But the orphans were two hours late in arriving at Gimpo Airport. During the wait, the U.S. Air Force transport planes were susceptible to attack. They waited, nevertheless, and fifteen C-54 transport planes moved the children without trouble.
This is the story of the war orphans’ rescue by Col. Dean Hess, the “father of Korean War orphans” and the “godfather of the Korean Air Force.” On March 9, the second anniversary of Col. Hess’s death, the Air Force held a ceremony unveiling a monument in his honor. The monument is located in the outdoor exhibition space at Jeju Aerospace Museum in Seogwipo city, Jeju-do. Kwanglim Church in Seoul (Rev. Kim Jeong-seok) supported the total cost of the monument’s production.
The monument is a reflection of Col. Hess’s wish during his lifetime. Reportedly, he felt deep sadness that among the 1,000 orphans given refuge in Jeju-do, more than 300 died from malnutrition or illness. The central tower of the monument symbolizes the orphans waving toward the U.S. Air Force plane that is coming to save them; on its left side are images in relief of Col. Hess, Chaplain Blaisdell and their assistants; and on its right is an image of Col. Hess flying his F-51 Mustang No. 18 in an air battle. Park Won-shik (South Kwanglim Church) worked for one year to make the monument.
Col. Hess’s eldest son Larry Hess, who attended the unveiling ceremony for the memorial monument, said, “If my father is watching this ceremony today, he will be happy that the monument includes a space for the children. His favorite Bible verses were Matthew 19:14 and Luke 18:16, where Jesus Christ welcomes the little children.”
In a congratulatory message, Kwanglim Church Pastor Emer. Kim Seon-do said, “I met Col. Hess three times. I vividly remember receiving his courteous bow, characteristic of U.S. Air Force pilots…He was a ‘flying pastor.’ During the Korean War he worked as flight instructor and pilot, and he also played a chaplain’s role.” R.O.K. Air Force Chief of Staff Jeong Gyeong-du and U.S. 7th Air Force Commander Lt. Gen. Thomas Bergeson also spoke words of congratulation.
Col. Hess was assigned to the Far East Air Force Command in June 1950, and performed strategic missions together with the Korean Air Force. During one year, starting immediately after the outbreak of the Korean War, he carried out more than 250 sorties against the North Korean army. He was in charge of training pilots to fly ten F-51 planes that the U.S. Army had donated to the Korean Air Force at the time, and this greatly improved the Korean Air Force.
Back in the U.S. after the Korean War ended, he supported and raised funds for an orphanage for war orphans. He visited Korea many times, caring for the orphans, and even adopted one orphan. In 1956 he wrote his autobiography “Battle Hymn,” which was made into a movie with the same title the following year. He donated all the royalties from the movie for the building of an orphanage in suburban Seoul.
Col. Dean Hess was also a minister. He was ordained by the Disciples of Christ Church, a reformed church denomination in the U.S. On the jet plane that he piloted in the Korean War there was engraved a verse from Hebrews chapter 11: “By faith, I fly.” This verse, translated in Korean as “birdman of faith,” is also used as a symbol of the Air Force as ultimately victorious.
Articles and photos by reporter Sangmok Shin (smshin@kmib.co.kr), from Jeju, with Marion Kim (marionkkim@icloud.com)
Black-and-white photos are provided by Korea Air Forces
Original Article in Korean:
6·25 고아 1000명 구출한 美 ‘목사 조종사’ 기념비 제막: 딘 헤스 대령 2주기 맞아 공군·광림교회 제주에
