The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1953-04-20
Some Of Nation 5
Heroes Weep
Silently As
Freedom Returns
d. RoBERT TucKMAN

hundred disabled Allied war pris-
oners, some weeping silently, came
down Freedom Road today in an
historic exchange for 500 glum
Communist sick aid wounded of
the Korean War.
The trade, first clear break in
long-deadI0cked truce talks, could
be the prelude to an armistice
in the 34-month-old war. The talks,
suspended last October, resume
Saturday.
The blue-cIad Allied prisoners In
Guided so Americans, II British,
50 South Koreans, 4 Turks and
each from Canada, South Africa,
Greece and the Philippines.
Another 100 return tomorrow
IS Americans, u British, 3 Turks
and 50 South Koreans, the Reds
said today. In all, COS Allied sick
and wounded are being traded for
$500 Reds.
Those crossing today appeared
TO be in fair health and well fed.
None mentioned unusually harsh
treatment in the North Korean
prison camps, where some had
been since 1850, the first year d
the war. But one officer said treat
ment was ''unbelievabIy poor be.
fore the truce negotiations began,
then picked up materially.
Four came back on stretchers;
others walked or hObhled on crut-
ches.
It was q solemn, dramatic scene
as the sun burst through cloudec
skies In inidmorning.
The returning prisoners grinnet
or wept or remained stolid, each
man to his own feelings.
| Sounds OF battle from 4 nearby
fight echoed over this ancient vii
lage.
Many said the Reds tried to wiz
them to communism, but there
was no outward indication Of sue
cess.
\ One prisoner said ssthey showed
us photos" on germ warfare. Ret
charges that the U. N. forces uset
germ warfare have been vigorous
| " denied by the United Nation
Command iand Washington.
Some believed IT," added an
other.
Cpl. Kenyon Wagner Of Detroit
Mich, d tuberculosis patient, sail
Allied soldiers were exposed Il
Communist literature and stud,
was encouraged"
Asked If any had turned Com
munist. Wagner replied: = coalI
not say"
Wagner said be was given 'thl
whole works. In medical tfeatmen
including modern drugs He sail
one Of the Red doctors was trainel
in Detroit.
Pfc. Almond L. Nolan Of Rex
vile. N. r., . captive since DE
cember, 1850, said:
Treatment up there wasn't tol
bad ...T believe we got the bes
they could do although the frs
winter was pretty rough"
Some prisoners said they hat
seen Russians in North Korea, blu
others said they had seen none.
I'VE saw plenty Of girls" sail
another.
From Panmunjom, the prisoner
were rushed BY hclicopter and am
bulance to Munsan's freedom
Village" for medical care and in
terviews. Then on TO a hospital d
Seoul.
Some were expected to leavl
Tuesday for Japan on the next lei
Of i trip back to the United States
Mondays exchange started JUS
before 9 am. and the 100 Allie
soldiers were across the line by /
am.
The Allied men came down iron
their North Korean prison camp
ID trucks, Russian Jeeps and am
balances. The Reds were movel
up from South Korea By train :
Mungan and then here ID ambu
lances.
H First American across the lin
was Pvt. Carl w. Kirchenhausel
Of New York City.
Rear Adm. John c. Daniel.
UN. truce delegate, met the n
turnees.
As the men checked out Of th
recepsion sant. they boarded he'll
ropters and amhulances for Free
dom Village.
Each was given Z package Q
cigarettes and 4 latter from Gen
Mark Clark. TN. commander. d
they stepped over the hne.
L Some we're bearded: some wer
clean shaver. Al looked elder thai
their years.
Ore had 1 bottle cf Chinese bee
Ii his hip pocket. Another had
bctsse e wine.
/ All wore new. blue Chinese mi
forms, peaked caps and hlacl
lennis shoes she Communists cav
them At Kaesong. six miles up q
road.
Il III c0ntras1, some Chinese WI
went back had sosied and tor
fhair new unifnrmx given fhvra y