Don Huskey
Don Huskey in front of a sign for the C Company Mess.
Don Huskey in the PX he ran on base in Korea.
Carolyn Scott of De Soto submitted the story of her parents, Lilly Huskey of De Soto and the late Don Huskey. Don served with the Army during the Korean War. Lilly Huskey shared these memories with her daughter.
Donald Huskey went to work at Pittsburg Plate Glass Industries soon after he graduated from high school in the spring of 1949. He had bought himself a 1950 Ford and was a very happy boy. The Korean War was raging, and he feared he might be called into the Army. He joined the National Guard, hoping that would keep him closer to home. In spite of it all, Uncle Sam called in January 1952.
Don went to Camp Breckenridge, Ky., for basic training. The first six weeks he was not permitted to come home, but after that, he came home every chance he got.
There were several boys from the De Soto area who were at Camp Breckenridge with him. He would fill his Ford with four or five other guys, and they would head
home. His weekend would pass all too quickly. He usually got home well after dark on Friday night and had to be back at camp on Sunday evening.
In June 1952, his basic training was over. He was transferred to Fort Hood, Texas. We were engaged and decided to be married on June 7 during his furlough.
After our wedding, we went on a short honeymoon to Kentucky. We spent one entire day touring Mammoth Cave. Before long it was time for him to report to Fort Hood to the Army. It was our plan for me to follow and live in Texas with him off the base.
Fran Blaha and Peggy Hogenmiller were wives of boys who were also at Fort Hood.
Their husbands had been in basic training in Kentucky with Don.
Fran and Richard Blaha were married the same day as we were. Fran and Peggy planned to go to Texas to be with their husbands. One hot August morning we each packed our basic needs, loaded the car and headed to Texas. Don, Syl Hogenmiller and Richard Blaha were all glad to see us when we arrived.
Don had already found a place for us to live. It was not a very beautiful place, but it worked.
Each month we continued to look for housing that was nicer, and at the end of each month, we would move to another house.
We finally found a small house that needed some repair. The landlady said we could fix it up and she would cover the cost for repairs. Don was as happy as could be doing this.
One night while in Fort Hood, Don did not come home from camp at the regular time.
The hours kept dragging on and it grew dark. Hour after hour passed and no Don. I was worried and did not know what to do. Morning finally came and I still heard nothing.
The next night, when it was time for him to come home, he walked through the door. I was so excited to see him.
Don explained his platoon officer got mad at them at quitting time. They had to pack all their gear and march 20 miles. Their packs were heavy and their feet ached. When they had marched 20 miles they went to bed on a pile of rocks.
The next morning, they had to march back and then finish their normal work. Don was exhausted when he finally walked through our front door. In 1952 there were no cell phones, but I suppose they could not have used them if they were available.
In February 1953, Don got his call to go to Korea. It was very painful, but he had to go.
I went back to Missouri.
Don was sent to Washington state to board the USS General R.L. Howze to Korea.
While in Korea, he became a clerk typist and ran a PX store. He sold cigarettes and items to the soldiers. He soon became a mail clerk and every day carried mail to the front lines. At times, he said, he could hear bullets whizz over their bunkers all night.
Every morning Don packed the mail in his bag, ready to deliver. He would flag down the first Jeep that came along and ride up to the front lines.
One morning, he was on the front lines before daylight. Unable to see clearly in the dark, the night guard saw him walking toward him but did not know if Don was friend or enemy.
The guard said, “Halt, who goes there?”
Don heard the click of a bullet being loaded into the gun’s chamber and his mind imagined the gun pointing directly at him in the darkness.
Don halted!
The guard’s action shook Don up so much, he said he stuttered and could hardly think of his own name. Following this incident, Don was careful not to go to the front lines before daylight.
Don was promoted to corporal while in Korea. The war was over in the late fall or winter and he came home in January 1954.
Don and Lilly Huskey were finally together to begin their life and family. They were blessed with five children, 13 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. Don passed away in the fall of 1992.
