Evening star., 1953-05-09
|ReturMdroW
Listed 'Missiinq'
Due 10 Mixup
Family United at
Hospital as Waters
Went Home in Cob

Corpl. John L. Waters, jr.,
came home here yesterday from
a Red Korea prison camp and
only a few hours later was listed
as missing.
But the mixup was straight
ened out, and the weary CT
turned up safe last night at
home. 33 Galveston street S.W.
The confusion started at Wal
ter Reed Hospital, where his
wife and 4-year -old son were
waiting to rejoin him after his
physical checkup.
The corporal, once they were
together again, at home, ex-
planned that he though they'd
left the hospital. so he took a
taxi home.
Mrs. Waters and the little
boy, Sammy, hadn't gone home,
though. They were still waiting
for him at the hospital.
Once the wounded soldiers
disappearance was discovered,
the Army rushed his wife and
son to their home. Mrs. Waters
and Sammy arrived there before
he did.
Misses TV Appearance.
His fadeout stirred an uproar
at the WTOP-TV studio, too. He
was expected to appear there for
a z pm. show. At pm. he was
heading home. he explained
later.
But I didn't miss the show
deliberately" he said.
He said he would take on in
terviewers today but begged off
last night because I'm too
tired" He logged so air hours
on the flight from Japan, and
he's still not fully recovered from
the illness that peeled him down
from 220 pounds to 80 pounds
NAA LAB AA1o OdHU1Vt6ys
The Communists took him
captive in November, 1850. They
found him 81 hours after burp
gun slugs tore into his stomach,
groin and leg.
Wasted by Dysentery.
For 20 months he had no med
1cal treatment, but clung grimly
to life while dysentery wasted
him.
Yesterday, however, the prison
camp was thousands of miles
from Andrews Field, and his
wife, Eloise, and son were there
with him.
Little Sammy saw him first.
Tense with excitement, Sammy
wiggled through the crowd and
flung himself upon his dad.
The father scooped the young
ster into his arms. Then Mrs.
Waters got through the crowd
to him and clung to him. Once
the first 10 or 90 or so rounds
OF kisses were over, Corpl. Wat
ters surrendered to newspaper
men waiting to question him.
Some one asked him whether
he was getting furlough.
The 37-year-old corporal,
career soldier with IA years in
the service, said: "They don't
promise you anything in the
Army but your enlistment"
He said he suggested to mis-
commanders that he went with
cut medical treatment so long
he thought he could get along
without it little longer.
Wary Of Reds Guiles.
How about Red "brain-wasi,-
ing" of GI'S? He said he couldn't
remember even one Ameri-
can who fell for it.
The Communists also tried
plying his prison group with vast
patches of vodka, wine and beef.
he said. The Reds were trying
to get them drunk and convince
them their captors were fine fell
lows.
That didn't work either, he
said.
While waiting at Walter Reed
for the doctors, Corpl. Waters
gave Sammy some coins.
Later the lad announced he
was going to buy candy and
cookies with his haul.
MY daddy doesn't like cook
les" he said. but he likes candy
III give him some candy"
But, it didn't work out that |
way.
The child found a stamp
vending machine in the hospital
lobby. Candy and cookies were
forgotten. Instead he went on
a stamp buying spree.
His mother discovered the
heavy investment in stamps
too late.
"Oh. Sammy" she said. "You
don't need those stamps. We
won't have to write any letters
now"
A