I’ve heard bits and pieces about my Grandfather’s life when he was in the Army. And maybe with your help and a little of what information I have somebody will know what to do with it. Or be able to point me in the right direction. I don’t really know where to start out. I’ve been searching the internet for 2 months straight now and I’m still sitting here today scratching my head. Here we go….. My Grandpa’s name was Glenn Theron Henson from Landrum, SC. He was drafted into the army in 1951. He took training at Camp Breckenridge Kentucky. He has a 101st Airborne Screaming Eagles Patch. I found some old letters he sent my grandmother and I was able to scrounge a little info from them. I have a envelope that says PVT Glenn T Henson US53102001 PROV CO SE 90’0 Apo No 613 % Postmaster Sanfrancisco Calif. It has a post mark on it APR 26th 1952. Inside the envelope is a Card that has U.S.N.S AIKEN VICTORY and a picture of the ship. He has written beside it that he sailed April 9th 1952 at 3:30pm and landed in Japan April 24th, 1952. Also in the Envelope is a Certificate that says “ DOMAIN OF THE GOLDEN DRAGON” Ruler of the 180th Meridian. It’s dated the 18th day of April 1952. He wrote on the back of the certificate that he landed the night before and it was so late they wouldn’t let them write. He also states that sometime or another they was at Pier 91 Ft. Lowton or Lowter I can’t really read it. He said that they are in Camp Drake in japan but they told him they wouldn’t be there but 2 days. The next letter is dated Aug 2nd 1953, so a year and 4 months went by and I don’t have a clue what happened. The return address on this one says “ CPL Glenn T Henson US53102001 Cr. A. 434th FCB. APO 973 % postmaster San. Francisco Calif. My Grandmother said that he wrote her almost every day not talking much about the war. I guess she lost those letters or something. I was told that he was a paratrooper and jumped out of planes all the time They also told me that his best friend that he trained with and came over to Korea with was killed right beside him by a grenade. Then later on him and his platoon was in a bunker and a bomb caved it in and buried all of them alive. My Grandpa dug himself out with his helment and was the only survivor. He suffered a Fractured Pelvis and was strapped to a helicopter and taken to some hospital where he stayed for like 1 or 2 months. After that he was trained to be a Welder. I have all in all about 60 photo’s of him in the army that he sent my grandmother. Half of them of him having a gun in his arms or right beside him and half of them he has a welding torch in his hands. One picture is of him standing guard outside of a bunker. Then another is him driving what he wrote on the photo is a “ 6 ton” Truck. He has some photo’s of Russian Tanks, and some of a guy he called “ Crofard” (he could mean Crawford) in one of those photo’s it says “ Killed in Churyon (or Chorwon) Valley” He has other photo’s with more names on them including chubby, Maddox, Monroe, Moore, Burpbee (another says Burbee), Kirby, Weezel, Carl-Miller, Moyer, Teaford, Jackson & Billman. I think all of these with names on them was taken at the Welding shop. And in 1 of the pictures I can read the sign on the welding shop. It says CO. ‘A’ Welding Shop and another small sign to the bottom right T-23. I also found a card that has a different number on it. It says Veterans Administration. C-Number 22 452 441. His Honarable Discharge Paper says it is to certify that CPL GLENN T. HENSON, ER 53 102 001, CE-USAR, Ready Reserve, (active status) what was inducted 10 October 1951 was honorably discharged from the Army of the US on the 9th day of October 1959. He was suppose to get a purple heart for something but he never received it, my grandmother said he didn’t want it for some reason. But I have about 4 patches that he wore. I’ve researched them the best I could and 3 is a Red Octogon with a what looks like a big white plus sign in it. I think it’s a 8th Army Military Patch. 2 more is a all Red Diamond with a Yellow Thunderbird inside with wings and a fanned tail. I think it’s a 45th Infantry Division. He has 6 that is a black Patch that is the shape of a shield that has a white eagle head with a yellow beak that is open and a red tounge. I think that’s the Screaming Eagle Patches. And the last patch that I have I don’t have a clue on. The background color is all blue, It has a big red 2 in the middle with what looks like a white sock running in and out of the 2. And it Says at the top LOGISTICAL in red with a white background and at the bottom COMMAND in red with a white background. It’s about 3 in. high by 2 in. wide. I don’t actually have a paper stating what division or unit he was in but maybe somebody that reads this can explain something to me that I don’t know. Any advice, tips, or anything you throw my way will be greatly appreciated. I want to write all of this stuff and what I can find out for my children to have and know what there great grandpa did. My grandfather never talked at all about the war because it upset him so bad. My grandfather just passed away this year. June 26th, 2009 due to Liver and Colon cancer. I have really had a rough time especially since I’ve lived beside him for my 25 years on this earth. I really do thank the people that have actually read what I had to say. And this will give me a little peace of mind knowing I got all of this off my chest, and maybe someone can hopefully tell me something. Thanks in advance. Tommy Wooten e-mail- Tommyplumbr@aol.com
Originally posted by Tommyplumbr:...CPL Glenn T Henson US53102001 Cr. A. 434th FCB. APO 973 % postmaster San. Francisco Calif...And the last patch that I have I don’t have a clue on. The background color is all blue, It has a big red 2 in the middle with what looks like a white sock running in and out of the 2. And it Says at the top LOGISTICAL in red with a white background and at the bottom COMMAND in red with a white background. It’s about 3 in. high by 2 in. wide. I don’t actually have a paper stating what division or unit he was in but maybe somebody that reads this can explain something to me that I don’t know....
Here's some info to move you further along.
Your grandfather evidently served as an Army Engineer during the Korean War. He wrote the second letter while he was a member of Company A, 434d Engineer Construction Battalion ("ECB" not "FCB"). And the last patch you describe was 2d Logistical Command, which was active in Korea from September 1950 until October 1952. He might have worn the 2d Log Command patch while in Korea or the Eighth Army patch, or both (at different times). 45th Infantry Division was in Korea part of the time he was there, but 434d ECB was a non-divisional unit and your account gives no direct evidence that he was assigned to 45th ID. 101st Airborne Division was a training division in the U.S. during the Korean War and it did not serve in Korea (ever). Do you want to post some pictures of your grandfather in this Forum?
