Plot? What Plot?

Harry and Bertha Holt

Bob Pierce meets Harry and Bertha Holt

In 1955, Bob Pierce of World Vision had been showing a film, “Other Sheep,” depicting the horrible conditions in Korea after the end of the war. Scenes showed children in an orphanage sing “Jesus Loves me”, street children and destitute people fighting over garbage from the camps of UN troops. Koreans love a dish, BuDaeChigae, a soup made in the post war years from leftovers from mess halls of the US and UN troops.

There were mixed-raced children, despised and rejected by the proud Korean people who like other Asians did not like mixing blood of tribes or regions, let alone Foreigners. Terrible images flashed of forlorn, emaciated children, starving for love as much as for lack of food. Watching the film, Harry and Bertha Holt of Creswell, Oregon, were cut to their hearts. Harry had been a successful lumberman in South America but had returned to farming after a recent heart attack. They were overcome with the tragedies of the conflict; neither of them could forget what they saw, and it haunted them.

Sponsorship leads to Adopting

Finally, they agreed to sponsor 8 children with World Vision, later decided to adopt them into their home. Harry’s return trip in late 1955 was covered by the media across the country as a great human interest story, ‘the Oregon farmer who brought back eight War orphans from the Forgotten War’.

Soon they received calls from all over the States. My own adoptive mother heard on the radio and was one of the first to reach Bertha Holt inquiring how to adopt two children, a boy and a girl from Korea. So many calls came in that Harry decided to go back to Korea and begin his life’s work. (There were many objections to Cross-Cultural marriage and the idea of Cross-Cultural adoption back then, and it continues to be controversial from the adoptees’ point of view, which I will address later).

Dr. Bob Pierce, founder of World Vision, and Mrs. Han of Child Placement Service quasi-government agency handling Overseas Adoptions (later they became private owned SWS- Social Welfare Society) helped Harry Holt get set up until their first place was built. Harry Holt had just returned to establish Holt Adoption Services. That was when our birth mother brought us to the World Vision Reception Center in March, 1956.

A young Korean mother cautiously brought her four-year old son and one year old daughter through the streets of downtown Seoul. The young woman knew that because her children’s father had been a ‘foreign devil’, that they would always be cursed and rejected by her people. She dyed their light brown hair with black shoe polish to hide them better but their faces still looked strange and noticeable. (Korean people called her children “TuiGi/튀기” a slang word that meant-“evil spirit” or “child of the devil”. A nicer term is  HonHyolAh (혼혈아) but it still has racist meaning ’half-breed or mixed-blood’).

Several thousand ‘mixed-blooded’ children were scattered throughout Korea living on the streets near military bases. Some were by-products of desperate Korean women servicing foreign troops as ‘camp followers’, entertainers who sang, danced, or provided sexual gratification. It was the only way, the best way, to earn a living. The troops had cash, food, and PX privileges, in exchange for services and entertainment. Laundry women, houseboys, bar owners, shop owners, prostitutes, thieves stealing anything and everything from the bases, all supported extended networks of Korean society.

It has always been the same in times of war throughout history. The children born of these various liaisons were a rainbow of ethnicities representing the 22 United Nations Command troops. ‘War Babies’, ‘G.I. Babies’, they were the outcasts of Korean society, and ‘dust of the streets’ (“The Unforgotten War: Dust of the Streets” by Thomas Park Clement).

I, the Korean War Baby, was this boy, a half-breed bastard who was despised and it is still that way today in South Korea. I want to make this clear, every week that I have lived in the land of my mothers people, I face being considered a damn foreign devil. When Koreans learn I am HALF-KOREAN the reactions are surprise, unbelief, shock, and always a few students never return. TO HELL with THEM.

I don't weep and moan, "Oh, dear it's because I am a half-breed bastard, woe is me". BY GOD, I am a proud Marine, I love the United States of America more than Korea. I AM AMERICAN in my heart and soul. Yet, I am also of my mother's people, accepted by many, rejected by some. I LIVED when many half-blood children were killed on the streets by my mother's people.

How did I live? Because people like Harry and Bertha Holt, and their daughter Molly. I cannot tell you how almost impossible it was for me last Saturday to watch this Goddamn Gang of 33 gleefully smirking and nodding to each other, using European Abstention rules at the very first vote to Not re-elect Molly Holt. Secretary General Kim-Wenger then presided with a TIED vote to add the abstentions to the Nays. THIS was done by raising hands with six of seven 'guests' not members sitting among us, until they were asked to stand on the sidelines. The Gang of 33 constantly voted with 22 Abstentions, votes that under Robert's Rules of Order would be NOT COUNTED. Has GOA'L gone over to the European ONLY part of the GLOBAL?

At the very beginning I was informed that cheap pieces of paper would be used to tally the vote for Secretary General OH, AND A 4TH  mystery candidate was being put forth. I shall name her: Julie Jong Koch, on facebook, she has been so experienced in living here in Korea. For 3 years...what? Oh, excuse me...for 3 months. THREE MONTHS.

THIS WAS PART OF THE SHAME, UH, SHAM THAT WAS PERPETRATED ON ALL GOA'L MEMBERS past and present. The Gang of 33, voters whose agenda is the Politicization of GOA'L into Anti-Adoption (Both domestic and foreign mind you) put forth a twenty-something fresh off the plane as candidate for Secretary General.

DOES THIS NOT SOUND LIKE A SHAM/FAKE ELECTION TO YOU?

Though several of us protested the procedures, we were laughed at and sniggers and talking continued through the interviews of Courtney, Julie Koch, and I. Julie was well coached, even using the "Neutrality of Goa'l" but had no clues on questions. KIM SU Rasmussen even asked her "don't you think Goa'l should become more political".

But by use of European Abstention rules no candidate, even Julie Jong Koch was to have  a majority of members present. You see by abstaining the election is frozen.

Thus, according to the former SG (Jan) Daewon Kim (Wenger), co-founder of "Dongari_Switzerland" Adoptee group in 1994 with Pastor Kim Do Hyun of KoRoot, it is now the VICE Secretary General Mee Joo  who now goes by K M J who will be "acting Interim Secretary General". Mee Joo hails from Hawaii and has been doing a great job as Vice SG, the KWB has complete faith in her abilities. BUT then, the new Board of Directors will decide who will run the NOW Anti-Adoption GOA'L. 

IS the Korean War Baby ALONE on the Wall? No, there are many who stand with him but our numbers are few. Many were just too busy, to come and raise their hands. TOO LATE.

THE KOREAN WAR BABY ISSUES THIS CLARION

CALL TO ARMS!!

"Ye have not gone up into the gaps, neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the battle in the day of the LORD."  (Eze 13:5)

TIME TO FIX BAYONETS (Allegorical ones)

 

Scottish Highlanders advance with Fixed Bayonets

 

Lew Millet

Corporal Lew Millet leads his men in Korean War in bayonet charge. Won the Medal of Honor.

"Charge of Bayonets"

Face to Face-"The instant in time where the two lines come into contact with each other with fixed bayonets.  At this point, all parties have no doubt already fired their weapons, so their rifles and pistols are not loaded. It is the instant in time when men begin driving their bayonets into each other at close range.  Perhaps the most horrific and terrifying instant that could possibly ever exist in time."

WHO WILL STAND WITH THE KOREAN WAR BABY??!!!

Who will stand with the few adoptees living here who have the will and time to get involved? Where are you my fellow adoptees who don't despise your adoption?

AMI  will you stand for this robbery of your hard work in founding GOA'L?

What of you thousands of Adoptees who have visited GOA'L over the years? What say YOU?

 CALL TO ASSEMBLY!! 

 PASS ON THE WORD, BACKLINK TO ME, STAND TO AND PREPARE FOR ACTION.

Susan C. told me recently "Don, you are so intense and come on strong". I replied, "Susan, I am a damn US Marine, we only Know Intense and Strong. You don't defeat your enemies by being kind, Marines don't sit in trenches, we charge the beach or assault the fort. WE ATTACK."

Will I charge alone or will some of you join me?

Get out the word, "GET OFF YOUR ASSES! Marines" and pass it around to every Korean and other adoptee in any country. The Korean War Baby will keep up a constant sniper attack (No I don't mean a real rifle stupid) on the leaders of the Gang of 33 conspirators and challenge them to explain their motives or innocence.

To ALL who were adopted into loving homes, who do not despise our Adoptive families, the great majority of us who are in the middle seeking balance in This Thing of Ours-Adoption. Though we had some things to deal with Identity issues many have found their Center and well just dealt with it. 

GIVE ME YOUR MESSAGES OF SUPPORT! Facebook will probably cut off the KWB, so send me your name and a short message. Take time out of playing your farm games to stand up for Fairness and Equality.

koreanwarbaby@gmail.com

I will announce soon email addresses where you can send your comments directly. First order is to get out the word. Contact every Adoption group you know, every adoptee you know with KWB links. COME AND STAND, GET READY FOR ATTACK.