CHAPLAIN'S NOTES ON THE
ASA KOREA REUNION - 2004
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On October 1, at our 2004 reunion, we visited The National Korean War Veterans Memorial, in
Washington, DC As a group, ASA KOREA attendees held a MEMORIAL SERVICE and placed a
WREATH in loving memory of all GI's who died and the 8,100 still listed as MIA during that terrible
war. We also honored the memory of the seven ASAKorea members who died since our 2003
reunion in Buffalo, NY
These honored dead are:
Chester Abbey (329th & 352th), died Nov. 27, 2003; Dwain Sorenson (329th), died Jan. 6, 2004;
John Eshleman (508th), died May 19, 2004; Donald Erickson (329th & 501st), died May 31, 2004;
Francis Spindler (501st), died June 1, 2004; Richard Keighley (326th), died July 8, 2004; Douglas
Poland (330th), died July 24, 2004.
One of the the prayers I offered in their memory, is one written by William Penn:
"We give back to You O God, those whom You gave to us. You did not lose them when You gave
them to us, and we did not lose them by their return to You. Your dear Son has taught us that life is
eternal and love cannot die. So death is only a horizon and a horizon is only the limit of our sight.
Open our eyes to see more clearly, and draw us closer to You that we may know that we are nearer
to our loved ones, who are with You. You have told us told us that You are preparing a place for us:
prepare us also for that happy place, that where You are we may also be always, O Lord of life and
death.
--William Penn (1644-1718)
"No one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand." -John 10:29
We also ask you to keep in prayer those members known to us at this time who are on Sick Call:
Bill Byrnes (329th), Major Willis Carter (352nd & ASAPAC), Peter Gritis (329th & 351st), Vernon
Lloyd (304th), Jack Aldinger (329th & 351st), Robert Hutto (326th), Leon Iles (326th & 329th),
William Wilson (330th), Daniel Valletta (330th), Chapman Myers (326th & 329th).
If any are your buddies, please drop a line or card.
I ask you to keep our UNITED STATES of AMERICA in prayer; our national leaders and
especially our service men and women dedicated to DUTY, HONOR, COUNTRY.
For those brave ones who have died, we commend their eternal souls to their Creator God and pray
for their eternal peace. And, as the Lord Jesus said "Blessed are they who mourn, they shall be
comforted."
Please remember, too, in your prayers they who have been wounded in body, mind and spirit; and for
the countless innocent victims of war and unrest the world over.
With all the divisive controversy about wars and rumors of war, abortion, the debate over stem cell
research, racial unrest and crime in our streets, it can seem like all is gloom and dark. That is why it
is critically important for us Veterans and our families and, prayerfully, all mankind to see and share
the positive! In God's Word, we have the greatest message about life in the world and for the world.
There is a GOD who created us, who has redeemed us, and who is ever-present with us. When it
seems the things around us are overwhelming or that there is only one way out of a difficult
situation, we have this assurance: "MY HELP COMES FROM THE LORD, WHO MADE
HEAVEN AND EARTH." (Psalm 121)
My prayer is that you and yours have this assurance as well. May you enjoy a glorious
Thanksgiving Day with loveones, evermore praising God and giving thanks for all the wonderful He
has given you. Remember to honor on Veterans and those now serving on November 11 (the ole
Armistice day of our youth).
The Lord bless and keep you in His grace, in the name of the Father and of the Sona nd of the Holy
Spirit. Amen and Amen.
Rev. Charles Knappenerger, ASA Korea Chaplain
November, 2004