Giving their all in Korea

Fifty-two years ago, Newport Harbor High athletes found themselves

being shifted to the war stage against the communist nation of North

Korea.

World War II had ended in early September of 1945 and the world

looked forward to peace. Unfortunately, the peace would only last

about five years.

Although World War II would produce losses in the millions across

the globe, Korea would initially be projected as a small war. While

Harbor High’s losses would be slight, the U.S. would eventually tally

up more than 50,000 losses out of the war which ended in the summer

of 1953.

Many military personnel were called back from World War II,

including Ed Stephens, the running guard for legendary fullback

Harold Sheflin in 1941.

Stephens, the ’42 student body president, was wounded as a gunnery

officer aboard a destroyer off Okinawa in World War II. He earned the

Purple Heart.

Upon his return to duty, he chose to serve on a submarine and

became a captain.

Stephens eventually became a dean of communications at the

University of Syracuse and later retired as an honored professor.

Another outstanding gridder, fullback Bob Berry of the ‘47-49

varsity, entered the Army as an infantryman.

Friends of Berry, ’46 guard Edwin (Doc) Hanson and ’48 halfback

Dave Pridham were concerned in the Korean back lines when they

learned Berry’s unit had been ordered to the front lines.

The late Pridham once said, “I was really concerned. I feared his

life was in danger.” He was right.

Berry was later wounded in battle, but survived. He earned a

Purple Heart.

One ’49 halfback, the late Jack Bell, drew wide praise and honors

for his role in Korea.

Bell, an All-CIF diver in ‘50, was simply a private in the

infantry initially, but, in time was recognized for numerous historic

acts and became a sergeant first class with a battlefield commission.

He was also nominated for the Silver Star for valor.

The late John Kingston, a ‘48-49 guard, served on the front lines

with the Marine Corps.

Later asked if that was shaky duty, Kingston exclaimed, “You bet!

It was scary.”

Keith Burch, a ‘48-49 center, encountered a nerve-rattling scene

once with the Navy. He had requested a brief leave in California.

His commander granted the request, but only if he would join

another armed sailor in flying a “maniac” back stateside for

imprisonment.

It was unnerving, Burch said, because the orders called for his

delivery to Tennessee.

However, Burch was blessed at the last hour when a San Francisco

officer took charge of the situation and he was relieved of further

responsibility.

Burch laughed, then said, “Finally, I was released and was free to

go.”

Boyd (Boggie) Horrell, Tar of the Year in ‘48, and one who helped

lead Harbor High to its only baseball title in history in ‘48, became

an infantry sergeant in Korea.

However, he entertained one highlight before he left Fort Ord for

combat duty.

His ’48 grid teammate, the late Paul Robertson, had mentioned him

to his brother, Zeller, a captain at Fort Ord, who took the time to

entertain Horrell one night at a nice restaurant in Monterey.

“That was very special,” Horrell said.

Zeller Robertson had played football on the 1940 Newport Harbor

team with Bill and Harold Sheflin.

On the amusing side of life, ’49 tackle Ted Trompeter was a

corporal in the Army when he bumped into an old teammate, the late

Bill Wittman, who had become a lieutenant.

Trompeter and his soldier buddies were asked to treat Wittman and

two other officers to a nice trip around a harbor in an Army

motorboat.

Trompeter had fun drawing Wittman’s attention by saying things

like, “Well, Lt. Wittman, do you enjoy this part of the country?”

Wittman knew he was putting him on and smiled.

An early episode came for Lt. Jules Dion, once a school sports

editor and his pal, the late Dick Herms.

They played significant roles for one of the first national guard

outfits to travel to Korea. That was the 40th National Guard,

infantry division, from California.