On June 7, 1950, my grandfather turned 18 years old. Eighteen days after his birthday, at the 38th parallel, a border to what is now South Korea, the “Forgotten War” began. The Korean War would become the first official military action that started the cold war. Fearing a battle with Russia or China that might begin WWII, President Harry Truman was careful to offer help to South Korea. President Truman wanted the world to know that he would stand up against the spread of Communism. The Korean War ended with neither side winning three years later. My grandfather Private Perley York joined the Air Force in 1951. He completed his basic training in San Angelo, Texas and then was sent to Kimpo, Korea. My grandfather grew up around airplanes. His father built and flew planes. Since my grandpa was three he had been flying with his dad and later as a teenager got his pilots license.
The Korean War was the first war that the Air Force used plane to plan combat. This way of fighting combat was very dangerous. Around 2,000 plans that were sent out and less than 600 returned safely from areas like “Mig Alley.” Private York served his time mostly in ground service loading and unloading ammunition for bombers. There were a few times he had to fly a mission, one time he was supposed to fly but he was late so he did not go. The plane he was supposed to be on was shot down.
After the War my grandfather came home, got married and used his G.I. Bill to buy his first home. He never forgot his time in service. Every year he would walk in the Memorial and Veterans Day parades. We still have his Korean War Veterans cane that he was presented with at a Veterans Ceremony. When the Korean War memorial was opened in Bangor, Maine, my grandfather had the honor to sing “Danny Boy” at the ceremony. One of his most remembered moments was his trip to Washington D.C. to see the War Memorial.
My grandfather passed away on March 17, 2010. At his funeral the Air Force presented my grandmother with a flag ceremony and handed the symbol of Private York’s freedom, the American Flag.
