The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

WARTIME POLITICAL STORY

I HEARD THIS STORY FROM A VETERAN OF WWII IN 1947. THE
ONLY DIFFERENCE WAS IN THE NAMES OF THE POLITICAL FIGURES.
MY BROTHER-IN-LAW, THE INFORMANT, WAS A VETERAN OF THE
KOREAN WAR AND TOLD ME THIS STORY.
HE WAS TALKING ABOUT A MEDAL HE HAD RECEIVED AND EXPLAINED
HOW HE CAME TO BE DECORATED. IT SEEMS HE BECAME SEPARATED
FROM HIS PLATOON IN KOREA. BEING BEHIND ENEMY LINES, HE
DECIDED TO HIDE IN A DITCH UNTIL IT WAS DARK. HE NOTICED
A NORTH KOREAN IN A DITCH ACROSS THE ROAD, BUT HE DIDN'T
HAVE A GOOD SHOT AT HIM. HE SHOUTED, "THE HELL WITH CHO
EN LAI!" THE KOREAN SHOUTED BACK, "TO HELL WITH HARRY
TRUMAN!" WHEREUPON THEY BOTH GOT OUT OF HIDING, WALKED
TO THE CENTER OF THE ROAD AND SHOOK HANDS. WHILE THEY
WERE STANDING THERE, THEY WERE BOTH RUN OVER BY A TANK.
RETURNING TO HIS PLATOON ALL DISHEVELED AND BLOODY,
THEY INSISTED ON DECORATING HIM AS A HERO.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 00-00-1947