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Bluebag Media
Speaker faced
depression during his service
ARCANUM – “I’m not retired,” said Army PFC Harvey Hinshaw, guest
speaker at the Arcanum-Butler Schools Veterans Day assembly Nov. 11.
“While I was in South Korea I received an early discharge,” he went on.
“It was after an attempted suicide.” He added he has recovered, thanks
to support and counseling.
It was following a particular incident which, “thanks to Pres. Gerald
Ford, did not escalate into a war between North Korea and the United
States.” He later provided more details on the incident…
“A squad of men with three officers went to trim a tree,” Hinshaw said.
It was blocking a view of a bridge. A North Korean unit watched them
for a while, then told them to stop. The U.S. officer ignored the
command. They were told to stop a second time.
“When they didn’t they (the North Koreans) took axes and bludgeoned
them to death.” Hinshaw paused. “The U.S. servicemen all had 45’s
strapped to their hip… but no clips.” Hinshaw said there was an
agreement only so many armed men; it operated under the assumption if
ammunition was needed it could be obtained at a depot seven miles away.
“I was deeply depressed; several things came together at once.” He
noted he was about to be sent into a similar zone where he would not be
allowed to be armed… “That’s when I took the pills. I was there (South
Korea) less than 18 months when the army decided it would be best to
release me on a Chapter 5 discharge.” Chapter 5 is medical; an
honorable discharge. “Once they decided to do it they got everything
handled – all paperwork done – and I was gone in five days...
Read the rest of the article with photos at Bluebag Media
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