Joe England passes
Jilly sends us the sad news of the passing of Joe England last Friday at the tender age of 84. Mr England spent nearly three years as a POW during the Korean War. He doesn’t appear on the DPAA list, but I verified it with Mary who says that he was POW from Nov. 28, 1950 – Aug. 24, 1953. DPAA’s records for the Korean War are notoriously inaccurate only because of personnel accounting during the war.
England received a Purple Heart early when his tank’s 50-caliber machine gun blew up while being fired, he said during the interview.
After leaving the hospital, England was assigned to a new company.
The night he was captured by North Koreans, England said his company had five tanks located in a valley. During the attack, England said his tank was “hit” three times and finally blown up, but he escaped from vehicle.
After the war, he opened a bait and tackle shop.
The funeral is scheduled for three o’clock today in Dickson, Tennessee.
Category: We Remember
Rest old Tanker. You’ve done your time in Hell.
Twice. At Least.
RIP
Brother, thank you for your service and sacrifice.
Here is a Fort Campbell/Austin Peay 2007 interview conducted by an Austin Peay university student. It is not professionally done but it provides a great opportunity to watch and listen to this old soldier, now gone. He is a straight-talking, straight shooting man, quite comfortable with himself and sharp as a tack. (Sadly, today we have Free Cheesers who claim PTSD from what they heard. Thiis man made it through hell itself.)
http://vohp.lib.apsu.edu/cdm/singleitem/collection/vohp/id/128/rec/13
One thing I do like about technology is the ability to get these stories recorded for later generations to listen to.
Thanks for the link AC. As someone that served two tours in Korea during the 80s and have been back a couple of times as a civilian, I have always been in awe of men like Mr England. War is hell anywhere I guess, but the Korean peninsula with the mountainous terrain and hellaciously cold winters would add a whole new dimension to this hell. Rest easy Mr. England America and the Republic of Korea will not forget your service.
A Korean War vet that I know said the only thing Korea is good for is a really awful war.
Three years in that hellhole. How did he survive it?
R.I.P., Mr. England.
He was in Death Valley for months. The estimates are that 40-50% of POWs did not survive that wretched place. You are familiar with Hondo and Jonn’s postings in “No Longer Missing.” Some remains came from that hellhole. Unfortunately, there are many more.
Any idea where these guys were at when he was captured?
The battle of the Chongchon, just east of the camel’s head bend on the Kuryong river. Task Force Dolvin, LTC Wendell Dolvin in command of 89th Tank BN, as well as the Task force bearing his name.
My dad was Co of Easy Co, 27th Wolfhounds, and was part of the Task Force. My dad was KIA in the action.
Rest In Peace, Old Warrior. You’ve earned your rightful place in History and Valhalla.
Rest in Peace, Brother.
God bless and rest easy, sir.
Day is done, gone the sun………
Safely Rest now sir.