Help Them) orphanage in Pusan gleefully inspect
playthings, gifts from America. (USMC Photos)
Korea Orphans Receive 50 Tons
Of Gifts
1ST MARINE AIR WING, Korea-Some 10,000
Korean orphan children and refugees received clothing and toys recently
when 50 tons of gifts were distributed by officers of the 1st
Marine Air Wing. The 1153 boxes, sent from an enterprising Marine
Corps League detachment in Passaic, N.J., brought the warm heart of
America to these innocent, cold and hungry sufferers of war in their
homeland.
In an informal presentation to a group of South
Korean government dignitaries, including Mrs. Syngman Rhee, Brig.
Gen. Thomas J. Cushman, deputy commander of the 1st Marine
Air Wing, turned over the boxes to be distributed to organizations
and orphanages.
While cameras flashed and movie cameras turned
at the pagoda-like building on the grounds of the provisional government
location in Pusan, where the articles were unloaded for distribution,
half the clothes and toys were already on the way to the Marine division
sector for distribution to the needy in that area. Mrs. Rhee personally
inspected the first truckload and designated the orphanage to which
it was to be sent.
The first lady of the republic, speaking for her
countrymen, said people both north and south in the peninsula will
remember forever all the "great humanitarian efforts so generously
made" by the United States. "We will remain forever grateful to you
all," she said.
ROK Prime Minister Dr. John M. Chang, former ambassador
to the U.S. thanked the leatherneck flying flag officer. In excellent
English, he said, "The Korean people were thankful for the military
assistance by Americans and now we become most grateful for (this)
tangible expression of sympathy by your citizens in offering the tons
of gifts to persons uprooted by war."
General Cushman told the prime minister how pleased
he was to be acting on behalf of civilian marines in the Marine Corps
League. He explained how the Passaic leaguers had exceeded their
annual "toys for tots" drive by campaigning also for these articles
of warm clothing for Korean refugees. In addition to articles taken
directly to frontline areas, delivery was made to some 25 orphanages
in the Pusan area. The remaining truckloads were delivered to other
government, private, Catholic and Protestant orphanages and missions,
under supervision of Lt. (jg) Charles E. Webb, Hartford, Conn., U.S.
Navy Catholic chaplain serving.
