Carefree Truth
Issue #701, November 24, 2018
Mr. Dimon announced, "The band is going to take a short break now, while we proceed with our program".
"Major Arden Rowley is a lifelong resident of Mesa, Arizona. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in September, 1948 and served at Fort Ord, California; Okinawa, Japan; and Fort Lewis, Washington before the Korean War started in June, 1950."
"He was then sent to Korea with the 2nd Infantry Division. Major Rowley was involved in several combat missions with the 2nd Engineer Combat Battalion until December 1, 1950 when he became a prisoner of war of the Chinese Communist Forces. Nearly three years later, he was repatriated on August 18, 1953 after the signing of an armistice which ended the fighting on July 27, 1953."
"Upon his return to Mesa, Major Rowley married his wife of 57 years, Ruth Martin, received a Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts degrees from Arizona State University, joined the Army reserves and taught in the Mesa School District for 31 years. He retired from the military in 1974 with 23 years of service."
"Major Rowley has published four books about Korean War P.O.W.'s and one book about the history of the 2nd Engineer Combat Battalion during the Korean War. He was inducted into the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame in 2004 and is a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Disabled American Veterans, and the American Ex-POW Association."
"Ladies and gentlemen, let's give Major Rowley a warm Carefree welcome."
Issue #701, November 24, 2018
Mr. Dimon announced, "The band is going to take a short break now, while we proceed with our program".
"Major Arden Rowley is a lifelong resident of Mesa, Arizona. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in September, 1948 and served at Fort Ord, California; Okinawa, Japan; and Fort Lewis, Washington before the Korean War started in June, 1950."
"He was then sent to Korea with the 2nd Infantry Division. Major Rowley was involved in several combat missions with the 2nd Engineer Combat Battalion until December 1, 1950 when he became a prisoner of war of the Chinese Communist Forces. Nearly three years later, he was repatriated on August 18, 1953 after the signing of an armistice which ended the fighting on July 27, 1953."
"Upon his return to Mesa, Major Rowley married his wife of 57 years, Ruth Martin, received a Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts degrees from Arizona State University, joined the Army reserves and taught in the Mesa School District for 31 years. He retired from the military in 1974 with 23 years of service."
"Major Rowley has published four books about Korean War P.O.W.'s and one book about the history of the 2nd Engineer Combat Battalion during the Korean War. He was inducted into the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame in 2004 and is a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Disabled American Veterans, and the American Ex-POW Association."
"Ladies and gentlemen, let's give Major Rowley a warm Carefree welcome."
Major Arden Rowley
Screen shot by Herbert Hitchon
Major Rowley said he was so grateful to Barbara Hatch for what she is doing with the young people. "And the Main Event Band. Wow!" When he returned from Korea, he bought 2 suits and, wouldn't you know it, a pair of blue suede shoes. He was pleased to be here on this Veteran's Day, where the veterans from the beginning or our nation are honored. He felt that George Washington is the greatest American veteran. The thinks of the beginnings and the struggles to gain freedom from Great Britain and the battles where men began to give their lives for the freedoms that we enjoy. We begin to think of the word "sacrifice". Many men and women have marched off to many wars to defend those freedoms. Many did not return to their family's embrace.
Because he is most familiar with the Korean War, he talked about the sacrifices made there. He considered his time in the Army as a time of honor. After returning from Okinawa, and having 30 days leave, he took a bus to Fort Lewis. Little did he know that he would not see his family again for 3-1/2 years. Shortly after his arrival at Fort Lewis, Communist North Korea attacked South Korea. He arrived in Korea in July of 1950. In November, his battalion in extreme North Korea had the North Korean army almost completely defeated, when 300,000 Communist Chinese forces attacked from China. His battalion was overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of Chinese soldiers and by the bitter cold -40 degree weather.
On December 1st, 330 men and officers of his battalion, and hundreds more from other units of his division, were taken prisoners of war. Of the 330, only 117 came home at the end of the war. They were marched for 24 nights to reach their first POW camp, and were crammed like sardines into rooms in the homes of Koreans who were forced to find shelter with their neighbors. The closeness of their bodies kept the soldiers from freezing to death. Food along the way was very sporadic, barely enough to keep them alive. Many had inadequate protection on their feet, and suffered frostbite. One Sergeant lost the flesh on all 10 of his toes. Major Rowley was pretty well off, with heavy wool socks, new combat boots and rubber overshoes. He wore every stitch of clothing he owned. Even with that, he was cold and his feet were cold.
During the night marches, if anyone fell behind unnoticed, they would freeze within an hour. If noticed, they would most likely be shot by the guards. So they did all they could to help the wounded and others to keep up. Early one morning, as they were placed in a building for the day, a fellow POW called the Major's attention to the plight of a Turkish soldier. Turkey had sent a brigade to help with the fighting, and some of them had been captured with the Major's battalion. The Turkish soldier's combat boots had gotten wet and his frozen feet had swollen in his boots, so he had cut 3 long slits in the toes of the boots. The flesh was swelling out of the slits. It was red and very sore. He could hardly walk. Major Rowley gave his overshoes to the soldier. They cut the boots off his feet, but the overshoes were twice as long as his feet, which would rattle around in the overshoes, causing more damage to his feet. So they wrapped his feet in old rags they found until they were large enough to fit decently into the overshoes. He never saw anyone so grateful. The Turkish soldier literally knelt and kissed his feet. The Major didn't think his act was heroic but he was honored to be able to help a fellow soldier. When he saw the Turk in his second POW camp, he knew he was still alive. The soldier once again expressed his gratitude.
Now, his new combat boots were visible. A Chinese guard took them at rifle point, and gave his old worn out shoes to Major Rowley. He had lost 2 layers of foot protection. He slipped and slid on ice and snow for the rest of the march, which lasted until Christmas day, when they arrived at their first POW camp. He made it with only slight frostbite. "To me, that was a miracle." The POW camp was a deserted mining village, deserted for a time because of the extreme cold. The POWs were crammed into miners' berths, small mud huts with thatched roofs and no heat. Once again, their shared body heat kept them from freezing.
But all were getting progressively weaker. Their diet was a small bowl of millet or cracked corn, one in the morning and one at night. Many became sick and died of starvation or disease. There was no medical care of any kind. Men died by the dozen. During the slightly over 3 weeks they were at that camp, 250-300 men died. Each morning, they would put the bodies in a designated building and a Korean ox cart would haul them away.
On January 20th, 1951, those who could still walk were marched for 6 days to a village which became known as Camp 5. It was on a lake backed up by a hydro-electricity dam farther downstream. The ice on the lake was 3' thick. They were told it was the permanent camp until the war was over. They logically assumed the food would be better. Not so. It was the same diet and there was still no medical care. Deaths continued at an alarming rate.
They had a little more space now and could lie on their backs. Major Rowley's space was beside a once large fellow from Seattle named Allen, who had contracted pneumonia. Each day he became weaker, with increasing pain in his lungs. Soon he could no longer eat. One day, wondering what more he could do for Allen, the Major decided to pray for him, asking God for Allen not to suffer anymore. As he opened his eyes, Allen was looking at him. He said, "Thanks, Rowley", then quietly slipped away.
Scenes like this could be multiplied hundreds of times over. Between their arrival at the camp in January, until mid April,1600 men died. One of the greatest challenges was how to bury so many fallen soldiers. Every few days, a burial duty was formed. It was all they could do to carry the emaciated bodies of fellow POWs across the ice on rice bag stretchers and dig a grave the size of a man's body with the crude tools provided. During one burial detail, right after they had finished burying the last body, one of the men in the burial detail died and they had to dig one more grave. "Sacrifice."
Likewise, many have sacrificed throughout the history of our nation for the freedoms we enjoy. "I was honored to serve so many years ago for freedom's cause." Today, groups of men, women and families are sacrificing in a different way, those among the missing in action, whose fates are unknown. In 2011, before his wife, Ruth, passed away, Major Rowley was asked to make a few remarks at a POW/MIA recognition day at the Phoenix Veterans Medical Center. He decided to honor the MIAs. He asked Ruth to write a poem expressing how those still missing might feel and how their loved ones might feel. A few days later, she handed him this poem, titled simply, "MIA".
"Where are you, my friend? Long ago we parted in that savage wind. But still your face I see in the blowing sands. Soldiers we were, as we freed captive lands. From our countries gone, our sons have marched, and built the pathway to freedom's arch. Many returned to family's embrace, but some were lost in time and space. Do you sleep with heroes of long ago, in Flanders Field where the poppies grow? Or once again when Europe burned, then next to frozen Korea we turned. Perhaps in the jungles of Vietnam, or to the Middle East you've gone. Your presence there has brought new life, to nations born of struggles and strife. Are you in the smiles of children free, to be what they can be? Or the shuffling steps of the old ones, who remember what you've done? Can you see the bustling places, with a thousand smiling faces, full of heath and so much more, that you were fighting for? But still they wait, your Mom and Dad, and others too are very sad. Rest in peace, your work is done. But how we wish that you were home. I salute you, my friend."
Ruth Martin Rowley
"On a black granite wall, which is part of the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., are inscribed 4 words which say it all. 'Freedom is not free'. Thank you."
https://vimeo.com/301477705
Lyn Hitchon
Prepared by Carefree Truth
Visit our website at www.carefreetruth2.com If you know anyone who would like to be added to the Carefree Truth email list, please have them contact me. Feel free to share Carefree Truth with others on your list.
Visit www.carefreeazbusinesses.com to see more info about businesses in Carefree. Please support our merchants.
Screen shot by Herbert Hitchon
Major Rowley said he was so grateful to Barbara Hatch for what she is doing with the young people. "And the Main Event Band. Wow!" When he returned from Korea, he bought 2 suits and, wouldn't you know it, a pair of blue suede shoes. He was pleased to be here on this Veteran's Day, where the veterans from the beginning or our nation are honored. He felt that George Washington is the greatest American veteran. The thinks of the beginnings and the struggles to gain freedom from Great Britain and the battles where men began to give their lives for the freedoms that we enjoy. We begin to think of the word "sacrifice". Many men and women have marched off to many wars to defend those freedoms. Many did not return to their family's embrace.
Because he is most familiar with the Korean War, he talked about the sacrifices made there. He considered his time in the Army as a time of honor. After returning from Okinawa, and having 30 days leave, he took a bus to Fort Lewis. Little did he know that he would not see his family again for 3-1/2 years. Shortly after his arrival at Fort Lewis, Communist North Korea attacked South Korea. He arrived in Korea in July of 1950. In November, his battalion in extreme North Korea had the North Korean army almost completely defeated, when 300,000 Communist Chinese forces attacked from China. His battalion was overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of Chinese soldiers and by the bitter cold -40 degree weather.
On December 1st, 330 men and officers of his battalion, and hundreds more from other units of his division, were taken prisoners of war. Of the 330, only 117 came home at the end of the war. They were marched for 24 nights to reach their first POW camp, and were crammed like sardines into rooms in the homes of Koreans who were forced to find shelter with their neighbors. The closeness of their bodies kept the soldiers from freezing to death. Food along the way was very sporadic, barely enough to keep them alive. Many had inadequate protection on their feet, and suffered frostbite. One Sergeant lost the flesh on all 10 of his toes. Major Rowley was pretty well off, with heavy wool socks, new combat boots and rubber overshoes. He wore every stitch of clothing he owned. Even with that, he was cold and his feet were cold.
During the night marches, if anyone fell behind unnoticed, they would freeze within an hour. If noticed, they would most likely be shot by the guards. So they did all they could to help the wounded and others to keep up. Early one morning, as they were placed in a building for the day, a fellow POW called the Major's attention to the plight of a Turkish soldier. Turkey had sent a brigade to help with the fighting, and some of them had been captured with the Major's battalion. The Turkish soldier's combat boots had gotten wet and his frozen feet had swollen in his boots, so he had cut 3 long slits in the toes of the boots. The flesh was swelling out of the slits. It was red and very sore. He could hardly walk. Major Rowley gave his overshoes to the soldier. They cut the boots off his feet, but the overshoes were twice as long as his feet, which would rattle around in the overshoes, causing more damage to his feet. So they wrapped his feet in old rags they found until they were large enough to fit decently into the overshoes. He never saw anyone so grateful. The Turkish soldier literally knelt and kissed his feet. The Major didn't think his act was heroic but he was honored to be able to help a fellow soldier. When he saw the Turk in his second POW camp, he knew he was still alive. The soldier once again expressed his gratitude.
Now, his new combat boots were visible. A Chinese guard took them at rifle point, and gave his old worn out shoes to Major Rowley. He had lost 2 layers of foot protection. He slipped and slid on ice and snow for the rest of the march, which lasted until Christmas day, when they arrived at their first POW camp. He made it with only slight frostbite. "To me, that was a miracle." The POW camp was a deserted mining village, deserted for a time because of the extreme cold. The POWs were crammed into miners' berths, small mud huts with thatched roofs and no heat. Once again, their shared body heat kept them from freezing.
But all were getting progressively weaker. Their diet was a small bowl of millet or cracked corn, one in the morning and one at night. Many became sick and died of starvation or disease. There was no medical care of any kind. Men died by the dozen. During the slightly over 3 weeks they were at that camp, 250-300 men died. Each morning, they would put the bodies in a designated building and a Korean ox cart would haul them away.
On January 20th, 1951, those who could still walk were marched for 6 days to a village which became known as Camp 5. It was on a lake backed up by a hydro-electricity dam farther downstream. The ice on the lake was 3' thick. They were told it was the permanent camp until the war was over. They logically assumed the food would be better. Not so. It was the same diet and there was still no medical care. Deaths continued at an alarming rate.
They had a little more space now and could lie on their backs. Major Rowley's space was beside a once large fellow from Seattle named Allen, who had contracted pneumonia. Each day he became weaker, with increasing pain in his lungs. Soon he could no longer eat. One day, wondering what more he could do for Allen, the Major decided to pray for him, asking God for Allen not to suffer anymore. As he opened his eyes, Allen was looking at him. He said, "Thanks, Rowley", then quietly slipped away.
Scenes like this could be multiplied hundreds of times over. Between their arrival at the camp in January, until mid April,1600 men died. One of the greatest challenges was how to bury so many fallen soldiers. Every few days, a burial duty was formed. It was all they could do to carry the emaciated bodies of fellow POWs across the ice on rice bag stretchers and dig a grave the size of a man's body with the crude tools provided. During one burial detail, right after they had finished burying the last body, one of the men in the burial detail died and they had to dig one more grave. "Sacrifice."
Likewise, many have sacrificed throughout the history of our nation for the freedoms we enjoy. "I was honored to serve so many years ago for freedom's cause." Today, groups of men, women and families are sacrificing in a different way, those among the missing in action, whose fates are unknown. In 2011, before his wife, Ruth, passed away, Major Rowley was asked to make a few remarks at a POW/MIA recognition day at the Phoenix Veterans Medical Center. He decided to honor the MIAs. He asked Ruth to write a poem expressing how those still missing might feel and how their loved ones might feel. A few days later, she handed him this poem, titled simply, "MIA".
"Where are you, my friend? Long ago we parted in that savage wind. But still your face I see in the blowing sands. Soldiers we were, as we freed captive lands. From our countries gone, our sons have marched, and built the pathway to freedom's arch. Many returned to family's embrace, but some were lost in time and space. Do you sleep with heroes of long ago, in Flanders Field where the poppies grow? Or once again when Europe burned, then next to frozen Korea we turned. Perhaps in the jungles of Vietnam, or to the Middle East you've gone. Your presence there has brought new life, to nations born of struggles and strife. Are you in the smiles of children free, to be what they can be? Or the shuffling steps of the old ones, who remember what you've done? Can you see the bustling places, with a thousand smiling faces, full of heath and so much more, that you were fighting for? But still they wait, your Mom and Dad, and others too are very sad. Rest in peace, your work is done. But how we wish that you were home. I salute you, my friend."
Ruth Martin Rowley
"On a black granite wall, which is part of the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., are inscribed 4 words which say it all. 'Freedom is not free'. Thank you."
https://vimeo.com/301477705
Lyn Hitchon
Prepared by Carefree Truth
Visit our website at www.carefreetruth2.com If you know anyone who would like to be added to the Carefree Truth email list, please have them contact me. Feel free to share Carefree Truth with others on your list.
Visit www.carefreeazbusinesses.com to see more info about businesses in Carefree. Please support our merchants.