POWERGRAMS

Witness to History Were it not for the popular book, movie and television show "M*A*S*H," many Americans would know little about the Korean War. More than 2 million people died during "the Forgotten War" between South and North Korea that involved Chinese, Russian and United Nations forces led by the United States from 1950 to 1953. Nearly 37,000 Americans died in Korea, marking the fifth- worst loss of lives in U.S. war history. Billy Royster never saw anyone like Cpl. Max Klinger wearing a dress along the front lines. He is, however, intimately familiar with many aspects of the "realistic" television show that made Jamie Farr a star. Royster vividly remembers the brutal cold, the tent-city military outposts, the rocket explosions, the wounded soldiers and the helicopters. More than 60 years after he watched the signing of the treaty that brought a still-shaky truce between the Democratic and Communist Koreas, the Ashland native feels fortunate to have gotten out alive after serving for 17 months during the war. "The biggest thing I tell myself, 'I think you're a lucky 86-year- old kid,'" he said. "A lot of people didn't make it back, and if they did, a lot of them weren't in good shape. I thank the Lord for getting back safely." Royster was a newlywed working for Alabama Power when he was drafted on Feb. 8, 1952. He joined the Army, went through basic training in Missouri, spent eight weeks in Virginia learning to repair electric motors and generators, returned to Birmingham for 10 days and on Aug. 1, 1952 arrived at Chunchon, Korea. After six months with the 538th Field Maintenance Engineers, he joined the 8th Combat Support Company at Munson, just outside the famous line dividing the north and south, where the battle raged back and forth throughout the war. About 600 U.S. soldiers in the area lived and worked out of tents as temperatures often reached 40 below zero. "It got really cold in the wintertime. You woke up in the morning and your breath had formed an icicle to the canvas over your head," he said. "It's a dry cold that kind of slips up on you, and first thing you know you've got frostbite, though I never got it. When it snows there, it snows every day for months." Royster had a frequent ringside view of the peace talks in Panmunjom, where his duties included maintenance of the facility's two electric generators. The talks were held about 5 miles north of the 38th parallel, and while North Korean soldiers carried their loaded, bayonet-locked rifles, Americans had to surrender their weapons before reaching Panmunjom. "I saw all of our negotiators as they would arrive, and watched the North Korean and Chinese officials drive up every day in an old Chrysler and a '49 Ford," Royster said. "If the lights blinked inside, the Communists would get up and leave. They were just looking for an excuse to walk out, so I had to make sure the generators didn't quit working." Royster was flown in a glass-bubble helicopter to the yacht of a U.S. negotiator anchored in the Yellow Sea. He spent two nights repairing the generator, while enjoying fresh eggs and milk – rather than the powdered variety – for the first and only time during his deployment. On July 27, 1953, U.S. Gen. Mark Clark signed the Korean Armistice Agreement and Royster was there to snap a photo. Five months later, Royster spent his second straight Christmas away from home before shipping out of Korea. Royster took off a few days to recuperate in Birmingham, then was back at work for Alabama Power. He retired in 1988 as assistant manager of Claims Litigation after nearly 40 years with the company. Royster and his wife, Barbara, have been married 66 years. Six years ago they moved from Jacksonville, Fla., to Daphne, where they enjoy living near Mobile Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. "I know our country has some problems, some big problems, but it's still the greatest country in the world," Royster said. "I just feel blessed to be an American. Would I go to Korea again? I wouldn't want to, but I would." By Chuck Chandler SALUTING VETERANS 3 RETIREE INTERRUPTED CAREER TO SERVE ALONG FRONT LINES AT PANMUNJOM Royster, at top, took photos of historic peace treaty signing, other scenes from North and South Korea. Photos by Dan Anderson

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