Over The Coffeecups
Warren Mitchell - EditorTODAY'S PROGRAM
Michael Fritz will introduce
Nelson Smith, Headmaster of Holy Cross Episcopal School.
He is a retired Army Intelligence Officer. He taught
four years in Montgomery Public Schools before becoming
Headmaster in 2002. He is married to Delores Barron
Smith and they have one son serving in the Army and who has
just recently been called for duty in the Middle East.
LAST WEEK'S PROGRAM
President Wilkinson introduced
Warren Mitchell who talked about his year 2000 trip to
South Korea and his visit to the DMZ. Mainly, he talked
about the briefing the U.S. Army gave on the situation along
the demilitarized zone and the strength of the armed forces of
South and North Korea.
He began by saying that 70% of Korea is
mountains. At the time of the Korean War, the bulk of
industry was in North Korea and South Korea was mainly
agricultural. Today, that isn't true. South Korea
is heavily industrialized and doesn't resemble the South Korea
most of us who served there knows. South Korea today lis
one of the leading industrial countries in Asia and the world.
The south is still the rice bowl of the Korean peninsula.
The South Korean government, plus companies,
tourist bureau, etc., sponsor a program that invites people
who served during the Korean War to visit Korea. Warren
applied and was able to make the trip. The program goes
from 2000-2003. He paid airfare to Los Angeles.
When he arrived in Seoul, South Korea, he stayed five and a
half days. All hotel and meal costs were provided by the
groups mentioned.
One of the trips that was provided was to
the U.N. Freedom Village and the DMZ. They went by bus
to the village where there is a museum and gift shop. At
the camp near the village where all visitors are oriented,
they were briefed by a U.S. Army officer. He required
them to fill out a form saying that the government was not
responsible for anything that may happen to them and they were
issued identification badges. They were told that when
they entered the building where the armistice was held they
were not to make any foul gestures to the North Korean guards.
The building is divided by a line going down its center; South
Korea on one side; North Korea on the other.
The South Korean Army has approximately
250,000 regular troops. There are 50,000 men in their
Air Force, 50,000 in the Navy and 25,000 in the Korean Marine
Corps. Their Army today is not the we saw during the war
(untrained draftees). Today, it is a highly trained,
well-equipped, fighting force. Some of us are familiar
with the Tiger Division that served in Vietnam.
North Korea has 500,000 troops deployed
along the 38th parallel. There is a one million man
reserve made up of men from 18-70 years old. They are
well-equipped and trained. In support of South Korean
forces are 36,000 American troops of the 2nd Infantry
Division. The briefing also said there are 10,000 North
Korean spies in South Korea working as barbers, clerks, etc.
(This they know!)
A young Specialist 4 was assigned to their
group. A bus took them across the Freedom Bridge to the
armistice site. They were restricted as to where they
could go. The area along the DMZ is heavily mined.
There were no military positions in evidence. Their
soldier guide said that the North Korean guards they saw on
the tour had to be six feet tall, have two years of college
and have a black belt in marshal arts. He said that one
day he took a piece of cake; showed it to the N. Korean guard,
then crushed it with his foot. (North Korea is very
short on food.) He and members of his platoon were going
to do the same thing with hamburgers, but his Captain told
them not to do it.
The group was taken to Observation Post
Charlie, where most VIPs are taken. With high-powered
field glasses, they could look across the two-mile DMZ and see
N. Korean positions. To out-do the size of the American
flag, North Koreans put up a huge N. Korean flag. There
was then a severe storm and the huge flag was torn in two by
the elements. Loud speakers transmit N. Korean
propaganda all the time across the line. Battalions are
rotated along the line, with companies serving two weeks at a
time. The Specialist 4 said that there is a deserted
village in the zone and that from time to time patrols from
both sides meet there. Of course, this is not mentioned.
There have been a number of incidents between the two opposing
forces. You may remember the time when an American
officer was killed when a tree in the zone was cut down.
The tour of duty for troops serving in Korea was extended from
12 months to 18 months.
One afternoon, they visited the War Memorial
that was established in 1997, honoring all U.S. forces.
There were all the Korean service bands. Army, Navy and
Air Force bands performed that day. Also, there was a
demonstration of mart6ial arts by an impressive group.
While Warren was looking at a display in the museum, a group
of 13-year olds came up to him. They looked at him, held
up an index finger and said, "You Number One; You Hero!"
Warren was very surprised because no one had ever done that
before to him. It was a good trip and he was glad that
he went.
Chris Lafferty said that she had visited the
DMZ some 20 years ago and that things had changed considerably
since then.
LAST WEEK'S GUESTS
John Burch had his friend, Patrick
Sikes back as his guest. (Patrick is an enthusiastic
former Key-Clubber and has expressed an interest in joining
GMM Kiwanis. He is being provided with a Membership
Application.)
ENTERTAINMENT
Al McLellan said that he had heard
from his cousin, Bubba. He had been having marital
problems. He was told that he should tell his wife that
he was the Lord of the Manor and that she should do what he
told her to do. He told her, but then he didn't see her
for three days. On the fourth day, he could barely see
out of one eye!
Al then sang a Garth Brooks song, "If
Tomorrow Never Comes."
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Mike Winstead read "The Mouse
Trap". [Click here to see
the text of "The Mouse Trap" printed in News-01-23-03]
PANCAKE BREAKFAST
El Kidd said he was responsible for
place mat ads for the Pancake Breakfast on March 15th.
There are three sizes: A business card size ad is $30.00; a
3X3 inch ad is $60.00 and a 3X5 inch ad is $100.00.
Ken Carrick said that tickets for the
breakfast will be available this week.
IN MEMORIAM
Good Morning Montgomery Kiwanis Club would
like to express its deepest sympathy to Charlie Eckerly
and his family on the passing of his beloved wife, Ann.
Charlie, we are all available for any need you and your family
might have. May God be with you!
PEANUT SALES
El Kidd said that there were only
four 20-lb bags of peanuts left to sell. As of January
16th, 2003, profits of the sale is now $2,719.70. The
leading salespersons are as follows:
El Kidd . . . . . .$2,000.50
Malcolm Bush . 550.00
Ken Carrick . . . 451.50
Pete Summer . . 255.00
George Worley . 223.00
George Wilson. . 220.00
Jim Jones. . . . . 180.00
Jerry Evelan. . . . 157.50
Barnie Paulson. . 157.00
Charlie Eckerly. . 135.00
George Oetting. . 120.00
Jean Ash . . . . . . 105.00 |
