B Co. of the 434 ECB

Comments: Hello everyone and a heartfelt thank you to all of our veterans today.

I am writing this on behalf of my father Ronald Kirby. I knew he arrived in Korea shortly after the armistice was signed. He used to joke with me that he was 19 days out on a 21 day boat trip when it was signed. Originally he was trained as a BAR gunner, but was sent to Japan to learn Engineer stuff. And that was all he'd talk about.

I know his records were destroyed in the records center down in St. Louis, but my Uncle gave me a plaque that belonged to my father. It identified his rank, and unit. CPL Ronald Kirby, B Co., 434 ECB. He was from Chicago, and his brother was in the USAF.

If any of you knew him, I would appreciate if you contacted me. I serve in the military today, and I would like to know more about the person my father was while in the military himself.

Thank you.

Keywords: CPL Ronald Kirby, B Co.,

looking for

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Keywords: Lee Fuller, Milton Moore,John Primsz,Robin Freeman,

Want to find old friends

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Keywords: Pusan, July 52 - Aug 53

may 23, 1952

Comments: people from the 434 construction company should pause on may 23 and remember the time 55 years ago when 5 of the members of that company were kia on that date. the men were john e johnson, clark e taylor, lee g levering, robert j kishbaugh and jerome d hatfield. I took basic with robert kishbaugh with the 101 st airborne. In korea i was assigned to the 101 st signal and did not see robert till april of 52. He was kidding wondering if we were still on that hill at chorwon and said get a decent job or you will get your ass shot off. Not to long after we heard that he had been killed but no details and to this day no details. rumor was it was bypassed chinese. If anyone has any information i would greatly appreciate it. these men never had a chance to get old like the rest of us and as time goes by one does wonder what happened to them. The same is true of many of the men i knew that were kia. if anyone from the 434 rd knows anything of this disaster i would like to hear about it. thanks and take care you built some good works that we traveled on all the time.

Keywords: robert kishbaugh

434th H&S Co.

Comments: Interested in hearing from or about any of the following... Luther B Marsalis (?sp) Clyde E Paxton Cpl. Natoli or the motor pool Sgt. Hoss.

Keywords: H&S Co.

Photos from Wonju and Pusan 1952

Comments: Here are some photos I took (my first effort using a 35mm camera with f-stops and focusing) while with the 434th. A few are at Wonju, most in the Pusan area. Sorry, photo quality not so hot, and just a few "people" pictures, but for those were there at that time, might bring back a few memories: (If this doesn't show up as a link, just copy and paste) http://www.kodakgallery.com/fallonbill/434thecb

Bill "never made coporal" Bennett.

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Looking for a buddy of my dad

Comments: Please if you know of a man by the name of Daniel J. or G. Badders , that served in the 434 con Eng. between the years of 1953-1954 in korea let me hear from you

Keywords: Searching for old friend . Last saw in Korea . Last location known , Nebraska .

Thanks for all the Brave Soliders

Comments: Tommorrow is memorial day 2005. I thought I would look at my father's papers from when he was discharged from the Korean War in preparation for this day. I noticed that he recieved the Korean Servie medal with 4/bronze stars. I did find in searching the web that these stars represent 4 engagement that he was involved in. I also found this website---which is cool.

My father, Howard Wasz, past away a few years ago. He did not speak much about the war. He was not one to draw attention to himself, but knew the meaning of duty and honor.

I would like to find out about his experience in the military. It would be helpful if someone knew which 4 engagements he was in.

I wanted to share my thanks for all of you that have shared in serving and sacrificing.

God Bless America!!!

I have some pictures from my dad and he did label them with names. I will seee if I have any that are desired by someone.....there's quite a few pictures of this truck that they fixed...

Keywords: Wasz

Looking for buddies

Comments: Want to hear from anyone associated

Keywords: Dale Runyan, Lee Fuller, Robin Freeman, John Primcz

Looking for information about my dad

Comments: My father, William, "Bill", Kundinger, passed away quite a few years ago. I am trying to put together some of his history for my family to pass to their families. On a permanent pass card it has Co B 434 Const Bn Cp Schimmelpfennig. He was a Pvt. at this time. The date this was issued was 20 jan 51. The signature is a Lt Powell. He never talked about Korea, but by looking at his service record he was there with a peace keeping force too. any one with any information on what projects he worked on or what this battalion did would be much appreciated.

Keywords: Co B 434 Engr Constr Bn

Looking for buddies in 434th

Comments: I don't have a computer and want to find out info on some of my buddies that served with me from July, '51 til July '52 in Korea.

Looking to contact: Sgt. Neil S. Barks--Elva Smith

Andy Peroulis--Salatore Verckaro--Bob Wolfe

Warran Swamp--Garleton Cousins

Would appreciate hearing from any of these people who were friends of mine in the 434th B company

Please snail me at my home address.

Lester (Lefty-Dusty) Rhodes

Keywords: 434th B. Co.

The 430th Engineers also got the Presidential Unit Citation for two bridges that it built over the S

Comments: I was with the 430th from July, '51 until July '52 Did road work but biggest project was the building of 2 bridges over the Soyang river, the winter of '51 at Inje. The outfit went to Koje-Do island in May, '52 after the POW riot where tje Commander, Gen Dodd, was captured and taken prisoner by the POWs which caused us tio build smaller 500 men compounds for better control of the POWs.

Keywords: From Chunchon to Wonju to Inje to Koje-Do island

Info by Thorpe Mealing

Comments: The 434th went on active duty on Aug 19th ,1950,at Vicksburg,MS.Our Batn comander was Lt/Col Eugene P.Fortson who was The chiel of the hydraulics division at The Waterways Experiment Station in Vicksburg. We went to Camp Carson Colorado on about the 1st of Sept. WE trained,gathered supplies,and filled t6o batallion stength there. We left Camp Carson and moved by rail to Camp Stoneman,Cal shortly after Christmas 1950 In early January,we left the San Francisco area by troopship. After a sea trip pf about 17 days,we arrived at Yokohoma,Japan,the went by train to Sendai,Japan. we spent a couple of weeks in Sendai,then went to Pusan.Our Batn was a member of the 32nd group,which was commanded by Col Thomas Tandy. After arriving in Pusan the group broke up into the separate batallions and companies.Even the companies were broken up depending on what the projects were. I dont recall a single project that took our full company to accompolish.My platoon spent most of our time improving the MSR from Pusan to the 38th pararell.My platoon,s biggest job was rehabilating the Wonju railroad bridge. I left Korea in May 1952.I left on rotation and don't know when the batallion came home.

Noel Hollyfield

Keywords: I will correct misinformation supplied by Thorpe Mealing. Apparently he was describing a different batallion.

member H&S co 434 ECB 1050-52b

Comments: I joined H& S co 434 ECB in Vicksburg Miss went by train to camp carson col. we were prat of 32 eng gp col t.t.tandy comanding. 434th was comd.. by Lt Col from Vicksburg Miss.

Keywords: H&S co 1950-June 1952

Good to see the 434th activity

Comments: Wow, it's good to see all the activity for the 434th since my first message at the very bottom of the page, January '98, looking for information to which Thorpe Mealing so generously replied via personal emails and this site.

I've followed along with this site over the years and have been pleased to see the developments and also the national recognition that the Korean War veterans deserve. Here in Oregon, I visited the Oregon Korean War Memorial in Wilsonville for Memorial Day 2003 - the 50 year anniversary of the signing of the treaty. Very touching and powerful. For the first time I also felt very proud of my father's service. Prior to discovering the Korean War Project and visiting the Oregon memorial, I hadn't really known or had much understanding of what he was involved in.

Thank you to members of the 434th, all Korean War vets, and the dedicated folks here at the Korean War Project.

Keywords: Robert F. Lowe, Father, 1st Lt., Company B

Does anyone remember Sgt Raymond Hargett

Comments: Does anyone remember Raymond Hargett, Jim Lacy, Beckerman, Chipman, or Paul Oelke? Am also interested in stories about having to take beer ration at gunpoint. Dad was Sgt in charge of motorpool in 1951-1952.

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Do you remember Cpl. Les Rhodes?

Comments: Les Rhodes doesn't have a computer but hope to get in touch with some people who served with him in the 434th Engineers, B co.

Anyone who remembers Les can e-mail me, a buddy who trained with him at Ft. Lenard Wood, Mo.

I went over seas with Les and he went to the 434th and I went to the 430th Engineer Bn.

He is anxious to hear from some of his "old" buddies after some 50 years since he has seen or heard from them.

Any help in that respect would be appreciated by Les!

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Looking for friends of my dads

Comments: Hubert Nathaniel Hankins was my father that served in WWII and Korea. I am trying to search for his military information but have not had much luck. He died in 1978 in Indianapolis and I was too young to know to ask any questions at that time. I have no family members to rely on to get info and St. Louis has told me his records were destroyed in the fire of '73. I have requested them again but nothing yet. I'm trying to learn of where he served, what he did, any medals he may have rec'd and anyone that may have known him. He went by "buddy or bobby" hankins most of his life. I am extremely proud of his military service and want to share what I learn with my children about their grandfather. The indiana state archives states they have a dd214 on him and gave me a serial number. I am awaiting the dd214 for the Korean War and have not received it as of yet. They tell me I will get alot of info from that paper too. If anyone may have known him or can suggest another avenue to take to get some add'l info, I would be most appreciative. Thank you all for your kindness and help!

DiAnna L. Scruggs email diannascruggs@yahoo.com

Keywords: 32nd Engineer Company, #434 Engineer construction Battalion. Commander was Tom Tandy around 1951 in Korea. Possibly built road from Pusan to 38th Parallel.

Lookin g for info/buddies of my dad's

Comments: The Indiana State Archives has just emailed me to tell me my dad, Hubert Nathaniel Hankins (Buddy) served with the #434 Engineers Construction for the Army during the Korean War. My father passed away when I was only 11 years old and I don't have any info regarding his service in the military other than his military headstone that states he was an army ranger/sargeant during WWII and Korea and that he retired military. This little bit of info I just rec'd from the Indiana State Archives is the only info I've ran across thus far. They also said they had a DD214 on him and had this number beside his name #ER16311786. I'm not sure what this means but I am one of only two children he had and I have only 2 sisters of his that are still living and they are elderly now and can't offer me any help at all. I have a couple of photos of him standing in front of a army tent and one of him walking in a dress uniform with two other men. I don't mean to ramble but I would appreciate any help anyone may offer to help me find something about him. I am very very proud of him and want to share his life with my own children now. My email is diannascruggs@yahoo.com

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Looking for 434th ECB member 1953

Comments: Looking for members of C Company during 1953 - to mid 1954

Keywords: Pit #1 North Pusan area

What Division did the 434 Const Bn come under

Comments: I am looking for anyone who might have knew my uncle his name was Clark E. Taylor SGT with the 434 Const Bn. He was KIA on May 23, 1952 along with 5 others of the 434, they list another man Arlin Torkelson of MN as WIA the same day. This is as far as I have been able to get. I would like to know the happenings of that day, how 6 Construction Battalion members were KIA were there no infantry units with them? Anyone who might know anything about this time I would sure appreciate it. I am named after Uncle Clark, I served in Vietnam Dec 67-68. Thank You for any help. My email is clark222@cox.net

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C Company 1953

Comments: Trying to contact Tom Fikani, a PFC in C Company that was injured in a quarry accident in '53, lost his left arm and was medivaced back to the States. He was from Trinidad, NM but I have been unable to locate him there today. I had to finish amputating his arm in order to extract him from the cave-in rock rubble. Would like to know how his life has been.

Keywords: Tom Fikani, C Co., 1953

434 TH ENGINEER CONST. BATTALION

Comments: MY FATHER STEVE SZYBOWSKI PAST AWAY A FEW YEARS AGO AND I AM TRYING TO FIND ANYONE WHO MAY OF SERVED WITH HIM OR MAY OF KNEW HIM. I AM TRYING TO PUT TOGETHER A COMPLETE MILITARY OF HIS SERVICE AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT HE WAS LIKE BACK THEN AND WHAT HE EXPERIANCED. THANK YOU WALT SZYBOWSKI

Keywords: TRYING TO FIND ANYONE FROM CO A 434TH ENGINEER CONST. BATTALION 1951.

Sam Chapman

Comments: I was in Pusan 3 months ago, and met a beautiful old Korean man by the name of Mr. Joo, or "Hensheega". Mr. Joo would love to find his old buddy Sam Chapman from Long Beach - and wants to repay his kindness shown during the war.

So, if anybody knows of Sam Chapman from Long Beach, do write me at sudhirtv@uclink4.berkeley.edu

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