In our nation’s 240 years, we have all been taught early in our life about the famous military conflicts in which millions have served. From the Revolutionary War to our present battles to conquer ISIS and the terroristic enemies that wish to do us serious harm, so many have served our various military branches in their attempts to keep our precious way of life.
In our own community, there are people, though not many, who still walk our sidewalks, drive on our roads, attend our churches, and carry on their lives with often unknown resumes revealing the tremendous sacrifices they gave long long ago. This ‘Great Patriots of CGS’ series shall remind us readers from our two proud communities of Clyde and Green Springs of whom some of these valued residents are but also give us a picture of their service memories.
In this first installment, we’ll remember the sacrifices of Clyde’s Herb Aldrich.
It’s rather for Herb to fly under people’s radar. In the 25 years I have known him, Herb has always been a bit quiet, but pleasant, humble, yet proud of his family, community, God, and the nation for which he served during the Korean conflict. This 1948 graduate from CHS was a stellar athlete back in the Art Hendricks’ days of fame. He cited Art as a teacher who taught him the importance of discipline, a lesson so many in Clyde can remember so well.
Soon after Herb’s high school graduation, the ‘forgotten war’ began in Korea. The United States was growing quickly concern with the aggressive push of communistic forces into Korea.
Before the communists could swallow up all of Korea and more of the region, then President Harry Truman placed American troops into another war just five years after the end of WWII. One of these was a very young draftee from a little town in Ohio, Herb Aldrich.
When he left for boot camp, six others from Clyde, and thirteen altogether, headed off for boot camp at Kentucky’s Fort Knox. There, Herb learned quickly the fundamentals of being a soldier — being in great physical and mental shape, knowing how to operate weaponry from rifles and machine guns, to hand grenades and bazookas. It was time for young Herb to face the test of his still young life.
After a boot camp stint from January through May of 1951, he was granted thirty days of family time back here in Clyde. Then, the rookie and green soldier boarded a train to Seattle. After a week in the Emerald City, Herb sailed across the Pacific until his ship reached Yokohama, Japan. One can imagine the nervous excitement our Herb had to feel then.
Three or four days later, Herb arrived by the same ship to Inchon, Korea. Leaving the ship, he and the many other fresh new soldier recruits were herded into lines which were all given numbers. Herb’s ‘number 3’ line was told they would be ‘Medics’.
It didn’t matter if one could not stand blood or knew any first aid, if you were in line number ‘3’, you were to be a medic. No whining back then. No questioning ‘Why?’.
Herb trained for a month as a 21st Infantry member in the 24th Division. He learned how to the basics like give transfusions, other shots, wrap wounds, and such.
Soon he was thrust above the infamous 38th Parallel, where the front lines of the conflict was occurring. Just imagine how Herb must have been feeling then. But, there was no turning back, no questioning.
It was time to help his fellow soldiers and also us way back in Clyde going about our own free way of life. It was time to take on the menacing threat of conquering communistic forces,even if it meant sacrificing your life.
Herb was a supervisor for six other medics. Each day, there would be patrols a few miles around the perimeter of the base camp where he was presently occupying. Each of the patrols required a medic. One day, Herb spotted one of his fellow medics looking ‘bewildered’.
“What seems to be the matter?” Herb inquired.
“I don’t really know,” the medic replied. “I feel okay, but then I …. Just don’t’ I don’t know what it is.”
Herb soon decided against command’s suggestions, to take that medics place and ride on his patrol when his time arrived. Herb rode to within earshot of several Chinese communists. Fortunately, the enemy forces did not spot him lying low and quiet perhaps 30 yards away.
Imagine what young Herb must have been feeling.
Then remember the medic who Herb bravely chose to replace when his time came. Remember, he had been feeling rather ‘out of sorts’. So much so, Herb took the boy’s place.
A couple of days later, the boy was struck by a mortar attack. It blew off his entire left arm and shoulder in killing him. Imagine Herb then. Herb had to help gather him up to be sent home.
He also escaped certain death once when a mortar from the sky fell within fifteen feet of him.
After six months in Korea, Herb and his entire division were withdrawn from combat. He was granted a 30-day leave but was then sent to a medical facility near Indianapolis.
This facility treated soldiers suffering ‘head wounds’. Today those wounds would be known primarily as post traumatic stress wounds. Herb witnessed the well chronicled ‘shock treatments’ and all.
Next time you spot Herb around town, please say, “Thanks”. He is a true American and a great hero for us all.
