Feb. 3, 1951
By S/Sgt. Mike Shutak
Combat Correspondent
WITH 1ST MARINE DIV IN KOREA-PFC Willard
E. Gavin, Richland Center, Wis., took pity on the young Korean orphan,
and gave him part of his rations-he knew the look-he had been an orphan
himself. That was back when UN forces drove the Communists out of Inchon.
Since then Gavin and Kim have traveled Korea together. Now Private
Gavin and his wife are trying to adopt the boy so he can return with
the leatherneck to the U.S.
Young Kim was smuggled on an LST when the Marines
left Inchon. He rode in Gavin's truck during the landing at Wonsan
and journeys to Koto and Hagaru. On one trip the native orphan was
sent back by a jeep to avoid an ambush area ahead. But the jeep was
ambushed and Kim suffered multiple wounds. He was evacuated to a hospital
in South Korea, and didn't see his foster-father for a long time. Finally
when the Marines moved to their rest and training area in the south,
the two orphans met again.
Request for adoption was turned down by the U.S.
Senate. Now they have written to the President, and if that won't help
they plan to move to Honolulu and raise the Korean lad there.
When nine-year-old Kim is asked his name and address,
he beams, "Me Jimmy Gavin of Wisconsin, U.S.A."
