Local veteran restores Korean-era Army jeep

Ralph Pokorny/Herald Charles Foreman waves to the crowd from his 1953 jeep during the 2005 Bushwhacker Days parade in Nevada, in June.

By Bethany Beierl

Special to the Herald

"It was my duty and I wanted to do my duty," said Charles Foreman, a retired Army Corporal. "I didn't want to make a career out of it," he added, saying that he was too independent to take orders all his life. Foreman was drafted in November 1952, when he was only 20 years old, to serve in the Korean War. Foreman arrived in Korea in July of 1953, after six months of basic training and preparations. Twenty-three days later, a cease-fire was reached on July 27.

Foreman served as a Chaplin's aid and driver in the 68th AAA Gun Battalion. He drove Chaplin Jack Randles to five services each Sunday, one for each battery. He also served on guard duty and typed letters for Randles.

"The saddest thing I ever saw," said Foreman, "was when we got some new replacements." They came in on Christmas Eve, 1953, he continued, and one of soldiers got an extra pass and took a replacement out for a night on the town. At one point, they started drinking some Korean whiskey.

"Now, Korean whiskey is so strong it can blind or even kill someone who isn't used to it," Foreman explained. The next day, members of the Military Police found the replacement lying in the gutter, dead. According to Foreman, Randles said that it was the worst letter he ever had to write.

Foreman was sent home in November of 1954 after 16 months in Vietnam.

"The first step back on American soil was like no other feeling," he said. He served six more years of Reserve Duty until his honorable discharge on December 10, 1960. Foreman is thankful that he never made it to the frontlines, but not because he was worried that he might die. It bothered him that he would watch his buddies and the people near him get killed if he did go to the front. "There's nothing pretty about war," Foreman said.

Foreman received the Korean Service Medal and ribbon with one bronze star, the Korean War Service Medal and ribbon from the Republic of Korea, the Good Conduct Medal and ribbon, the National Defense Medal and ribbon, the United Nations Medal and ribbon, and the Rifleman Medal for his services in Korea.

Foreman has purchased a jeep of the same make and model as the one he drove in Korea. He has restored it to look exactly like his former jeep. He now drives it in parades.