"It is with pleasure and sadness that I am able to report to you. I think you might know where the sadness comes from. First let me report on Lt. Barrick. I do not know where his name came from, perhaps it is Johnnie himself since both were members of the Love Company, 21st Infantry at the fight of Chochiwon on July 11, 1950. I was also a member of that same company. Lt. Barrick was never a POW, however, he did die at the hands of the Koreans on July 7, 1950.
"Let me tell you what happened, this as told to me by Lt. Wadie Roundtree. When Wadie (Jiggs) was captured and taken past a spot where Lt. Barrick was laying besides the road without any clothing on his upper Torso and was holding his bleeding head, apparently mortally wounded, Jiggs was able to ask him if the North Koreans had done this to him, his answer was yes. Wadie was wired to another POW and that is all that could be done for Lt. Barrick. When I passed by that same spot, somewhat later, it looked like Lt. Barrick had been run over by a tank. Both Lt. Roundtree and myself were tied together with Telephone wire, in separate groups."
Lt. Col. Ralph "Eli" Culbertson, 21st Infantry, Love Company
Capture is such a horrible and terrifying event. You don't know what will happen to you. We had already seen men with their hands tied behind them and shot in the back of the head. You think that you, too, will be shot after being tortured. All of us were beaten soundly. And, as we moved back through their front lines, attempts were made by the front line troops to hit or stab you."
Wilbert "Shorty" Estabrook, B Company, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, U.
S.
Army, founder, Tiger Survivors.
Just a few years after the end of World War II, America found itself mired in another conflict that
took
our troops to fight on the other side of the world. When communist North Korea invaded South
Korea, breaking an established treaty, the United States could not stand by and watch Stalinism
spread
to another country. Operating according to the "domino theory," America felt that allowing
Communism to spread to any other nations would mean that it would quickly move from state to
state
until the world would be engulfed. Under the leadership of President Harry S. Truman and
General of
the Army Douglas MacArthur, the United States won approval and support from the United
Nations to
begin a campaign to push back the North Korean Army.
The Korean War is often known as the "Forgotten War," because it was a war that the United
States did not win (it ended in a stalemate on the line where it had begun), and the American
public was
enamored with the prosperity at home and did not want to worry about remote foreign affairs.
Most
Americans only became familiar with the Korean War through the motion picture M*A*S*H in
1970
and the television show that followed it. But there are many more stories about the Korean War
than
just what the men and women of the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital portrayed.
On June 25, 1950, the 24th Division of the Army was on Occupation Duty in Southern Japan
when communist forces crossed the 38th parallel. As the fighting began, the North Koreans
began to
take prisoners, including American civilians on June 29, 1950. The U.N. forces and civilians
were
moved to Seoul, South Korea where troops from the 24th Division met up with troops from the
21st
and others. By October, the group that would endure the Tiger Death March was formed.
"You are now under strict military discipline. We are going to march to Chunggang-jin. No
one is to fall out without my permission. If anyone does, I will deal severely with him!" Thus,
on the
Halloween of 1950, a North Korean major forced the group to turn out their pockets and give up
their
penknives, and begin a rugged, hundred mile march in the cold, Korean November.
PFC Wayne "Johnnie" Johnson was a young man of eighteen from Lima, Ohio. He was
captured as a prisoner of war on July 11, 1950. During his first few nights as a prisoner he
watched
several of his comrades perish from various means and he realized that no one was keeping track
of
their deaths. He vowed to preserve their memories so that there families could at least know
when and
where they died. It was at this point that Johnnie began keeping a list of the dead using a pencil
stub
and whatever scratch paper he could find.
The prisoners were forced to live in deplorable conditions, and just when they thought that
things could not get any worse, a brutal North Korean army major called The Tiger took
command.
When asked about his name, Mr. Estabrook said, "No one knows the real name of the Tiger.
That is a
testament to his brutality." The Tiger ordered the prisoners to march for nine days over 120
miles of
steep Korean terrain. The weather during that fall had been rather warm during the year of 1950,
so
the soldiers had continued to wear their summer fatigues through their capture. During the
march, the
temperature had continued to drop. Sick and exhausted prisoners were dropping rapidly, and
their
buddies were ordered to leave them for later execution. Even though he knew it was a great risk
to his
own life, Johnnie was able to record the names of over 100 men who died during the nine-day
death
march. Johnnie Johnson eventually compiled a list of 496 names of his fellow American soldiers
who
had given the ultimate sacrifice.
Once the prisoners reached the Yalu River prison camp, Hanjang-ni, even more died. Over
222 soldiers lost their lives during their 4-month stay there. The mild fall led to one of the
coldest
winters in history. By March 29, 1951 the remaining prisoner weighed less than 100 pounds and
were
sick and consumed by lice. They were then taken to another camp in ChungGang-jin, where they
were
nearly killed in friendly fire by B-29 bombers. Miraculously, only one POW was injured in the
raid.
Finally, they were taken to a Chinese Prisoner of War Camp, Camp #3. The soldiers were forced
to
participate in a makeshift "parade" and fed huge amounts of rice and steamed bread. After being
given
new clothing and receiving the first adequate treatment of their experience, they were subjected
to
brainwashing in order to convert them to Communism.
Only once during his captivity was Johnson's List discovered. While in Chinese control, a
guard discovered a copy of the list buried in the wall. He beat Johnnie severely for constructing
it, and
Johnnie was almost executed. For whatever reason, the guard did not fire the gun that was
pointed at
Johnnie's head and the list was also spared.
When the prisoners were returned home, the United States interrogated all of the soldiers to
find the names of any of their dead brethren. When Johnnie was questioned he pulled the List
from a
toothpaste tube in which it was hidden. The Captain interrogating Johnny made sure to note the
List in
his report, and recommended a commendation for Mr. Johnson. However, the Army ignored that
recommendation, and the List was forgotten. Some forty years later Johnson's List was
discovered
when he attended a reunion of those who had survived under the Tiger. A disinterested Army
had not
put too much thought towards Johnson's List in 1953, but now they gave it a second look. After
providing the proof that many Americans who were still listed as missing in action were actually
killed,
the Army saw fit to reward Johnnie for risking his life to make and save the list. On August 3,
1996 he
was awarded the Silver Star for his actions.
Of the 496 names on Johnson's List, eleven persons who died were, or claimed to be, West
Virginians. The information Johnnie collected about them follows:
George Milton Barrick, Jr., Second Lieutenant L Company, 21st Infantry. Born in
Morgantown, WV on January 11, 1923, Lt. Barrick was the son of George and Margaret Barrick
and
the brother of William Mathers Barrick. He attended West Virginia University for 3 years and
was a
member of the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. Lt. Barrick was killed in action when fighting
ensued near
Chochiwon, South Korea on July 12, 1950. He was reported missing in action and presumed
dead
until the revelation of PFC John Johnson's list. Tau Kappa Epsilon, on hearing of Lt. Barrick's
passing,
pledged his surviving son, who lived with Lt. Barrick's wife, Sara E., in Columbus, GA. While
serving,
Lt. Barrick was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Korean Service
Medal, the United Nations Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.
Glenn Maynard Clark, Private First Class Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 21st
Infantry Regiment. PFC Clark was born in 1932. He was taken as a prisoner of war on the Tiger
Death March starting July 12, 1950 and died between November 16 and November 30 of that
year at
Chunggang-jin, North Korea. During his service, he was awarded the Combat Infantryman's
Badge,
the Prisoner of War Medal, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the
National Defense Service Medal, and the Korean War Service Medal.
Robert Gale Detamore, Private First Class Company A, 1st Battalion, 34th Infantry
Regiment,
24th
Infantry Division. PFC Detamore was born on September 9, 1932 to William and Cynthia
Detamore
in Cowen, West Virginia in Webster County. He was taken as a prisoner of war on July 20,
1950.
During the Tiger March, Pvt. Detacore was diagnosed with pneumonia and dysentery. He died at
the
"Cornfield" near Manpo in North Korea on November 29, 1950. Pvt. Detamore was considered
lost
until October 23, 1953, when his mother was finally informed. He was promoted posthumously
to
Corporal on May 1, 1953. Corporal Detamore was awarded the Prisoner of War Medal, the
Combat
Infantryman's Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National
Defense Service Medal and the Korean War Service Medal.
Eldred Jennings Hensley, Corporal Company C, 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment,
24th
Infantry
Division. Corporal Jennings was born on October 10, 1930 in Shegon, West Virginia in Logan
County. His father was Pete Hensley and his mother was Edna Conley. He was captured by the
enemy on July 5, 1950, and forced to participate in the Tiger Death March, until his death on
November 5, 1950. He was killed by a guard near Chunggang-jin. Corporal Hensley was
awarded
the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Prisoner of War Medal, the Korean
Service
Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Korean
War
Service Medal.
Thomas Dale Jones, See Biographies
William V. Kolberg, Corporal Company L, 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th
Infantry
Division. Born on February 21, 1906 in Maryland, Corporal Kolberg eventually moved to
Keyser,
West Virginia in Mineral County. He had served as a truck driver during his civilian life, and
was
married to Thelma V. Corporal Kolberg was taken as a Prisoner of War on July 11, 1950 while
fighting near Chochiwon, South Korea. He completed the Tiger Death March and died while a
prisoner of war at Hanjang-ni, North Korea on December 28, 1950. He was awarded the Combat
Infantryman's Badge, the Prisoner of War Medal, the Korean Service Medal, the United
Nations
Service Medal, the Nations Defense Service Medal and the Korean War Service Medal.
Keith LaVelle Lingle, Sergeant Headquarters Battery, 63rd Field Artillery Battalion,
24th
Infantry
Division. Sergeant Lingle was born on February 19, 1919 to Hilda Lingle in Cleveland, West
Virginia
of Webster County. After working as a Mechanic, Sergeant Lingle enlisted to serve in the Army
during
the Korean War. He was taken prisoner along the Kum River, South Korea on July 14, 1950,
and
forced to march on the Tiger Death March. Sergeant Lingle died while prisoner on January 1,
1951 at
Hanjang-ni, North Korea. He was awarded the Bronze Star, the Prisoner of War Medal, the
Korean
Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and the
Korean War Service Medal.
Richard Ray Lipes, Corporal Company A, 1st Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th
Infantry
Division. Corporal Lipes was born on January 13, 1931 to Mr. and Mrs. James M. (Doc) Lipes.
He
lived in Lewisburg, West Virginia, Greenbrier County. Corporal Lipes worked for a Lewisburg
service
station before enlisting in the Army at the age of 17. He was quite comfortable in the military
and had
expressed wishes to his father of being a lifetime military man. Richard went missing in action
on July
16, 1950, when he was fighting the enemy. He died of malnutrition upon concluding the Tiger
Death
March on December 23, 1950. Corporal Lipes was awarded the Combat Infantryman's Badge,
the
Prisoner of War Medal, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the
National
Defense Service Medal, and the Korean War Service Medal.
William Joseph Rainey, Corporal 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division.
Corporal
Rainey was
born in Washington County, Virginia as Oliver Leonard in September of 1928. On June 3, 1950,
Oliver was adopted by his foster family, Joe and Violet Rainey of Minden, West Virginia in
Fayette
County. On February 12, 1951, Corporal Rainey was captured by the enemy while fighting in
South
Korea. He died a prisoner on June 23, 1951. He was not involved with the Tiger Death March,
but
was placed on Johnson's List.
Lee Bright Reed, Corporal Company K, 3rd Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th
Infantry
Division.
Corporal Reed was born September 2, 1927 to Robert and Cora Reed in Organ Cave, West
Virginia
of Greenbrier County. He became a Prisoner of War in South Korea on July 7, 1950, and after
surviving the Tiger Death March, died of malnutrition and dysentery on November 30, 1950 at
Hanjang-ni, North Korea. Corporal Reed was awarded the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the
Prisoner of War Medal, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the
National
Defense Service Medal, and the Korean War Service Medal.
James Cornelius Ruddell, Jr., Captain Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 19th
Infantry
Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. Captain Ruddell was born August 25, 1926 to Col. and Mrs.
James
Ruddell in Ft. Hamilton. We currently do not know the whereabouts or history of Capt. Ruddell,
and
only know that he was a graduate of West Point, his father was also a military man, and have this
testimonial of him as a soldier from RE Culbertson: "He died on January 21, 1951. He died in
one of
those unheated huts just 12 days after the Death March. There was little or no food on the Death
March, and that coupled with staying in an unheated hut must have contributed to his death. I
did know
Lt. Ruddell very well as a POW and found him to have kept his Military bearing very well, kept
himself
clean and presented himself as a clean shaven man up until the Death March when I lost track of
him."
If you know any more information about Capt. Ruddell or any of the men from Johnson's List,
West
Virginia Archives and History welcomes any additional information that can be provided,
including
photographs, family names, letters and other relevant personal history. Contact (304)
558-0230.