Frank Haggerty: Bridge of no return

By Marilyn Lucas, Honor Flight Chicago Veteran Interview Volunteer

The DMZ — demilitarized zone — on both sides of the 38th Parallel ceasefire line was created at the end of the Korean War by pulling back the respective forces 1.2 miles along each side of the line. It extends 150 miles across the peninsula. Located within the DMZ is the “Truce Village” of Panmunjom. The “Truce Village” was the site of peace discussions during the Korean War.  Frank Haggerty’s tour of duty in the Army during the Vietnam War was spent in this village as a member of the military police. As a member of the military police Frank’s purpose was to stop hostile military actions between North and South Korea along with maintaining peace. 

Frank, Chicago born and bred, graduated from Quincy College located in Illinois. After graduation, in an effort to avoid the draft, Frank joined the Army in June 1968. A college graduate was automatically eligible for OCS. Frank, not wanting to spend an extra three years in the military, opted out of OCS. He was sent to Fort Dix located in Burlington County, New Jersey for basic training. While at Fort Dix, Frank went through AIT. Advanced Individual Training was simply training instructions mastering the service member’s assigned military career field. Having a degree in physical education certainly made Frank a prime candidate for the military police. One third of Frank’s graduating class was sent to Vietnam, one third to  Germany, and one third to  Korea. Frank headed to Korea where our military presence’s sole purpose was to intimidate the North Koreans and protect the DMZ. He was assigned to the Joint Security Area.

A major event occurred while Frank was stationed at the DMZ. It was the return of the Pueblo crew. In the photograph below you can see the prisoners crossing the bridge to South Korea and freedom. Frank addressed the solemnity of the 82 crew members crossing. He said the silence was deafening as they crossed the bridge. One of the GIs played the song “The Sounds of Silence” over the loudspeaker during the crossing. The buses waited to transfer the crew who had been imprisoned for 364 days by the North Koreans. For a brief moment, the DMZ became the news of the day, over Vietnam.

The KATUSA program (Korean Augmentation to the United States Army) served as a military partnership between the United States and South Korea. Frank commented on how helpful the South Korean units were for providing support for local customs and language and increasing the size of their American military presence.  The DMZ is still manned by the US military. Frank mentioned the focus during his tour of duty was primarily on Vietnam, with people not realizing the importance of our presence at the 38th Parallel. He feels very strongly about the United States’ continued presence at the DMZ to maintain South Korea’s autonomy. The exact number of US-South Korean troops deployed in the area surrounding the DMZ is not publicly disclosed. However, it is known that a significant number of troops are stationed there, along with South Korea and U.S. military personnel guarding the Joint Security Area 

While it was called the “Bridge Of No Return”, that certainly was not the case for SPC 4 Frank Haggerty. Frank returned to the United States and settled back into Chicago. He married his college sweetheart Marilyn (a lovely name I might add). Frank and Marilyn have been married for 54 years. They have three adult children and nine grandchildren. Frank went on to teach physical education at a high school in Chicago for 34 years. He also was the baseball and basketball coach. He later became the assistant principal.

Frank is especially excited about his trip to Washington DC as he and his buddy, Walther Gorak, will be making this trip together. He is anxious to see the Korean Memorial. Frank has remained in contact with various members of the Joint Security Area through reunions at the 20–30–40 year anniversaries held throughout the country. A true patriot! 

Frank, thank you for your years of service to our country. Enjoy your day of honor as you experience Washington D.C…..and We look forward to WELCOMING YOU HOME!