Rescue

Strips of paper draped across a patch of ground near the South Korean town of Chunchon last week spelled out the words, "P.O.W.s--19--rescue." An Air Force observer spotted the sign and radioed an armored U.S. task unit. A short while later, three tanks rolled up to Chunchon to rescue 18 marines and a G.I. who were captured last December in fighting at Changjin Reservoir. The 19 had spent the last six months being herded from prison camp to prison camp. Except for the endless days and hours of forced marching back & forth over Korea's mountains, none of the prisoners had any complaints. "The Chinese fed and clothed us the best they could," said one. "The only thing they did to bother us was a little mental torture --holding out the lure of release."

Their captors had brought them to Chunchon only three days before. The Chinese fled when a U.S. tank patrol passed through the town. They left their prisoners a bundle of leaflets to be spread among the U.S. troops. "Those people actually believe that we're being oppressed by what they call capitalists and warmongers," said Pfc. Paul Phillips. Said Staff Sergeant Charlie Harrison, who had spent 3 1/2 years of World War II in a Japanese prison camp, "I think I know better than most how sweet free air tastes. I'm not yelling uncle, but two times as a P.O.W. are too much."

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