I went to the Hawaii Reunion in 2000 hoping to see several people who I had been close to in Korea but especially one person in particular. That person was Fred Jenkins. As I stood in line at the hotel, I heard a voice calling my name and I turned around and there was Fred. I am so glad I went to that reunion because in 2004, a few short years later, Fried would no longer be with us. Fred had his 3 kids with him and I got to meet them. He was a proud, Dad, I can tell you. After the reunion he met a new lady who became his wife and he was so happy. Then I stopped hearing from him and went searching the internet. Finally I found his obit. I was so sad. I met Fred along with Gary and Bruce Haymaker the summer of 1969. I had just gotten to Korea and it was so new and different. I went to the Officer's pool almost everyday to meet up with Fred and Gary. It was such a fun summer. Let me tell you, Fred was a unique soul. He loved anything about WWII and if you ever gave him the opportunity, he would flood you with facts about it. He had a sly sense of humor and quick wit and a wonderful grin that would always make me grin too. He was also very shy. When I look at the picture I have of us in Hawaii, I am so glad I got to tell him in person how much his friendship meant to me way back then.
Terry Best (1969)
I went to the Hawaii Reunion in 2000 hoping to see several people who I had been close to in Korea but especially one person in particular. That person was Fred Jenkins. As I stood in line at the hotel, I heard a voice calling my name and I turned around and there was Fred. I am so glad I went to that reunion because in 2004, a few short years later, Fried would no longer be with us. Fred had his 3 kids with him and I got to meet them. He was a proud, Dad, I can tell you. After the reunion he met a new lady who became his wife and he was so happy. Then I stopped hearing from him and went searching the internet. Finally I found his obit. I was so sad. I met Fred along with Gary and Bruce Haymaker the summer of 1969. I had just gotten to Korea and it was so new and different. I went to the Officer's pool almost everyday to meet up with Fred and Gary. It was such a fun summer. Let me tell you, Fred was a unique soul. He loved anything about WWII and if you ever gave him the opportunity, he would flood you with facts about it. He had a sly sense of humor and quick wit and a wonderful grin that would always make me grin too. He was also very shy. When I look at the picture I have of us in Hawaii, I am so glad I got to tell him in person how much his friendship meant to me way back then.
Terry Best, Class of 1969