Korean War veterans give sage advice to Airmen

  • Published
  • By Orville F. Desjarlais Jr.
  • Air Force News Agency
YONGSON ARMY GARRISON, South Korea (AFPN) --  Eight Korean War fighter pilots, many now in history books, gave advice to Airmen at Yongson Army Garrison Sept. 10 during their tour of South Korea.

After laying a wreath at the South Korean National Cemetery in honor of all those who sacrificed their lives during the Korean War from 1950 to 1953, they ate lunch with the South Korean joint chief of staff, then later addressed an audience of Airmen in the post theater.

The veterans are revisiting South Korea Sept. 8 through 15 and will attend an Air Force Ball to commemorate the Air Force's 60th anniversary. They spoke to approximately 150 Airmen at an Air Force Call here and gave advice to today's warfighters.

"I was once a flight commander, and we had a pretty good record," said retired Lt. Gen. Charles G. Cleveland, an F-86 Sabre pilot during the Korean War who eventually became commander of Air University at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.

"I remember one day while I was taxiing out in my aircraft, I saw every airplane behind me spaced perfectly," he said. "All their canopies were down and I thought about what a magnificent flight we had. We were going to go north and raise hell with the enemy. At same time I saw rows and rows of airplane mechanics working on their planes. Then I looked up further and saw the headquarters building where everybody kept our records. And I saw the security police patrolling.

"I saw the whole thing and a vision came to me of what a great United States Air Force we have," the general said. "We depend on each other. We try to do our part, and I know you're doing your part, and God bless you for doing it."

Retired Maj. Gen. Carl G. Schneider was an F-80 Shooting Star pilot during the war who finished his career as the Air Force Logistics Command chief of staff at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio.

"Honesty and persistence, just two of the attributes that you really need to have," he said. "I've had to lay it on the line when I was on active duty. My career depended on telling the honest truth. My theory was if they don't like the honest truth, then kick me out and I'll do something else. Stay with being honest.

"A good example is (when) you read the newspapers and you see the problems in South Korea and in the United States and all of the people around the world trying to pull shenanigans and do something dishonest," General Schneider said. "You can't get by doing that forever. It'll eventually catch up with you and it'll kick you in the tail. I don't care what the consequences are, if it's not right, be honest about it and stay with it.

"The other is persistence," he said. "I came into the Air Force with a year of college and it took me 19 years to finish my undergraduate degree and another three years to finish a master's degree. I went to night school while working full-time. I set a goal to do it, and I said I would do it, and I just kept plugging away.

"So, be very honest in everything you do, do the very best job you can and try to be No. 1 in everything you do, whether it's flying, working in the mess hall or security police," the general said. "You can't influence everything else around you, but you can certainly influence your own personal performance and influence the people you're responsible for."

Retired Col. Buzz Aldrin was the second man to step on the surface of the moon, and is credited with having shot down two MiG-15s during the Korean War.

"Everything I was able to achieve came as a result of education," Colonel Aldrin said. "My father was a commandant of the Air Force Engineering School from 1920 to 1925, which later paid for my doctorate degree from the (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). There are all sorts of opportunities for an education and I think while you're in the service, without trying to dodge some other nasty assignment, take advance of whatever college there is on the base. It will really stand you in good stead with competition when you decide that the service is not something you're going to be with. You can stay with the service and the education will be on your record and affect your advancement in a very positive way."

Retired Col. Ralph "Hoot" Gibson is an ace who was credited with five MiG-15 kills as an F-86 pilot during the Korean War.

"When you work with people, work hard and make sure you remember their names," Colonel Gibson said. "For example, when I was a second lieutenant I had a group commander who was a full colonel. He later was re-assigned and became Army Gen. Douglas MacArthur's air adviser."

General MacArthur led the United Nations Command during the Korean War.

"He was our commander for a very short time," he said. "I flew with him several times. In 1966, while I was in the United States Air Forces in Europe as a lieutenant colonel during the Vietnam war, (the former colonel) was the vice commander of USAFE. He came back from a meeting in San Antonio, and he called me on the phone and told me I was going to war college in July. I had no idea that would happen. He remembered me when I was a second lieutenant and the work that I had done.

"I think that's the story we're all telling," Colonel Gibson said. "Work hard, be honest and remember your friends."

(NOTE: Throughout the week, expect to see more articles about the Korean War veterans' visit here on Air Force Link.)

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