SIXTH INFANTRY DIVISION
Ft. Ord, California
12 Dec 1950
SUBJECT: AWOL Status of EM
TO: 1st Lt Vincent J. McLean
Company "K', 63d Infantry Regiment
Fort Ord, California
1. AWOL entry of Pvt Gerald S. Adams, RA 18267598, of your unit, on the Morning Report, dtd 29 October 1950, will be corrected to read: Erroneous Entry.
2. After investigation the following facts have been brought forth and my decision of leniency are based upon them.
a. Pvt Adams on 29 October 1950 left his unit without proper authority to attach himself to a military unit in the Far East after repeated efforts to volunteer through channels. By secreting himself on a plane transporting blood to Japan, and by troop transport from there to Pusan, Korea, and hitch-hiking rides he arrived at the front lines on or about 3 November 1950.
b. On 5 November 1950 his presence with Company A, 17th Infantry Regiment became known, but was not questioned because the unit at that time was actively engaged with the enemy.
c. From 5 November 1950 to 16 November 1950 Pvt Adams did show outstanding ability and initiative bringing credit to himself and his unit.
d. Pvt Adams distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against the enemy near Soju-ri, Korea. When his unit was attacked by a large enemy force during the night of 16 November 1950, Pvt Adams, although slightly wounded and suffering from concussion of nearby bursts of mortar rounds, remained in his position and inflicted heavy casualties until his automatic rifle was knocked out by hostile fire. The enemy closed to within 20 yards, but he cooly held them off with his pistol until another automatic rifle could be brought up. A second attempt was made to overrun his position, but Pvt Adams, heedless of intense hostile fire, accounted for 26 enemy dead before this weapon also was knocked out. The courage, tenacity and devotion to duty demonstrated by Pvt Adams reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the esteemed tradition of the United States Army. For this action Pvt Adams was recommended by
Captain McKellop, Commanding Officer of Company K, 17th Infantry Regiment, for the Silver Star. This was concurred with by the 7th Infantry Division Headquarters and then forwarded to me upon finding that Pvt Adams was AWOL during that time. No further action will be taken considering the decision made.
e, On 17 November 1950, after detention at the 17th Infantry Field Aid Station, Pvt Adams surrendered himself to the Commanding Officer as absent without leave from your unit. He was immediately transported by ambulance and hospital plane to Camp Stoneman, California where the Military Police returned him to this command to be held under guard at the Fort Ord Hospital. He completely recovered and was returned to your unit on 2 December 1950.
3. Pvt Adams will not be prosecuted, nor will he receive any benefits or acknowledgments of this unauthorized duty. No entry will be made in his service records. A copy of this letter will be placed in the 201 file of EM concerned but will be destroyed upon his departure from this post. A copy of this letter will be given to KM for his information and permanent possession.
BY COMMAND OF MAJOR GENERAL FREDERICK:
Kenneth G. Wickham, Lt Col, GSC, Chief of Staff.
Gerald later graduated from college and became a CPA. He then worked for the U.S. State Department in many areas of the world, possibly as a CIA agent. (Contributed by Loretta (Adams) and Bill Kelldorf - Tyler, Texas)
Ft. Ord, California
12 Dec 1950
SUBJECT: AWOL Status of EM
TO: 1st Lt Vincent J. McLean
Company "K', 63d Infantry Regiment
Fort Ord, California
1. AWOL entry of Pvt Gerald S. Adams, RA 18267598, of your unit, on the Morning Report, dtd 29 October 1950, will be corrected to read: Erroneous Entry.
2. After investigation the following facts have been brought forth and my decision of leniency are based upon them.
a. Pvt Adams on 29 October 1950 left his unit without proper authority to attach himself to a military unit in the Far East after repeated efforts to volunteer through channels. By secreting himself on a plane transporting blood to Japan, and by troop transport from there to Pusan, Korea, and hitch-hiking rides he arrived at the front lines on or about 3 November 1950.
b. On 5 November 1950 his presence with Company A, 17th Infantry Regiment became known, but was not questioned because the unit at that time was actively engaged with the enemy.
c. From 5 November 1950 to 16 November 1950 Pvt Adams did show outstanding ability and initiative bringing credit to himself and his unit.
d. Pvt Adams distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against the enemy near Soju-ri, Korea. When his unit was attacked by a large enemy force during the night of 16 November 1950, Pvt Adams, although slightly wounded and suffering from concussion of nearby bursts of mortar rounds, remained in his position and inflicted heavy casualties until his automatic rifle was knocked out by hostile fire. The enemy closed to within 20 yards, but he cooly held them off with his pistol until another automatic rifle could be brought up. A second attempt was made to overrun his position, but Pvt Adams, heedless of intense hostile fire, accounted for 26 enemy dead before this weapon also was knocked out. The courage, tenacity and devotion to duty demonstrated by Pvt Adams reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the esteemed tradition of the United States Army. For this action Pvt Adams was recommended by
Captain McKellop, Commanding Officer of Company K, 17th Infantry Regiment, for the Silver Star. This was concurred with by the 7th Infantry Division Headquarters and then forwarded to me upon finding that Pvt Adams was AWOL during that time. No further action will be taken considering the decision made.
e, On 17 November 1950, after detention at the 17th Infantry Field Aid Station, Pvt Adams surrendered himself to the Commanding Officer as absent without leave from your unit. He was immediately transported by ambulance and hospital plane to Camp Stoneman, California where the Military Police returned him to this command to be held under guard at the Fort Ord Hospital. He completely recovered and was returned to your unit on 2 December 1950.
3. Pvt Adams will not be prosecuted, nor will he receive any benefits or acknowledgments of this unauthorized duty. No entry will be made in his service records. A copy of this letter will be placed in the 201 file of EM concerned but will be destroyed upon his departure from this post. A copy of this letter will be given to KM for his information and permanent possession.
BY COMMAND OF MAJOR GENERAL FREDERICK:
Kenneth G. Wickham, Lt Col, GSC, Chief of Staff.
Gerald later graduated from college and became a CPA. He then worked for the U.S. State Department in many areas of the world, possibly as a CIA agent. (Contributed by Loretta (Adams) and Bill Kelldorf - Tyler, Texas)
SIXTH INFANTRY DIVISION
Ft. Ord, California
12 Dec 1950
SUBJECT: AWOL Status of EM
TO: 1st Lt Vincent J. McLean
Company "K', 63d Infantry Regiment
Fort Ord, California
1. AWOL entry of Pvt Gerald S. Adams, RA 18267598, of your unit, on the Morning Report, dtd 29 October 1950, will be corrected to read: Erroneous Entry.
2. After investigation the following facts have been brought forth and my decision of leniency are based upon them.
a. Pvt Adams on 29 October 1950 left his unit without proper authority to attach himself to a military unit in the Far East after repeated efforts to volunteer through channels. By secreting himself on a plane transporting blood to Japan, and by troop transport from there to Pusan, Korea, and hitch-hiking rides he arrived at the front lines on or about 3 November 1950.
b. On 5 November 1950 his presence with Company A, 17th Infantry Regiment became known, but was not questioned because the unit at that time was actively engaged with the enemy.
c. From 5 November 1950 to 16 November 1950 Pvt Adams did show outstanding ability and initiative bringing credit to himself and his unit.
d. Pvt Adams distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against the enemy near Soju-ri, Korea. When his unit was attacked by a large enemy force during the night of 16 November 1950, Pvt Adams, although slightly wounded and suffering from concussion of nearby bursts of mortar rounds, remained in his position and inflicted heavy casualties until his automatic rifle was knocked out by hostile fire. The enemy closed to within 20 yards, but he cooly held them off with his pistol until another automatic rifle could be brought up. A second attempt was made to overrun his position, but Pvt Adams, heedless of intense hostile fire, accounted for 26 enemy dead before this weapon also was knocked out. The courage, tenacity and devotion to duty demonstrated by Pvt Adams reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the esteemed tradition of the United States Army. For this action Pvt Adams was recommended by
Captain McKellop, Commanding Officer of Company K, 17th Infantry Regiment, for the Silver Star. This was concurred with by the 7th Infantry Division Headquarters and then forwarded to me upon finding that Pvt Adams was AWOL during that time. No further action will be taken considering the decision made.
e, On 17 November 1950, after detention at the 17th Infantry Field Aid Station, Pvt Adams surrendered himself to the Commanding Officer as absent without leave from your unit. He was immediately transported by ambulance and hospital plane to Camp Stoneman, California where the Military Police returned him to this command to be held under guard at the Fort Ord Hospital. He completely recovered and was returned to your unit on 2 December 1950.
3. Pvt Adams will not be prosecuted, nor will he receive any benefits or acknowledgments of this unauthorized duty. No entry will be made in his service records. A copy of this letter will be placed in the 201 file of EM concerned but will be destroyed upon his departure from this post. A copy of this letter will be given to KM for his information and permanent possession.
BY COMMAND OF MAJOR GENERAL FREDERICK:
Kenneth G. Wickham, Lt Col, GSC, Chief of Staff.
Gerald later graduated from college and became a CPA. He then worked for the U.S. State Department in many areas of the world, possibly as a CIA agent. (Contributed by Loretta (Adams) and Bill Kelldorf - Tyler, Texas)
Ft. Ord, California
12 Dec 1950
SUBJECT: AWOL Status of EM
TO: 1st Lt Vincent J. McLean
Company "K', 63d Infantry Regiment
Fort Ord, California
1. AWOL entry of Pvt Gerald S. Adams, RA 18267598, of your unit, on the Morning Report, dtd 29 October 1950, will be corrected to read: Erroneous Entry.
2. After investigation the following facts have been brought forth and my decision of leniency are based upon them.
a. Pvt Adams on 29 October 1950 left his unit without proper authority to attach himself to a military unit in the Far East after repeated efforts to volunteer through channels. By secreting himself on a plane transporting blood to Japan, and by troop transport from there to Pusan, Korea, and hitch-hiking rides he arrived at the front lines on or about 3 November 1950.
b. On 5 November 1950 his presence with Company A, 17th Infantry Regiment became known, but was not questioned because the unit at that time was actively engaged with the enemy.
c. From 5 November 1950 to 16 November 1950 Pvt Adams did show outstanding ability and initiative bringing credit to himself and his unit.
d. Pvt Adams distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against the enemy near Soju-ri, Korea. When his unit was attacked by a large enemy force during the night of 16 November 1950, Pvt Adams, although slightly wounded and suffering from concussion of nearby bursts of mortar rounds, remained in his position and inflicted heavy casualties until his automatic rifle was knocked out by hostile fire. The enemy closed to within 20 yards, but he cooly held them off with his pistol until another automatic rifle could be brought up. A second attempt was made to overrun his position, but Pvt Adams, heedless of intense hostile fire, accounted for 26 enemy dead before this weapon also was knocked out. The courage, tenacity and devotion to duty demonstrated by Pvt Adams reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the esteemed tradition of the United States Army. For this action Pvt Adams was recommended by
Captain McKellop, Commanding Officer of Company K, 17th Infantry Regiment, for the Silver Star. This was concurred with by the 7th Infantry Division Headquarters and then forwarded to me upon finding that Pvt Adams was AWOL during that time. No further action will be taken considering the decision made.
e, On 17 November 1950, after detention at the 17th Infantry Field Aid Station, Pvt Adams surrendered himself to the Commanding Officer as absent without leave from your unit. He was immediately transported by ambulance and hospital plane to Camp Stoneman, California where the Military Police returned him to this command to be held under guard at the Fort Ord Hospital. He completely recovered and was returned to your unit on 2 December 1950.
3. Pvt Adams will not be prosecuted, nor will he receive any benefits or acknowledgments of this unauthorized duty. No entry will be made in his service records. A copy of this letter will be placed in the 201 file of EM concerned but will be destroyed upon his departure from this post. A copy of this letter will be given to KM for his information and permanent possession.
BY COMMAND OF MAJOR GENERAL FREDERICK:
Kenneth G. Wickham, Lt Col, GSC, Chief of Staff.
Gerald later graduated from college and became a CPA. He then worked for the U.S. State Department in many areas of the world, possibly as a CIA agent. (Contributed by Loretta (Adams) and Bill Kelldorf - Tyler, Texas)
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