Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1945-11-08
Yank Rescue Team
Cursed and Wined
By Japs in Korea
Allied Mercy Crew Has an
Odd Experience at
Air Field.

ueQ mercy crew WtllCH ldnueu al
Keijo, Korea, in the midst of $4,000
Japanese soldiers was alternately
cursed, threatened. wined and en-
tertained before it took off again
with 500 gallons of Japanese. gaso-
line. a member of the party said
recently.
The mission of % Americans and
Koreans landed at Keijo on a Sat-
urday. The Japanese refused to al
low them 10 see Allied prisoners Of
war but. rather than intern them,
gave them the 500 gallons of gaso-
line to return.
Owl Correspondent Henry r.
Lieberman, who accompanied the
team. related the story.
The team was led by 1t Col.
Willis H. Bird of Landsdowne. Pa.
AS the transport settled down on the
japanese air strip. high ranking
japanese officers. including one
identified as 1t. Gen. Yoshio Kot-
suki. commander of the enemy
forces in Korea, approached. He re-
fused the request of the Americans
to see Allied prisoners and also re-
fused to give the names and nation
alities of the prisoners.
Drinks, SOngs-and Guns.
The mercy team and the crew
of the plane put up for the night be-
cause the Japanese commandant
was unable to get enough gasoline
for the CAT to leave Immediately.
The Japanese meantime brought
up two tanks and set up trench NOR
tars around the plane. A 81 milli-
meter cannon covered the party.
During the night the Japanese en-
tertained the americans with beer,
sake and Japanese songs.
Flight officer Edward MCGEE of
Durant, Okla. commenting on the
scene said: 'If someone had told me
two weeks ago I'd be in a setup
like this l would have turned him
over to the loco ward"
Although the members Of the
team were armed with revolvers.
tommy-guns and hand .grenades just
in case of trouble. Capt. Patrick
Teel of New York City. who was
with the first Ranger. battalion at
Anzio, said: eth take just Eve
minutes to make us all dead ducks"
The flight to Korea from Sian en-
tailed journey of almost 1000
miles over Japanese occupied terri
tory.
AS the plane got within 500 miles
of Keijo the radio operator, 1t.
Meredith L. Price of Charleston, w.
Va. attempted to establish contact
with the Japanese.
1--WE are expecting you and we
guarantee you safe conduct" the
Japanese said.
When the plane landed, Maj. Gen.
Junjiro Ihara, chief of staff for the
Japanese forces in Korea, asked
Col Bird his mission.
Just Looking Around.
The American officer replied that
he was in Korea ''as the initial pre-
Allied occupation representative to
bring whatever help is needed by
Allied prisoners of war and to make
preliminary arrangements for flu
ture evacuation in accordance with
the terms of the peace negoti-
ations."
Then you're not here to negotiate
a surrender" Ihara asked.
mo, our mission is purely
humanitarian" Bird replied.
Ihara said that the prisoners were
well and we're being cared for. but
that the party could not see them.
During supper that night the jap
anese we're quite convivial. After.
singing Japanese songs. one asked.
What is the American air force
song?"
Led by Capt. John Wagner Of the
air transport command, from
Grand Island. Neb., the Americans
let loose with the chorus of of we
go into the wild blue yonder.
The Japanese beamed and beat
time on the table with their fingers.
After the Americans finished. the
Japanese sang their air force song.
THE Fighting Wing"
The next day the atmosphere be-
came tense again. When Bird asked
a Japanese officer to sign a note
saying the mission had arrived but
was refused permission to act, the
major swore and made singing ref
erences to inferior persons"
Shortly .afterward the guard
around the plane was increased.
The gasoline finally was poured
into the big ship and the Americans
and Koreans took of on the return
fight.