I have attended several of the monthly & annual briefings (in DC) put on by the Dept of Defense. These people are doing a great job in trying to find the missing, but in Herbie's case and many others, I have come to the realization that unless his remains have already been recovered and are waiting to be identified or the US comes to some kind of resolution with the North Koreans or they wake up and overthrow their regime, we're not going to be able to get back to N.K. to continue the searches. Hopefully someone in my family will pick up the search after I have died.
Fred & Grace started this process in Cambridge while living at 52 Boylston Street, moved to Lakeview off of Huron Ave and ended up at 42 Porter Road in Natick. I remember seeing a Purple Heart Certificate on the wall by the stairs in Natick. With the return of the 55 boxes of remains, we may hopefully, in my lifetime, have the honor of welcoming him home, It's been 65 years and is past time for him and 5000 others to come home.
Herbie first enlisted in April of 1944 & discharged Mar of 1946. He re-enlisted on 11 Sep 1947. I have copies of his dental records that show in Mar of 1950 he had some dental work done in Sapporro, Japan and at that time was assigned to "M" Co, 3/31 Infantry Regimental Combat Team,7th Inf Division, which would be his final Unit. In late 1950 he would be sent to Korea with the outbreak of the Korean Conflict. His unit was positioned on the Eastern Shore of the Chosin Reservoir in North Korea. There were two Units positioned North of him, A & B Companies, he was south of them with HQ, L & K Companies & the 57 FA (Field Artillery). There was a distance of a couple of miles between the two positions and they were NOT linked. (This was a fundamental failure of command because by not linking the positions this allowed the Chinese forces to outflank and surround them, which they eventually did.) Herbie was part of a Heavy Weapons Crew, what type of Weapon System I do not know. On the night of November 27, the Chinese came over the Yalu River and engaged. Fighting was fierce & came down to hand to hand combat. They were held off and had many casualties, Herbie's unit fought bravely but were significantly outnumbered. Eventually his Commanders decided to "Break-out". There was a distance of about 6 miles to their base camp at Hagyru-Ri to the south, from there they would further evacuate to the coast. From what I can determine Herbie's unit remained as a rear-guard, this is to fight off the Chinese so the rest of the unit could evacuate. I don't know what happened with that but Operations Reports indicate that the evacuating units were under constant enemy fire and the Chinese ran through their positions and even threw grenades into trucks filled with wounded. The survivors eventually made it to safety. On 6 December the first organized Roll Call was made & On December 12th, the second, Herbie didn't answer to either. There was some confusion as to when he was first reported missing. The 6th or the 12th and records were corrected at least twice until the 12th was the date determined for his MIA status and a letter sent to his Mom & Dad. There is no telling where or exactly when he became a casualty or whether he was taken as a POW. But it had to happen between 27 November and the time of the breakout and whether or not he was one of the wounded in a truck that was attacked by the Chinese, or if he survived the rear-guard action and was lost somewhere on that 6 mile evacuation route.
Brother of Freddy Jr, Lulu (Prentice) Paschal (my Mom), Charles Prentice & Sarah (Prentice) Mullin and son of Frederick & Grace (Grindle) Prentice. His remains have, to date, not been recovered but his name is listed in the Punch-bowl Cemetery in Honolulu as well as a Korean War Memorial in Dayton, Ohio. I never got to meet him!
I have requested copies of his OMPF (Official Military Personnel File) to find out what I can on his prior service as well as his assignments from 1947 on as well as his awards & decorations. The records that I HAVE received indicate a bullet wound in his Left Chest & Back. This would have to have happened before his stint at the Chosin and would mean that he sould already have been awarded a Purple Heart. Hopefully I will get the requested records. No matter what Herbie was a true hero
Herbie's name is also engraved of Wall 82 at the Korean War Wall of Remembrance at the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Pusan, South Korea.
On August 9, 2018, while attending the 2018 DPAA conference, I receive an "Ambassador for Peace" on behalf of of Herbie from the South Korean Government, the Citation reads:
Official Proclamation
Herbert W Prentice
It is a great honor to express the everlasting gratitude of the Republic of Korea and our people for the service you & your countrymen have performed in restoring and preserving our freedom and democracy.
We cherish in our hearts them memory of your boundless sacrifices in helping us reestablish our Free Nation.
In grateful recognition of your dedicated contributions, it is our privilege to proclaim you an "AMBASSADOR FOR PEACE" with every good wish of the people of the Republic of Korea. Let each of us reaffirm our mutual respect and friendship that may endure for generation to come."
9 August 2018
Minister Pi Woo-Jin
Patriots & Veteran's Affairs
Republic of Korea
Fred & Grace started this process in Cambridge while living at 52 Boylston Street, moved to Lakeview off of Huron Ave and ended up at 42 Porter Road in Natick. I remember seeing a Purple Heart Certificate on the wall by the stairs in Natick. With the return of the 55 boxes of remains, we may hopefully, in my lifetime, have the honor of welcoming him home, It's been 65 years and is past time for him and 5000 others to come home.
Herbie first enlisted in April of 1944 & discharged Mar of 1946. He re-enlisted on 11 Sep 1947. I have copies of his dental records that show in Mar of 1950 he had some dental work done in Sapporro, Japan and at that time was assigned to "M" Co, 3/31 Infantry Regimental Combat Team,7th Inf Division, which would be his final Unit. In late 1950 he would be sent to Korea with the outbreak of the Korean Conflict. His unit was positioned on the Eastern Shore of the Chosin Reservoir in North Korea. There were two Units positioned North of him, A & B Companies, he was south of them with HQ, L & K Companies & the 57 FA (Field Artillery). There was a distance of a couple of miles between the two positions and they were NOT linked. (This was a fundamental failure of command because by not linking the positions this allowed the Chinese forces to outflank and surround them, which they eventually did.) Herbie was part of a Heavy Weapons Crew, what type of Weapon System I do not know. On the night of November 27, the Chinese came over the Yalu River and engaged. Fighting was fierce & came down to hand to hand combat. They were held off and had many casualties, Herbie's unit fought bravely but were significantly outnumbered. Eventually his Commanders decided to "Break-out". There was a distance of about 6 miles to their base camp at Hagyru-Ri to the south, from there they would further evacuate to the coast. From what I can determine Herbie's unit remained as a rear-guard, this is to fight off the Chinese so the rest of the unit could evacuate. I don't know what happened with that but Operations Reports indicate that the evacuating units were under constant enemy fire and the Chinese ran through their positions and even threw grenades into trucks filled with wounded. The survivors eventually made it to safety. On 6 December the first organized Roll Call was made & On December 12th, the second, Herbie didn't answer to either. There was some confusion as to when he was first reported missing. The 6th or the 12th and records were corrected at least twice until the 12th was the date determined for his MIA status and a letter sent to his Mom & Dad. There is no telling where or exactly when he became a casualty or whether he was taken as a POW. But it had to happen between 27 November and the time of the breakout and whether or not he was one of the wounded in a truck that was attacked by the Chinese, or if he survived the rear-guard action and was lost somewhere on that 6 mile evacuation route.
Brother of Freddy Jr, Lulu (Prentice) Paschal (my Mom), Charles Prentice & Sarah (Prentice) Mullin and son of Frederick & Grace (Grindle) Prentice. His remains have, to date, not been recovered but his name is listed in the Punch-bowl Cemetery in Honolulu as well as a Korean War Memorial in Dayton, Ohio. I never got to meet him!
I have requested copies of his OMPF (Official Military Personnel File) to find out what I can on his prior service as well as his assignments from 1947 on as well as his awards & decorations. The records that I HAVE received indicate a bullet wound in his Left Chest & Back. This would have to have happened before his stint at the Chosin and would mean that he sould already have been awarded a Purple Heart. Hopefully I will get the requested records. No matter what Herbie was a true hero
Herbie's name is also engraved of Wall 82 at the Korean War Wall of Remembrance at the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Pusan, South Korea.
On August 9, 2018, while attending the 2018 DPAA conference, I receive an "Ambassador for Peace" on behalf of of Herbie from the South Korean Government, the Citation reads:
Official Proclamation
Herbert W Prentice
It is a great honor to express the everlasting gratitude of the Republic of Korea and our people for the service you & your countrymen have performed in restoring and preserving our freedom and democracy.
We cherish in our hearts them memory of your boundless sacrifices in helping us reestablish our Free Nation.
In grateful recognition of your dedicated contributions, it is our privilege to proclaim you an "AMBASSADOR FOR PEACE" with every good wish of the people of the Republic of Korea. Let each of us reaffirm our mutual respect and friendship that may endure for generation to come."
9 August 2018
Minister Pi Woo-Jin
Patriots & Veteran's Affairs
Republic of Korea
I have attended several of the monthly & annual briefings (in DC) put on by the Dept of Defense. These people are doing a great job in trying to find the missing, but in Herbie's case and many others, I have come to the realization that unless his remains have already been recovered and are waiting to be identified or the US comes to some kind of resolution with the North Koreans or they wake up and overthrow their regime, we're not going to be able to get back to N.K. to continue the searches. Hopefully someone in my family will pick up the search after I have died.
Fred & Grace started this process in Cambridge while living at 52 Boylston Street, moved to Lakeview off of Huron Ave and ended up at 42 Porter Road in Natick. I remember seeing a Purple Heart Certificate on the wall by the stairs in Natick. With the return of the 55 boxes of remains, we may hopefully, in my lifetime, have the honor of welcoming him home, It's been 65 years and is past time for him and 5000 others to come home.
Herbie first enlisted in April of 1944 & discharged Mar of 1946. He re-enlisted on 11 Sep 1947. I have copies of his dental records that show in Mar of 1950 he had some dental work done in Sapporro, Japan and at that time was assigned to "M" Co, 3/31 Infantry Regimental Combat Team,7th Inf Division, which would be his final Unit. In late 1950 he would be sent to Korea with the outbreak of the Korean Conflict. His unit was positioned on the Eastern Shore of the Chosin Reservoir in North Korea. There were two Units positioned North of him, A & B Companies, he was south of them with HQ, L & K Companies & the 57 FA (Field Artillery). There was a distance of a couple of miles between the two positions and they were NOT linked. (This was a fundamental failure of command because by not linking the positions this allowed the Chinese forces to outflank and surround them, which they eventually did.) Herbie was part of a Heavy Weapons Crew, what type of Weapon System I do not know. On the night of November 27, the Chinese came over the Yalu River and engaged. Fighting was fierce & came down to hand to hand combat. They were held off and had many casualties, Herbie's unit fought bravely but were significantly outnumbered. Eventually his Commanders decided to "Break-out". There was a distance of about 6 miles to their base camp at Hagyru-Ri to the south, from there they would further evacuate to the coast. From what I can determine Herbie's unit remained as a rear-guard, this is to fight off the Chinese so the rest of the unit could evacuate. I don't know what happened with that but Operations Reports indicate that the evacuating units were under constant enemy fire and the Chinese ran through their positions and even threw grenades into trucks filled with wounded. The survivors eventually made it to safety. On 6 December the first organized Roll Call was made & On December 12th, the second, Herbie didn't answer to either. There was some confusion as to when he was first reported missing. The 6th or the 12th and records were corrected at least twice until the 12th was the date determined for his MIA status and a letter sent to his Mom & Dad. There is no telling where or exactly when he became a casualty or whether he was taken as a POW. But it had to happen between 27 November and the time of the breakout and whether or not he was one of the wounded in a truck that was attacked by the Chinese, or if he survived the rear-guard action and was lost somewhere on that 6 mile evacuation route.
Brother of Freddy Jr, Lulu (Prentice) Paschal (my Mom), Charles Prentice & Sarah (Prentice) Mullin and son of Frederick & Grace (Grindle) Prentice. His remains have, to date, not been recovered but his name is listed in the Punch-bowl Cemetery in Honolulu as well as a Korean War Memorial in Dayton, Ohio. I never got to meet him!
I have requested copies of his OMPF (Official Military Personnel File) to find out what I can on his prior service as well as his assignments from 1947 on as well as his awards & decorations. The records that I HAVE received indicate a bullet wound in his Left Chest & Back. This would have to have happened before his stint at the Chosin and would mean that he sould already have been awarded a Purple Heart. Hopefully I will get the requested records. No matter what Herbie was a true hero
Herbie's name is also engraved of Wall 82 at the Korean War Wall of Remembrance at the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Pusan, South Korea.
On August 9, 2018, while attending the 2018 DPAA conference, I receive an "Ambassador for Peace" on behalf of of Herbie from the South Korean Government, the Citation reads:
Official Proclamation
Herbert W Prentice
It is a great honor to express the everlasting gratitude of the Republic of Korea and our people for the service you & your countrymen have performed in restoring and preserving our freedom and democracy.
We cherish in our hearts them memory of your boundless sacrifices in helping us reestablish our Free Nation.
In grateful recognition of your dedicated contributions, it is our privilege to proclaim you an "AMBASSADOR FOR PEACE" with every good wish of the people of the Republic of Korea. Let each of us reaffirm our mutual respect and friendship that may endure for generation to come."
9 August 2018
Minister Pi Woo-Jin
Patriots & Veteran's Affairs
Republic of Korea
Fred & Grace started this process in Cambridge while living at 52 Boylston Street, moved to Lakeview off of Huron Ave and ended up at 42 Porter Road in Natick. I remember seeing a Purple Heart Certificate on the wall by the stairs in Natick. With the return of the 55 boxes of remains, we may hopefully, in my lifetime, have the honor of welcoming him home, It's been 65 years and is past time for him and 5000 others to come home.
Herbie first enlisted in April of 1944 & discharged Mar of 1946. He re-enlisted on 11 Sep 1947. I have copies of his dental records that show in Mar of 1950 he had some dental work done in Sapporro, Japan and at that time was assigned to "M" Co, 3/31 Infantry Regimental Combat Team,7th Inf Division, which would be his final Unit. In late 1950 he would be sent to Korea with the outbreak of the Korean Conflict. His unit was positioned on the Eastern Shore of the Chosin Reservoir in North Korea. There were two Units positioned North of him, A & B Companies, he was south of them with HQ, L & K Companies & the 57 FA (Field Artillery). There was a distance of a couple of miles between the two positions and they were NOT linked. (This was a fundamental failure of command because by not linking the positions this allowed the Chinese forces to outflank and surround them, which they eventually did.) Herbie was part of a Heavy Weapons Crew, what type of Weapon System I do not know. On the night of November 27, the Chinese came over the Yalu River and engaged. Fighting was fierce & came down to hand to hand combat. They were held off and had many casualties, Herbie's unit fought bravely but were significantly outnumbered. Eventually his Commanders decided to "Break-out". There was a distance of about 6 miles to their base camp at Hagyru-Ri to the south, from there they would further evacuate to the coast. From what I can determine Herbie's unit remained as a rear-guard, this is to fight off the Chinese so the rest of the unit could evacuate. I don't know what happened with that but Operations Reports indicate that the evacuating units were under constant enemy fire and the Chinese ran through their positions and even threw grenades into trucks filled with wounded. The survivors eventually made it to safety. On 6 December the first organized Roll Call was made & On December 12th, the second, Herbie didn't answer to either. There was some confusion as to when he was first reported missing. The 6th or the 12th and records were corrected at least twice until the 12th was the date determined for his MIA status and a letter sent to his Mom & Dad. There is no telling where or exactly when he became a casualty or whether he was taken as a POW. But it had to happen between 27 November and the time of the breakout and whether or not he was one of the wounded in a truck that was attacked by the Chinese, or if he survived the rear-guard action and was lost somewhere on that 6 mile evacuation route.
Brother of Freddy Jr, Lulu (Prentice) Paschal (my Mom), Charles Prentice & Sarah (Prentice) Mullin and son of Frederick & Grace (Grindle) Prentice. His remains have, to date, not been recovered but his name is listed in the Punch-bowl Cemetery in Honolulu as well as a Korean War Memorial in Dayton, Ohio. I never got to meet him!
I have requested copies of his OMPF (Official Military Personnel File) to find out what I can on his prior service as well as his assignments from 1947 on as well as his awards & decorations. The records that I HAVE received indicate a bullet wound in his Left Chest & Back. This would have to have happened before his stint at the Chosin and would mean that he sould already have been awarded a Purple Heart. Hopefully I will get the requested records. No matter what Herbie was a true hero
Herbie's name is also engraved of Wall 82 at the Korean War Wall of Remembrance at the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Pusan, South Korea.
On August 9, 2018, while attending the 2018 DPAA conference, I receive an "Ambassador for Peace" on behalf of of Herbie from the South Korean Government, the Citation reads:
Official Proclamation
Herbert W Prentice
It is a great honor to express the everlasting gratitude of the Republic of Korea and our people for the service you & your countrymen have performed in restoring and preserving our freedom and democracy.
We cherish in our hearts them memory of your boundless sacrifices in helping us reestablish our Free Nation.
In grateful recognition of your dedicated contributions, it is our privilege to proclaim you an "AMBASSADOR FOR PEACE" with every good wish of the people of the Republic of Korea. Let each of us reaffirm our mutual respect and friendship that may endure for generation to come."
9 August 2018
Minister Pi Woo-Jin
Patriots & Veteran's Affairs
Republic of Korea
Family Members
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