War veteran visits master sergeant selects

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Harriet Mallory
  • 23rd Force Support Squadron career advisor
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  Moody's 2008 Master Sergeant selects, who recently attended this year's Senior Noncommissioned Officer-in-Charge Enhancement Seminar Sept. 9-12, were honored and privileged to receive a visit from an Army Korean War veteran and former prisoner of war. 

Hank "Sarge" McQuinn briefed the selects and shared his experience as a Korean War veteran and former POW. 

Mr. McQuinn was born in the coal-mining town of Grundy, Va., where his father was a deputy sheriff and a tough disciplinarian. Consequently, Mr. McQuinn enlisted in the Army at age 17, as soon as his parents would give their consent. 

Although the United States was not a war, he went through Infantry, Airborne and Ranger training, and in 1949 his outfit was shipped off to Japan. On June 25, 1950, war broke out in Korea. 

Mr. McQuinn's outfit, the 187th Regimental Combat Team, was among the first to be shipped out to South Korea to fight in the Korean War, now often referred to as "The Forgotten War". Approximately 54,246 American soldiers died in that war. 

The North Korean Forces were well-armed, well-trained and had the additional benefit of Russian-made T-34 tanks. The winters were brutally cold, while the summers sweltering hot. 

In May of 1951, Mr. McQuinn was injured in battle, suffering machine gun wounds in both arms and his left leg. They took him to Japan to a Mobile Army Surgical Hospital, and when he recovered, they sent him back. 

Mr. McQuinn and his group got captured, while they were dropped behind enemy lines. They were outnumbered. He and his unit were taken prisoner and marched north. 

After two months of captivity, his camp was hit by U.S. Air Force bombers, and in the confusion Mr. McQuinn and four others escaped. He and his comrades traveled at night for six weeks surviving off anything they could find to eat. Only Mr. McQuinn and one other soldier made it back alive. 

Mr. McQuinn is currently the only soldier of the four that escaped who is still fortunate to be alive today. 

After the war, McQuinn went to work as a carpentar and eventually retired from the Carpenter's Union. But he soon returned to the work force where he can still be found putting in his 40 hours a week. Although Mr. McQuinn is understandably proud of his service to his country, he would rather now focus on the present. He said he would like to see more recognition for Veterans of the Korean War as well as improvements in veterans' benefits at Veterans Affairs Hospitals. 

A few years ago, he was instrumental in the formation of the Korean War Veterans Association in Gainesville, Fla. There are 100,000 members nationwide and in 2002 he helped form the Van Fleet Chapter of KWVA in Gainesville, becoming its first commander and serving a one-year term. 

In addition to his full-time job with All Florida Electric, the POW survivor is active in several charitable organizations. He is a 32nd degree Mason, a Shriner, a Board Director for Vetspace (a non-profit organization dedicated to helping homeless veterans and their families), a Life Member of Post #2811 of the Veterans of Foriegn Wars, as well as an Officer in Post #16 of the American Legion. 

Mr. McQuinn is also a recipient of the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantry Badge, the Airborne Wings of the 187th Regimental Combat Team, the Ranger Badge, the World War II Army of Occupation Medal for Japan, the National Defense Service Medal and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal. 

He is a man who shows no sign of slowing down, having retired on three separate occasions only to return to the work force. 

After his briefing, Mr. McQuinn presented the base career advisor, Master Sgt. Harriet Mallory with a framed and signed copy of a two-sided safe conduct pass that he has had in his possession for more than 55 years. 

Sergeant Mallory presented Mr. McQuinn with two coins--one on behalf of the Moody Top Three and the other as a memento from the 2008 Master Sergeant Select inductees.