John Adams High School - Clipper Yearbook (Ozone Park, NY)

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'lw his N in - I. s ' g A S i s Q Q A . . X 1 ,Q S . N ,fs ? 5 Fig X Y A Q is 3 5 0 L X A C , Nu Q :fl E b E FLASH! A mysterious glow appeared E in the distance. The early morning H snow filled the air. denying the eyes the right of perceptive vision. The low. unearthly rumble once more resound- ed, splitting the perfect peace of a De- cember morning. The sound's last echoes are heard as winter's torrential armies of glistening white once more close the distant gates from which a brilliant glow emerged in the darkness of dawn. During that instant's illumination. a number of tents were revealed to earth against the new snow-covered wood- land background. Winter had arrived quickly for some. but not half soon enough for others. To the newly indoctrinated forces of an in- famous human conflict. winter, along with its inevitable suffering. carried the hope of delay at cessation of hostilities which every day added to the list of human heartbreak and agony. How- ever, to the more seasoned participants of the conflict. winter brought memo- ries of the previous year. Last winter. they had also entertained such ideas of returning home in time for Christmas. that of a stop to the outrageous spilling of human blood at the front and human 22 tears behind the lines. Instead. they. who had survived. witnessed such things as the pen put to paper may not well describe but that the blood drained in the earth well discerns. These men knew all too well that winter in Korea brings no hope but only despair for the men destroying the ene- my in order that they instead should survive. Among the Army tents. which a dist- ant flash of an explosion had revealed through the snow, was that of P.F.C. Roger Nelson and his buddy. That ex- plosion had seemingly disturbed young Nelson in his dreams. for his buddy. although asleep, had trembled. Yet Roger slept on, subconsciously strug- gling to hold onto one of the few pleas- ant dreams which had come to him dur- ing his brief stay in Korea. Truly it was a pleasant subconscious thought that lingered in his mind. He was in Korea, but his thoughts were at home! Home. -1 a tenement building on South Second Street. Brooklyn. Home, -- his parents. brother and friends. Home - in America. enjoy- ing peace. It seemed hard to imagine that there was peace somewhere. Somewhere men were not troubled with the thought that they were for the last time seeing the light of day. Somewhere, children were happily playing in the street. and not crying over the body of a parent! -Crash!! A third explosion. not too far away, for the ground trembled, awoke Nelson! It was yet early but the sun had risen and the snow. which had stopped falling. was melting. A fateful day in Roger Nelson's life was begin- ning. The day began routinely for an American patrol in the front lines on that December morning. Nelson and his buddies went about their usual busi-

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hazy mountains in the distance formed an imaginary fence, making an island paradise for my few thoughts. These mountains were a gown of shaded pur- ple with a collar of glistening white sequins that sparkled when the sun's piercing rays touched them. The distant trees stood stately and tall as did the one in which I was sitting. Their lofty branches swayed slowly in the whis- pering breeze that seemed to be calling to them, and, as if drawn by magnets on the sun's rays, these branches did look as if they were answering the call of some hidden voice. hidden in the mysteries of the skies. My thoughts at this time were usually shattered by the buzzing of a bee mak- ing ready to perch on some sleeping victim, or the ringing bark of a tired dog calling for his master who was lazily sifting the hay in the loft of the barn. Then, as if by magic, all became still again and I returned to my enchanted paradise once more. Looking up into the sky. my main interest was the clouds: not ordinary clouds such as we know, but living clouds. They floated slowly over the velvet blue of the skies, forming different shapes as th-ey stayed on their perpetual courses. They were floating like the whitecaps on a sea. floating like snowflakes to some un- known fate and floating like pieces in a puzzle. Then suddenly everything was gone, as the crimson gold sun lost itself at the horizon, and at last the dia- mond-like stars dominated the heavens. CLAIRE SPELLER I AM a lonely windswept hill some- where in Korea. Centuries long gone by have seen me standing here, peace- ful and serene. But now my verdant plains are wet with blood that men who fought for freedom have spilled in th-eir wake of death and destruction. Still the echo of the sound of tramping feet and the bursting of shells rings clear in my hollows. The cry of the wounded soldiers still sighs through my canyons like the cry of an infant who longs for his mother's protecting arms. No longer are my fields fresh with flowers. Now they are laden with rows of white crosses which hallow my grounds. The ones who lived through the torrent of terror which swept clean my plains will never forget me. I justly deserve my name. I am Heartbreak Ridge. ROBERT MCCARTHY 21

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ness. However, this day, brought an air of expectancy about the camp. Another supporting patrol had made contact with Nelson's group and it was appar- ent that general preparation was being made for an offensive action. Roger Nelson had been one of those who be- lieved that winter weather might bring the turmoil to a halt for a time. Now he saw the folly of his hopes as he realized that, in a war, as long as man could endure, he had to fight! The following few hours were spent in deliberation, planning. issuing of orders, and preparation of weapons. Soon the time for which the command- ing officers had set for the action, was near. Roger Nelson and the others of his group plodded through a stretch of woods which led to the hill they were designated to take with the help of other patrols. All through the night and early dawn, American artillery had bombarded the general region of hills held by the enemy. As the patrol which Roger Nelson was assigned to came closer to the hill. it became apparent that a concentrated group of the enemy had contemplated their coming aid, therefore, were firing heavily at all objects that moved. So far the enemy had been unfortunate in their aim. The patrol reached the bot- tom of the hill. The men. including Nel- son. were spread out in a line, crouch- ing closely to the earth. From this vantage point Nelson could plainly see the group which kept firing, and whose bullets struck irregular paths through the air, not finding targets! It then be- came apparent to the sergeant in charge, that that group firing at them was the only major obstacle to the sum- mit of the hill. The signal was given to charge!! Nelson found himself grasping for every bit of courage and sustenance he could muster. He jumped from his crouched position and began a Criss- cross path of attack up the hill. crouching behind stones and stumps when he could. Nelson had found him- self the furthest advanced of his patrol, as he stopped for a moment, taking cover! Enemy fire was literally chop- ping up the surrounding ground. All at once the urge, which must at one time or another take over all heroes, seized Nelson. He found himself running as he never had before, in a jagged line. toward the enemy position. His support rang out from in back, forc- ing the enemy to caution their move- ments. Nelson was upon the enemy, and in a burst of glory let forth all the fury of man since Adam. The enemy, surprised as they were, fell before his machine gun and finally fell back. Nel- son stood there firing as his support quickly came behind him! In due time the attack of fury sub- sided and finally diminished till only an occasional shot was to be heard. The Arn-erican forces began their re- grouping upon the hill! It had grown dark through all the elapsed time of preparation and battle. The sky was. overcast once more, and it began to- snow! The strewn bodies of the enemy and American forces were spread upon the immortalized hill. The snow fell peace-- fully and gently to the ground, denoting all which had taken place. Yes. the- snow was blanketing the surrounding terrain, but concentrated upon one par- ticular American body. There seemed to be trained. oddly enough, a sustain- ing joy of sun. It was the body of Roger Nelson. a great patriot, a great American, and a great Negro! - Let us do him and others like himl great homage,-Lest We Forget! A 23