Harry Holt-Stars and Stripes articles
What ever you think of International Adoption Mr. Harry Holt and his wife Bertha had a huge impact on bringing tens of thousands of Children into Adoptive families in the USA and Europe.
After the Korean War had ended thousands of children roamed the streets of Korea, abandoned, or separated, left bereft of family by war, or poverty. Many were full blood Korean children caught up in the madness of war. Some were guilty of “Being mixed-blooded”, Tuigi, children born of the Korean women and Foreign troops from liaisons that produced WAR BABIES. They were the “Dust of the Streets”.
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I am Don Gordon Bell, known as
the
“Korean War Baby”
Logbook entry- #A-20 Received in March of 1956
JUN Yong Soo - 전 용 수 – 全容秀
Holt Adoptee #A-20
Departed Korea on May 21, 1956
arrival in Hawaii, June 11, Los Angeles on June 12, 1956
I call on all to HONOR with RESPECT
Mr. Harry Spenser Holt
Born on this day- April 6, 1905
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Harry Holt: "Opportunity knocked"
HANDS FULL - Harry S. Holt, farmer and sawmill operator, has his hands full trying to line up 12 Korean orphans for Stars and Stripes portrait in Seoul. The father of six children, Holt will adopt eight himself and (.?...) the four others to the States for adoption by other families. At left is Kathleen Cowan, a nurse who is accompanying him on the trip. A special act of Congress was passed to permit entry of the orphans who all have American fathers.
(S&S Photo by SP2 Charles P. Taylor)
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Pacific Stars and Stripes, Oct. 15, 1955
FARMER HOLT, 12 ORPHANS LAND IN US
Portland, OR (INS)- Twelve little foundlings from Korea-eight of them 
adopted by Harry Holt, Creswell, Oregon farmer-arrived safely with Holt in the U.S. from the Far East in a Pan American stratocruiser, Friday.
adopted by Harry Holt, Creswell, Oregon farmer-arrived safely with Holt in the U.S. from the Far East in a Pan American stratocruiser, Friday. The "stork plane" landed at Portland International Airport at 12:37p.m. (PST) (5:37 a.m. JST). The airliner was nearly seven hours late due to technical difficulties which caused a return to Wake Island for repairs.
New Relatives
A big crowd, including anxious relatives of the babies, reporters, radio, television and cameramen eagerly waited to catch a glimpse of the widely publicized waifs as they arrived in the land of their adoption 7,000 miles out of Seoul, Korea.
After initial greetings by the Holts, they and other new parents were grouped in the airport waiting room holding their children while cameras and television men worked.
Holt, who easily qualifies as the No. 1 mass-adoption father in the U.S. was glad to turn eight of the 12 tots over to his wife and their own six children who eagerly looked over their new brothers and sisters.
Four Go to Others
The remaining four youngsters were taken by three other American families. Holt came from the plane carrying one of the children while his wife paused long enough to take some pictures before entering the plane herself. She told her husband "you look wonderful."
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Farmer with Bumper Crop of Kids Takes Off for America with 12
Pacific Stars and Stripes, Oct. 14, 1955 Tokyo (S&S)- Harry Holt flew into Tokyo International Airport Thursday night with planeload of angels in damp diapers.
The 50-year-old Oregon farmer and sawmill operator arrived from Seoul on a CAT airliner, shepherding his cargo of 12 sleepy orphans en route from unwanted loneliness to the warmth of American foster homes.
Holt is adopting eight of the mixed-blood Korean-American orphans. The other four will find homes with families in Oregon, Michigan, and Texas.
Unaware of Fame
As the air liner's door swung open, the graying, stocky Holt stepped out to blink into a glare of popping flashbulbs and newsmen's questions. He seemed unawares of the extent to which his act has fired the imagination of the world.
"Mr. Holt, this is a fantastic thing you're dong," a newsman said.
"Oh, I don't know," he drawled in a northwoods voice.
As the twelve children leaving the plane in the arms of stewards, stewardesses, pilots, mechanics and assorted well-wishers, Holt counted them softly under his breath as they filed by.
"I tried to retire a couple of years ago," he said with a grin, "but it wasn't much fun."
Interest by Film
Dr. Bob Pierce of World Vision
Last December he became interested in the plight of mixed-blood Korean orphans after seeing a lecture and film sponsored by the World Vision organization of evangelist Bob Pierce. 
So he said to his wife, "Let's see if we can raise another family."
"All right," said Mrs. Holt, "we have room for eight."
First, Holt had to have special legislation passed in Congress to allow the children to be brought to the States.
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Stars & Stripes, March 10, 1956
Farmer to Seek 500 More ROK Orphans
CRESWELL, Ore. (UP)-Harry Holt, the Creswell farmer who last year brought 12 Korean War orphans to the U.S. and adopted eight of them himself, is going back for 500 more. Holt said he hoped to get American couples to adopt the children. Working with Holt is a religious organization which maintains orphanages in Korea. It was the organization which helped Holt cut through red tape to bring the 12 children to the U.S. last year.
Holt has less than 10 months to complete his rescue operation. The Refugee Relief Act under which the orphans may enter the U.S. expires at the end of the year. Holt said he will leave for his second trip to Korea in May, "maybe sooner."
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“My Adoptive Mom, Nadine Hortense BELL, heard the story of the Holts on radio while ironing clothes. She was one of the first to call and spoke with Bertha Holt, called by THOUSANDS of Adoptees and Adoptive Families as “GrandMa Holt”.My Mom was told by Grandma that she was the first to call after the radio interview broadcast on AM radio, in 1955 just after they had landed with the 12 children, 8 of whom were adopted by Harry and Bertha Holt.”
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There is NOTHING SECRET OR PRIVATE ON FACEBOOK, MYSPACE, or PUBLIC FORUMS!! THEY ARE JUST THAT – PUBLIC, silly stupid fools. Group of 33 and Anti-Adoption Associates
Luke 12:3 “Therefore whatever you have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light. And that which you have spoken in the ear in secret rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops.”
I will spare and protect the ignorant or the innocent, BUT the suspicious AND snide remarks and mutterings of “interesting weekend” and other spurious comments SHALL BE PROCLAIMED for all to see. Friends and fellow Adoptees are watching you, “Group of 33”.
The Korean War Baby is still at WAR…but he must be Kinder, gentler, more loving…as he attacks- “What you say to each other”, nothing personal… TOO LATE already, some of your “comments on Facebook to each other” have been “Print Screened”, sent to me, and await later posting. Oh, some awful things you have so foolishly been said.
Though you have clicked “Remove from Friends” and “Hide” and cast me out, it is nothing personal to ME.
BUT you cannot escape with impunity, Your words shall come back to haunt you. FYI, your Cell phone text messages are recorded for ONE YEAR.
YOU should have listened, Group of 33, when I said this in my “Introduction sent to all (some) GOA’L members.
“Molly actually took care of my sister, she arrived after I left the country on May 21, 1956. So I will not take kindly to stupid ignorant slander against her. I will be your best friend OR your worst enemy. Be warned.”
GOD has forbidden that I resort to violence. YOU DON’T realize how close some of you have come to pushing me into the deepest MADNESS and BLACK thoughts of What I WANTED TO DO TO SOME OF YOU. But I have been chastened by my Father.
My zeal and passion is not quenched, I AM A MAN ON FIRE with a MISSION. I will live for that every moment.
WHO IS OUT THERE, WHO WILL STAND UP WITH ME?
SHOW ME YOUR HOW YOU FEEL, WHAT YOU BELIEVE,
TAKE ACTION, OR GET OUT OF THE WAY.
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Give respect to Harry Holt as a person, a simple man,
who did what he and his wife Bertha thought was
necessary. He only felt that
“Every Child deserves a Home”.
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“Every Child deserves a Home”
“Not Abortion; nor Shameful Secret adoption by non-related Koreans; nor a Foster Home; nor an Institution until adulthood then out on your own!!! THIS is unacceptable.”
Don Gordon Bell
known as the
Korean War Baby says:
“Adoption is not the best solution, an original family that stays together would be best. But life is not always fair, “stuff” happens, families divorce, children are sometimes abused by natural parents as well as adoptive families.
In This Thing of Ours-Adoption, Domestic or International, there are a complex spectrum of stories and cases of individuals, over a period of over 60 years and with every conceivable experience recorded.
Each ONE of us Should/Must TRY to listen and hear without judgment to other’s stories and not generalize. No one wants to hear “You should feel Lucky” or “I was stolen and kidnapped, so ALL of you were too”. These are extremes! There is NO ALLL in this…No, EVERY.
We who were adopted from Korea
DO HAVE A BOND OF COMMON yet UNIQUE EXPERIENCES.
There is a Plethora (love that word) of differences yet similarities.
LET US AGREE TO RESPECT EACH
OTHER AT LEAST.
If you cannot do that even…IT CONTINUES.
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Was a post-Korean war baby by GI Joe, and have never really felt at home anywhere. How's that for problems?
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