Saturday, May 27, 2006

Belen soldier retraces footsteps to Korea

Jackie Schlotfeldt News-Bulletin Staff Writer; jschlotfeldt@news-bulletin.com

Belen It's been 52 years since Lawrence Chavez of Belen set foot on Korean soil but this time it was for pleasure, not business.

Chavez, who served as an engineer in the United States Army from 1952 to 1954, said he couldn't believe how modern everything had become.

"There were all these lights and freeways," Chavez said. "I couldn't believe my eyes."

What Chavez does remember, as a young man of 19, was a country that was deep in conflict, with land and structures all burned down.

"Everything was burned," he said. "And there were only dirt roads to travel on."

When Chavez finished his basic training and engineering school, he was sent to Pusan, Korea. From there, he was told they needed a bridge built in Inchon and was transferred there.

"We had 15 American engineers and 15 Korean engineers in our platoon," Chavez said. "It only took us about six months to build that bridge."

Chavez and the other soldiers pounded telephone posts into the ground from a barge with a large crane on it. The decking on the bridge consisted of 2 by 12 by 16-foot boards and although Chavez didn't get to go and see the bridge while he was visiting this time, he was told it was still there.

"The bridge we built was mainly to move equipment across part of the ocean in that area," Chavez said.

During the time the war was going on, Chavez said that the South Koreans were losing the battle until the Americans took over.

"They were really glad to see us come and help them," Chavez said.

In addition to working on the bridge, Chavez said he traveled quite a bit, building living quarters as well. "I was moved around a lot and I didn't know where I'd be from day to day," he said.

One thing he did know was that he never went anywhere without his weapon. "It was a completely different world over there," he said.

Although it took some convincing to get Chavez to return to Korea, his wife, Mary, said that, once he was there, he enjoyed it.

"At first, I didn't want to go, but now I'm glad I went," Chavez said. "In fact, I'm going back next year."

Evelyn Brower, Mary's daughter, and Lt. Colonel John Chavez, their nephew, worked very hard with the USO to put together a reunion for the veterans who served in the 50th Engineer Port Construction Co. APO 971 more than half a century ago.

Chavez was awarded an Ambassador of Rebuilding medal for his part in being in the first group there to start rebuilding after the treaty was signed.

In addition, Brower accepted an Ambassador for Peace medal for her late father Bonifacio Castillo, who served with the Co.19th Infantry REGT PO 24.

"It was very meaningful to me and the significance of what our men did over there and the effect they've had on those people's lives is amazing," Brower said. "I learned so much about the Korean War while I was visiting and I was overwhelmed by their kindness to us."

What came as a wonderful surprise for Chavez was being able to see one of his comrades, In-su yu, who served in his platoon in 1953. In fact, this man insisted they hold up on giving Chavez his medal until he could be there.

In-su yu, a Korean soldier, happened to be the manager of the hotel where the reunion was taking place.

"I only got to see him the one day because he had been on vacation," Chavez said. "It was nice and kind of emotional to see him."

During their stay, Lawrence and Mary and their family visited many historic sites.

"It's really beautiful and very clean," Mary said. "One part that was a little scary was when we toured the demilitarized military zone or DMZ where people from both sides of Korea can go to communicate in those buildings."

"You couldn't talk or even look at them (the soldiers)," Lawrence said. "There was a lot of tension there."

They also went to the Korean War Memorial Museum and Mary said they saw the wall with the names of fallen soldiers.

"There were many from New Mexico but the one we recognized from our area was Leo Charles Sanchez," Mary said. "It was exciting and very informative."

For Chavez, this trip was one that he will hold close to his heart and, next year, if everything goes according to plan, he and Mary will return to Korea for another visit.

"When I was there this time, wearing a jacket with 'Korea' on it and the year I served, the people were so wonderful and welcoming," Chavez said. "It was nice."

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