57 Years Ago
7 years ago today I was living the good life in Southern Japan at Beppu. Beppu is a sea side community and most beautiful. Semi tropical. No snow. Life was good.
Then on this morning 57 years ago the North Koreans invaded South Korea and the Korean War began.
My unit, like many others, was put on alert and we prepared for the unknown in the not to distant land of the Morning Calm, KOREA.
The first Americans captured in that war were civilians. They became prisoners on 29 JUNE 1950 just 4 days after the Communist attack the South. They were part of the Tiger Survivors group as well. The first American soldiers became Prisoners of War on 5 July 1950. They were mostly from Task Force Smith of the 21st Infantry Regiment of the 24th Infantry Division. They, too, were to become Tiger Survivors.
I sometimes wonder what life would have been like without that war. Of all who died in battle or while Prisoners of War, many could have achieved greatness. But alas they are now heroes of a near forgotten war. What would my life been like? What would life have held in store for the still MISSING IN ACTION AND UNACCOUNTED FOR?
For over 3 years an attempt to change the Purple Heart Regulations so that those who died while a Prisoner of War would be awarded that coveted medal. WHY has it taken so long for this change to be made? It is a “no brainer” and a “non partisan” issue.
I have to praise Rick and Brenda Tavares of Campo California for their courageous and uphill fight to change the Purple Heart Medal Regulations. Brenda lost her uncle who died while a Prisoner of War with the Tiger Survivors group. This couple has and still is doing daily battle to achieve this goal. They spend endless hours on this project. Because of this wonderful couples EXTREME DEDICATION 36 Veterans Organizations with a total membership of over 8 MILLION have sign on to help achieve this mission.
REMEMBER THEM TODAY AS WE DO EVERYDAY.
from Shorty Estabrook
Important Health Information
After reading your information about Ascariasis and that former POWs should be tested I thought I would pass along this information about another type of worms that my husband, Charles Egresitz has. When he had his heart surgery in 1998 we were told that he had been infested with helminthiasis. However these parasitizes (strongyloides) were a type that become permanent in your body. We were told that they travel upward out of his bowel looking for an escape. We have been told that normally they kill you before they reach the brain. When they reached his brain they became calcified. As I said earlier we never knew about these parasitizes until he had a heart catherization. The doctors alerted us to the calcified parasitizes in his brain and through out his body, (lung/liver/muscles.) We have full body x-rays were you can actually see them in their calcified state.
Sometime after his return as a POW from Korea he began to have grand mall seizures work. The VA said his seizures was not service connected (even tho he never had a seizure before he went into the Army). Charlie never pursued that health issue with the VA until he had the heart tests mentioned above.
Presently he is covered 10% for seziors/helminthiasis and nothing for the calcified parasitizes in the rest of his body.
I am telling you about this because maybe it is information that should be passed on to other POWs that might have this and not know of it. If you need to reach us for any other information please do not hesitate to do so. --Judith Egresitz
If you need to contact the Egrestitz, please email us.
Requesting Replacement Medals, Awards, and Decorations
Requests for the issuance or replacement of military service medals, decorations, and awards should be directed to the specific branch of the military in which the veteran served. However, for Air Force (including Army Air Corps) and Army personnel, the National Personnel Records Center will verify the awards to which a veteran is entitled and forward the request with the verification to the appropriate service department for issuance of the medals.
For more information, addresses to send requests, and the forms necessary, go to the National Archives site.
Back to TopImportant POW health information
It has come to our attention that all POWs should be tested for Ascariasis. This is a roundworm that former POWs have been treated for. These worms are listed as a cause of death for several former POWs. If you have never been tested for these worms, please contact your doctor as soon as possible and have them test you for them.
The following information is from the Mayo Clinic online. For more information, visit them at mayoclinic.com.
Back to TopAscariasis is a type of roundworm infection. Roundworms are parasites that use your body as a host to stay alive and reproduce, maturing from eggs to adult worms inside your body. Ascaris eggs are microscopic, but the adult worms are the largest of the intestinal roundworms, reaching lengths up to 40 centimeters, or about 15 inches.
Ascariasis is the most common type of roundworm infection in humans, infecting approximately 25 percent of the world's population. The highest rates of infection occur in developing countries. In the United States, ascariasis is more common in rural areas with warm climates, with a higher infection rate in the South.
Most of the time, ascariasis causes no symptoms, or only mild stomach or digestive problems. But when your body is infested with hundreds of worms, more serious symptoms and complications can occur. The good news is that ascariasis can be treated effectively with medication. There also are simple steps you can take to prevent ascariasis, mostly involving good hygiene and proper sanitation.
TREA Master Reunion Listing
The Retired Enlisted Association (TREA) is providing the Military Reunion Listings as a FREE service to the veteran community. We have 1,398 lis tings on the calendar year 2006 listing. With the next listing update, we will have over 900 reunion listings for calendar years 2007, 2008, 200 9, and 2010.
Please take a look at our web site, www.trea.org, scroll down the left side and click on Reunions/Buddies, and this will bring up the reunion page. As reunions are completed, they are transferred to the Completed Listing at the end of the month. There, they will remain as a reference point for someone looking for a unit contact. My intention is that each calendar year reunions will be individually listed.
John H. Moore, SMSgt, USAF Retired (1961–87) Reunion Manager (volunteer) The Retired Enlisted Association (TREA)
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