Korean War Veteran Chuck Class-- Part 2: The Turkey Dinner

Fortunately, he was never wounded during the conflict.

As an engineer, he usually wasn't near the front lines, except when his unit would give the infantry a night off and take their places along the front lines.

Both North Koreans and Chinese wore the same uniform.  U.S. and South Korea forces also wore the same uniform. About the closest he ever came to seeing the enemy was seeing them on a distant hill. "They were shooting at us and we were shooting at them."

In 2000, he and his wife went to Washington, D.C. and visited the Korean War Memorial.

His unit had their own cooks so they didn't have to eat the c rations.  They bought their own food and ate well.  He remembers one Thanksgiving where they had the complete turkey dinner, but had a glob of ice cream melting into it.

--Cooter

World War I's Lt. David M. Prince-- Part 3: His Uniform and Helmet

The Wayne County Museum has David Prince's helmet worn by him in World War I.  The type of helmet was designed in 1917.  German troops called these helmets"salatschussel" meaning salad bowl, which they did resemble.

The logo on it is hand painted with three "Xs," standing for the 30th Division.  If the logo is rotated by turning the helmet, you can read "OH", standing for "Old Hickory," Lt. Prince's division's nickname.

There is also a military coat worn by him during his service along the Mexican border near El Paso, Texas, for six months beginning July 1916.  You can still see the outline of his sergeant's stripes on the sleeves.

--Cooter

Michigan's Role in World War I-- Part 1

From the Dec. 24, 2013, Michigan Observer & Eccentric "Grassroots efforts focus on Michigan's role in World War I" by Sue Mason.

What with this year's 100th anniversary of the start of the War to End All Wars (and upcoming 2017 anniversary of the United Staes' entry into it), I'll be writing about it here in this blog. I'm hoping not to begin an eighth blog in 2017.

Dennis Skupinski of Ann Arbor is looking to get people to help him observe the 100th anniversary of World War I in 2014. He is especially interested in the U.S. entrance and Michigan's role. The Michigan Historical Society likes the idea, but is waiting for the governor's approval.

His interest in the war stems back to the 1960s when he was 14 when his uncle was cleaning out his late father-in-law's house so he could rent it and was getting rid of some stuff. Skupinski got the stuff, including a book "The History of the 116th Regiment of Engineers (Railway)" about Detroit's only all volunteer regiment of World War I, printed in 1939. He also received a soldier's tunic, helmet, gas mask and other items.

World War I. --Cooter