Dear Gentle Readers,
I hope you will appreciate
this beautiful story from
America's past.
America's past.
"House Calls"
A painting by
Mary H. Kimmel
An American solider
from North Carolina
serving on the front lines in the
Korean War wrote to Dr. Moore's son:
"Dear old college mate Pete,
(began the letter to my son)
It's a long hike
from Chapel Hill to Korea,
but, buddy, I'm here just the same.
There is a bit
of a lull in the shooting,
for the moment,
but these lulls
are often ominous.
It is bitter cold here
and difficult to combat.
of a lull in the shooting,
for the moment,
but these lulls
are often ominous.
It is bitter cold here
and difficult to combat.
We do not have
the necessary military complements
for this bloody mess out here,
where one's breath
literally freezes in midair.
the necessary military complements
for this bloody mess out here,
where one's breath
literally freezes in midair.
If it were not for
the emotional plunge
into a business of survival,
this loneliness would become
almost unbearable.
the emotional plunge
into a business of survival,
this loneliness would become
almost unbearable.
Pete, my pal,
please do me a favor, won't you?
I want you to send to me
the biggest Confederate flag
you can get.
please do me a favor, won't you?
I want you to send to me
the biggest Confederate flag
you can get.
Send it over to me
as soon as possible.
The Chinks are
almost in "spittin' distance" of us,
and they don't mind
taking pot shots at us
even when we are doing
no more than writing a letter
to an old school chum.
as soon as possible.
The Chinks are
almost in "spittin' distance" of us,
and they don't mind
taking pot shots at us
even when we are doing
no more than writing a letter
to an old school chum.
I guess you wonder,
in the midst
of all this serious war business,
just what in the world I intend to do
with a Confederate flag.
in the midst
of all this serious war business,
just what in the world I intend to do
with a Confederate flag.
I am going to let it fly
right in the face
of those yellow boys
the minute it arrives.
Do your best for me, Pete,
won't you?"
right in the face
of those yellow boys
the minute it arrives.
Do your best for me, Pete,
won't you?"
At risk of being trite one could say that you can
take a fellow out of college
but you can't take college out of a fellow.
but you can't take college out of a fellow.
No sooner had Pete received this letter appeal
from his old University of North Carolina school chum
than he came to me for help.
from his old University of North Carolina school chum
than he came to me for help.
"How can we get a Confederate flag
for this boy, Dad?"
for this boy, Dad?"
Yes, really how could we?
Here we were right
in the heart of Yankee land,
wishing for a rebel flag.
But after all, the boy wants it
and get it we will-somehow.
in the heart of Yankee land,
wishing for a rebel flag.
But after all, the boy wants it
and get it we will-somehow.
A letter was dispatched in the next mail
to one of the largest flag-manufacturing plants
in the world not too distant
from our home in Doylestown, Pennsylvania.
from our home in Doylestown, Pennsylvania.
In less than forty-eight hours came a reply.
There were no Confederate flags in stock.
But that was not to be the final word.
No sir, not from this generous, thoughtful,
kind-hearted, flag manufacturer.
But that was not to be the final word.
No sir, not from this generous, thoughtful,
kind-hearted, flag manufacturer.
Here is his letter:
Dear Dr. Moore,
"I am truly sorry
that we do not have
a Confederate flag in stock,
but I am having one made up
specially for this lad in Korea.
Dear Dr. Moore,
"I am truly sorry
that we do not have
a Confederate flag in stock,
but I am having one made up
specially for this lad in Korea.
It could be my son, you know.
I will have made
one of the biggest flags
for immediate shipment
to this soldier boy.
We are going to pay
for half of the cost
of manufacture and will ship it
directly to Korea at our expense."
What a wonderful letter-
a real American, this flag manufacturer.
What a thrill!
And now the flag would soon be on its way
and into the hands of the youngster
who had suddenly grown to be a man,
and was accepting the dire
responsibilities of a man.
responsibilities of a man.
But, at heart, beneath the grim
and solemn face,
and solemn face,
there was someone's "little boy"
far from home and lonely.
the conflict in Korea (1950-53) has often been referred to as
"America's Forgotten War"
It was not long before we received word
from the Korean soldier
that the flag had arrived,
unharmed, and now it flew
from a provisional masthead.
The chilling breeze of Arctic air
unfurled this beautiful flag
directly in front of the enemy lines.
The Americans have a new flag.
Now what flag is it?
Of course any real southerner
could spot the stars and bars any time, anywhere,
-but not those Mongolians who were bent on killing men.
Life to them was cheap, so why not?
But this flag?
Out went the reconnaissance planes of the enemy.
It took little time to report to headquarters that,
"the Americans have a new and unknown ally".
Their intelligence department came up
with that much, but little more.
And indeed they did have an ally
-thousands of sons from Dixieland-
who were happy to see their much loved flag
fly right along with the Stars and Stripes.
The ghosts of Lee, and Jackson, and old Jeb Stuart
-thousands of sons from Dixieland-
who were happy to see their much loved flag
fly right along with the Stars and Stripes.
The ghosts of Lee, and Jackson, and old Jeb Stuart
rode across the frozen wastes of Korea.
God bless all our American heroes
who honorably served our nation in the
past, and those who are
serving in the armed forces of
the United States of America today.
Thank you for my freedom.
"Korean Confederate Flag"
From the book, "Mustard Plasters and Printer's Ink:
A Kaleidoscope of a Country Doctor's Observations
About People, Places, and Things"
By Allen H. Moore MD
By Allen H. Moore MD
(c.1959)
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