Strange as it seems, like Bob Campbell, we were playing softball on the beach when the Army medic on the island came by and asked if anyone had B+ blood. An elderly Korean lady needed a transfusion and, according to the medic, they favored the blood of American GI's. They said it had more nutrients because of our diet.

There was two of us that had B+ but the other guy would not give. I agreed and that was the only time I've ever gotten sick giving blood. I thought the Army medic would draw my blood but not so. He dropped me off at the local Korean Hospital (Clinic) and left. Those Korean doctors, nurses, medics or whatever they were must have stuck me 20 or 30 times trying to hit a vein and I got nauseous. I finally got them to understand that I needed something to puke in. Someone observing would have thought the scene quite comic, me trying to communicate to them and them running around like the three stooges trying to find a bed pan. I recall the very plain wooden building they used as the hospital was very bare, just a cot and chair with almost no medical instruments, medical supplies or medicine that I could see.

The Army medic was a tall black guy. Now me being a young white guy from Georgia I admit that I had certain views at the time that might not be politically correct today. Don't get me wrong, I never was a KKK member or anything but I did grow up in a segregated environment. But because of this fine gentleman's sincere concern for his fellow man (he spend a lot of time working at that modest Korean clinic) I consciously changed my attitude toward my fellow man. After the blood donation incident he seemed to make a special point to talk with me at the chow hall or in the small airman's club and I will always treasure his friendship and a moral lesson learned. Wish I could remember his name.

When we went down to the fishing harbor on the east side of the island on a clear day you could see the North Korean gun emplacements pointing our way but I never felt threatened. I served in Korea tdy 4 times and always found the Koreans to a very friendly and hospitable. To this day I make a special point of introducing myself to Korean Americans and, lucky for me, consider them my friends.

I will especially remember that I was on the island when they first landed on the moon.

I enjoyed my time there, the food was good and we just had to pull our shifts on the hill. Off duty was spent playing basketball on an outdoor court just outside the chow hall or softball on the beach. When I got there, somehow, one of our Air Force guys had gotten ahold of some water ski's and a long rope. They would tie the rope to the back of our weapons carrier and drive it down the beach pulling a guy on skis just off in the water. The water could not have been over 6-8" deep so you better not fall. Anyway shortly thereafter the NCOIC rotated back to Clarke and I was left in charge. I'd never been in charge of anything in my life but I was the only Air Force E4 with 5th Tac on the island so I was now the NCOIC of our 4 man staff. The Army mechanic at the motor pool called me down one day and chewed my rear because the break drums were corroding so bad on the weapons carrier from running in the salt water. We had to stop our water skiing adventure.

Also I remember that we did have a lengthy period of time when the C47 could not land because every time the tide was out the beach was fogged in. Once I stood on the hill watching a C47 circle over and over waiting for the fog bank on the beach to clear so he could land. The fog bank covered just the beach and the beach was clear just before he got there and cleared just after he had to head back to Osan without landing. We were down to eating C rations (hated the eggs) before they finally got a plane in. Actually I was getting concerned because I was short and suppose to rotate back to the states in early September and, because the fog kept going on and on, I feared I might be late getting back to Clark. Made it though and I must say P-Y-Do was one of my most enjoyable assignment. Thanks for the opportunity to share.

Steve Sorrells

Comer, GA

shsorrells@alltel.net