Written By: Colonel Thomas Hanson, USA-Ret. Vasilii Yakovlevich Matuzok had dreamed of fleeing the oppression of communism since his high school days in Moscow. At age twenty-two, he became a translator in the Soviet embassy in Pyongyang, capital city of dictator Kim Il-sung’s Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Almost as soon as Matuzok arrived in …
Written By: Howard Bartholf In the storied annals of the U.S. Army Signal Corps, the 1st Signal Brigade has earned a heralded position. From the jungles, central highlands, and coastal lowlands of Vietnam to its current assignment in South Korea, the brigade has proudly upheld the mission of “Getting the Message Through.” First organized as …
The first shipload of remains of Americans killed in Korea arrived in Japan on 3 January 1951. By the end of January almost 5,000 bodies had been removed from military cemeteries in South Korea, including the Inchon, Taejon, Taegu No. 1 and No. 2, Masan, and Miryang Cemeteries. The process of identifying the bodies began soon …
8204th Army Unit (American Graves Registration Service Group) Read More »
Originally organized as a glider infantry unit in World War II, the 187th Infantry Regiment fought in the Korean War as part of an airborne regimental combat team. Later, in the Vietnam and Persian Gulf Wars, elements of the 187th fought as helicopter-borne units with the 101st Airborne Division. Throughout its history, the 187th has …
With its lineage extending back to 1808 when the Army organized the 4th Infantry, the 5th Infantry Regiment is one of the Army’s longest serving infantry units. In 1815, several regiments, including the 9th, 13th, 21st, 40th, and 46th Infantry Regiments, were consolidated to form the 5th Infantry. Elements that formed the 5th took part …
After a distinguished career as commander of XX Corps during World War II and command of Fifth Army following the war, LTG Walton H. Walker assumed command of Eighth Army in September 1948. At that time, Eighth Army’s duties focused on the occupation of Japan and not on combat readiness. Walker’s Chief of Staff, COL …
Douglas MacArthur was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, on 26 January 1880. He graduated first in his class from the United States Military Academy in 1903. Commissioned a second lieutenant, he served in the Philippines for a year. He was promoted to first lieutenant in 1904. From 1904 to 1906, he was an aide to the commander of the …
John W. Vessey, Jr., was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on 29 June 1922. In high school, he joined the Minnesota National Guard; in 1940, his unit was called up to active duty. He served as an artillery sergeant in the 34th Infantry Division (Red Bull Division). He fought with distinction in North Africa, and received …
George Henry Decker was born in Catskill, New York, on 16 February 1902. He graduated from Lafayette College in 1924 and was commissioned a second lieutenant. He was assigned to the 26th Infantry at Plattsburg Barracks from 1924 to 1928. In 1926, he married Helen E. Inman. From 1928 to 1931, he was stationed in Hawaii with the …
Frederick Carlton Weyand was born in Arbuckle, California, on 15 September 1916. He attended the University of California at Berkeley, and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Army through the Reserve Officers Training Corps program, in 1938. He married Arline Langhart in 1940. From 1940 to 1942, he served with the 6th Artillery, and received a promotion to …
