August 12, 1954
SEOUL, Aug. 12 (3rdTRC)-Stories of soldiers helping
orphans are becoming more numerous every day, but the swift rehabilitation
of one child-Lee Jong Ja of Seoul-is a rare one. The girl was discovered
asleep outside the 3rd TRC compound about a month ago by
Cpl. William Hoyt, Maplecrest, N.Y., and Pvt. Bernard Elman, Bronx,
N.Y., both of Hq. Co. She was lying in the open with nothing but a
sparse scattering of straw to keep her out of the mud.
The soldiers sought the aid of the chaplain in a
drive that was to bring about the astounding change in the 13 year old
war orphan. Never having had the opportunity for a formal education,
the girl only had the mental level of a third grade student.
Mamasan Takes Charge
One of the mamasans employed at the 3rd
TRC compound took charge of the girl and saw to it that she was bathed,
clothed and fed. An agreement was arranged whereby the Korean woman
would care for the child and a trust fund would be maintained by the
Hq. Co. enlisted men to provide for her subsistence and schooling.
A total of $55.50 was donated by officers and enlisted men in the initial
collection for the orphan.
According to Sgt. Julius Johnson, Spartenburg, S.C.,
trustee of the fund, the girl has already progressed three grades mentally
and has made many friends. Because of the initiative of Hoyt and Elman,
the guidance of Chaplain (Maj.) Bertrane Jordan and the planning of
Johnson, the little girl now has a new "mother" and is living a full
life in her new home.
SSS-700
