Neighbors in arms: Korean War combat sailors meet on Honor Flight

Posted by Pat Kinney on Monday, October 1, 2018

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Edward Johnson and Bill Rector were both shot at -- very close to the same time, and place, on separate ships during the Korean War.

But they passed each other like ships in the night until Sept. 25.

That’s when they traveled about 1,000 miles to meet – though they live about 15 miles apart and were on the same plane.

Johnson, of Waterloo, and Rector, of Denver met for the first time met at the Korean War Memorial in Washington. D.C. They were two of more than 90 veterans of Korea, Vietnam and the intervening Cold War years who made a one-day Honor Flight from the Waterloo Regional Airport to tour military memorials and other monuments in the nation’s capital.

Johnson, retired from Viking Pump in Cedar Falls, served on the destroyer USS John G. Bole. Rector served on the heavy cruiser USS Los Angeles. Both are 88 years old and were the oldest veterans on this particular Honor Flight.

Unbeknownst to both, they both saw action at Wonsan Harbor in North Korea at about the same time, as their ships exchanged fire with Chinese and North Korean communist shore batteries. Both were part of crews on their respective ships’ 3 inch, 50 calibre deck guns.? They shelled the harbor shore and provided cover for U.S.  and United Nations aircraft as part of larger task forces and battleships such as the USS Iowa.

Enemy shore batteries did strike the Los Angeles above Rector's gun battery, injuring several sailors. In comparison, Johnson said, “We were fortunate” although the enemy shells hit close enough to splash waves upon the deck of his ship.

“That was bad business,” Johnson said.

On Sept. 25 however, the only water rushing near them was fountain of the Korean War memorial. They were introduced to each other for a first-ever conversation by the Grout Museum District staff. ?“They told me you knew something about Wonsan!” Johnson said to Rector as they shook hands.

“Did you ever hear about ‘The Glamor Girl of the Pacific?' That was us! Hah! Hah! Hah!” Rector joked, referring to his ship’s namesake city, where Hollywood is located. 

“I heard about Waterloo,” Rector kidded Johnson. “Have you ever heard of Denver?”?“I heard something about some place up north,” Johnson jabbed back.

Rector told of the hit on his ship and injuries to members of his gun crew, and their rescue of two downed U.S. airmen from pursuing Communist troops. The Los Angeles laid down covering fire until a helicopter retrieved them.

“They were so happy, them guys kissed the deck,” Rector said. “That was one of the times you really felt like you were lucky to be alive.”

“We never did get hit,” Johnson said. “We were fortunate.”

They, and their ships, each were part of the longest naval blockade in history. The U.S.-led UN forces blockaded Wonsan for more than two years, precluding it from being used as a staging area for a communist offensive against UN and South Korean troops while negotiators secured an armistice.

Both sailors, however, said their ships kept patrolling the harbor even after the armistice.

When Rector noted he was a gun crew chief, Johnson said. “I was shoving the ammo. Somebody had to get it up there for you to shoot!.”

“I was the one who told them when to shoot!” Rector said.

They both laughed.

“It’s great being here,” Rector said of the trip, and meeting with Johnson

“It’s great to meet a fella from way back in those days,” Johnson said.

Both men noted many if not most of their shipmates have passed on.? Military veterans from Black Hawk, Bremer, Buchanan, Grundy and the northern half of Tama counties who served from World War II through Korea and the Vietnam wars or the Cold War in between are eligible for an Honor Flight locally. More than 1,400 local veterans have made the flights locally since they began flying out of Waterloo in 2011.

Applications may be picked up at any of the Waterloo, Cedar Falls and Waverly Hy-Vee Stores or by going to the organization's website, www.cedarvalleyhonorflights.org, or the Cedar Valley Honor Flight's Facebook page. Donations are being accepted to continue the flights. Questions may be directed to Craig White at whitedog67@q.com or co-organizer Frank Magsamen at fmagsbhc@hotmail.com.

The Grout Museum District invites all Iowa military veterans to tell their stories to the District and have the video recorded. Veterans will receive a DVD of the recording for their families. Contact Historian Bob Neymeyer or Korean War Content Development Specialist Pat Kinney at (319) 234-6357.

Photo caption: Edward Johnson (left) of Waterloo shakes hands with Bill Rector of Denver as they meet for the first time at the Korean War Memorial in Washington D.C. Both men served in combat on separate ships in Wonsan Harbor, North Korea, during the Korean War. They both traveled to Washington on a Cedar Valley Honor Flight from the Waterloo Regional Airport. Also pictured is Bill Rector’s son Charles.