The Daily Alaska empire., 1951-02-08
FORMER JUNEAU BOY SERIOUSLY
 HURT IN KOREA

Word has been received in Juneau by MT. and Mrs. Horace Adams. Sr.. that their nephew, Cpl John Norman Sjursen, III, USING was critically injured on the Korean battlefield December 2. In close combat with the enemy Siursen received a serious head in- iury from rifle fire which left him unconscious for IS days. He was taken to the U. s. and is now at Oak Knoll Naval Hospital, Oak land, Calf.
 Sjursen, 24 years of age, lived in Juneau in his earlier years with his parents, Mir. and Mrs. John Norman Sjursen, Jr., and attended the Juneau public elementary school. The family is well known here and in Ketchikan, where they also lived at one time. The Sjursens now live in Los Angeles, Calif., at e02O Will Rogers St. (45).
 In a letter to the Adams, Mrs. Siursen the former Sybil Campbell of Juneau and sister of Mrs. Adams, wrote that her son Bud" as he was called when boy here, has been undergoing surgery and neuro- therapy treatments at the Ohk Knoll Hospital. His injury has caused a paralysis of his left side, but when his mother visited him just before writing to the Adams, January 25. her letter said he could move the toes on his left foot and hope is held for his ultimate re- covery.
 When tie neuro-therapy treat ments have been completed Sjursen will be moved to the base hospital at San Diego.
 Mrs. Sjursen wrote that his family was not notified of their sons in jury until December 28. An official letter from Washington, D. C., in- formed them that because Sjursen had been unconscious for IS days they could not be given word earlier The official information did not say where their son had been taken after he was injured and finally on January l they learned he was in a Tokyo Army Hospital. They later learned that he did not get to a hospital until three days after he was wounded and by that time infection had set in.
 He regained consciousness the day before Christmas in the Tokyo Hos pital A letter was written for him to his parents by a Red Gross worker and at Hawaii enroute to Oakland, Calf. he talked with his parents by telephone.
 A bitter tale of freezing weather without proper clothing and equip ment, remaining out all night with o'-+ eleering bags or shelter, was told by the wounded Marine, whc saw his buddy shot to death by . A ...e. : oonnnunIst who then turned his rifle on Sjursen himself, only to have his trigger freeze, prevent ing him from firing a fatal shot.
 Sjursen's rifle trigger froze, too and he confronted the Chinese Communist for several minutes be- fore a fellow Marine ran the enemy through with his bayonet.
 Here is a list of medals ant citations Bud was given, but h' certainly paid dearly for them, wrote his mother to her sister ant brother-in-law. Sjursen received tn Purple Heart, American Theatre Jap Occupation, Victory Medal, Let ter of Commentator. Presidentia Unit Citation, Silver Star, Unite' Nations Star, Good Conduct Medal Naval Medal.
 Mrs Sjursen wrote that she ant MT. Sjursen had received a lette from the mayor of Los Angele written on behalf of the citizen expressing their concern and tha their prayers were with them 10 their sons recovery. Everyone ha been so kind" she wrote, and prayers help, Bud certainly has lot of those"
 Ignoring the long months ahead suffering and tedium to fight, Sur sen is already planning for the da when he can enroll at U. c. L. 4 to study advertising.
 He will be glad to hear fror his Juneau schoolmates and ol friends. His address for the presen is, Cpl. John N. Sjursen, 105934' Oak Knoll Naval Hospital, War TOR Oakland Calf