In Remembrance of Them

Remembrance Contents:

• Al Gavin (Wisconsin)
• Phil Dierickx (Ole Top)
• William J. Keeler
• Kenneth E. Page (New York)
• Francis X. Zimmer (South Dakota)
• Mike Luosey (Bangor, ME WWII & Korean War Hero)

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Gavin, Al

The Remembrance Page was opened on August 13, 2001 with this outstanding photograph of veteran and American patriot Al Gavin of Wisconsin. When he died on May 9, 2001, his family requested that donations in his memory be given to The Korean War Educator Foundation. The donations helped cover some of the first expenses for this website.

Alfred "Al" William Gavin is pictured here riding along Monona Drive during a Memorial Day parade for East Madison and Monona, WI. In 1950, he entered the U.S. Army and served in the 3rd Armored Division of the US Army at Ft. Knox, Kentucky. He became openly afflicted with multiple sclerosis while in the Army and was discharged in 1951. Al died at his home on May 9, 2001 after over a half a century battle with MS.

He was born on February 24, 1931 in Richland Center, WI, the sixth child of seven of Rube Earl and Frieda Elizabeth Klingermann Gavin. His mother died when he was four years old and he was raised as a foster child on the Stockwell Farm outside of Richland Center. At age 14, Alfred spent his summers working on cattle boats and traveled to six foreign countries. He also hitch hiked through the entire United States prior to joining the Army.

Al held a variety of jobs throughout his lifetime, including working as a heavy equipment operator helping to build the VA Hospital in Madison and the 44th expressway in Milwaukee. He also drove moving van semi-trailers on the New York to L.A. run. He attended two years of cooking school at MATC Madison; cooking one year at the Brodmore Hotel in Colorado Springs, CO, and in Madison at Hills Coffee Shop. He also was a baker at Lanes Bakery.

After attending two years of Layton School of Art in Milwaukee, he painted commercial art portraits and two Saturday Evening Post covers in the 1950s. Between the late 1950s and 1960s, working from his wheelchair he created three businesses to keep himself employed: Gavin Lawn Service, Mardee Vacuum Cleaning Service, and Mardee Wholesalers.

When Volunteer Service Bureau was created in Madison, Alfred became their first volunteer driver, logging over 5,000 miles the first year. He spent many years volunteering with the Multiple Sclerosis Society Madison chapter and serving on the board. He chaired their summer picnics and Christmas parties. He also volunteered at Methodist Hospital, VA Hospital and Forest Products Labs of Madison. He served six years as a volunteer with the Madison Area Technical College, uptown campus, in the Occupation Assistant Program ending in 1992.

He was a life member of the Monona Grove American Legion Post #429, of which he served as Post Chaplain for two years. He was also a life member of the Disabled American Veterans.

On November 9, 1963, Alfred married Mary Jane Wolf of Madison. The couple had three children: Scott Kevin (Vicky) Nelson of Green Bay, WI; Catherine Heidi Elizabeth (Todd) Dobbratz, Madison; and Carl Alfred Eric (Vickie) Gavin, Madison. Ten grandchildren, a brother Mack Gavin of Janesville, WI, and many nieces and nephews also survive him

From 1986 through 1997, Al Gavin rode in the Memorial Day parade in Monona, WI. His favorite hobby was painting portraits and landscapes in oils. His favorite saying was, "Every day is a good day because the Lord made it!" Al will be most remembered for his love of children and the ease with which he communicated with them.

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Dierickx, Phil "Ole Top"

Phil Dierickx (Ole Top) Jacksonville, NC

Author, Chuck Hall

I never got to meet him,
Nor serve in his command.
But I knew many like him,
Who bravely made their stand.

From what the "Bandits" tell me,
He dearly loves the "Corps"
Took real good care of comrades,
And took that one-step more.

'Twas up in frozen Chosin,
When things looked bleak and bad
He used his strength and wisdom,
And everything he had.

For those who fought beside him,
Who never will forget
He gave them will and courage,
Resolution, faith, and grit.

The "Corps" has many heroes,
And stories they all tell.
"Ole Top's" a hero in my book,
He served his hitch in hell.

USMC April 1939-1969. 6th Marines to Panama Canal & then to Iceland. 1940-41 guard duty to prevent Germans from taking over the island. Korean War: Brigade - personnel Sgt. Major and then 1st Sgt. of Baker Co. 1st Battalion, 5th Marines. 2nd wave - Inchon Invasion. Chosin Reservoir campaign - Hill 1040. Participated in the guerilla hunt. Left Korea March 5, 1951. Vietnam 1967-68 as adjutant.

PHIL "OLE TOP" DIERICKX", a participant in the Korean War Educator's oral history project to document the memoirs of Korean War veterans, died peacefully at 2:30 a.m. on August 12, 2001, from cancer and complications thereof. He was a retired member of the United States Marine Corps, and a highly respected member of the Baker Bandits.

The Ole Top was operated on February 11, 2000 for a tumor in his left lung. Three ribs were removed as was a large part of his lung. He survived the surgery, and continued to keep in contact with the Baker Bandits who loved and respected him. USMC veteran Milton "Mickey" Donaldson said, "The Marine Corps lost a great leader when Phil retired years ago. The world lost one of its extraordinary citizens, and we of the Baker Bandit family lost a loyal, dedicated and interesting friend and brother. May God bless him and all of his family."

The Guidon publication of the Baker Bandits is edited by Shelton Emmett. The August issue states, "'The Ole Top' is short for (The Old Top Sergeant), in which capacity he very ably served Baker Company, First Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment in the Korean War in 1950 and 1951. He is one of the founding members of the organization known as "The Baker Bandits" and has always been a pillar of the same. He headed up and financed the effort to have each member of the 'Baker Bandits' recognized for their service with the company by awarding them a plaque. He was a Marine's Marine."

There was no funeral service as Phil's earthly remains were donated to the University of North Carolina Medical School for medical research. In lieu of the funeral service, a memorial mass was held at The Infant of Prague Catholic Church in Jacksonville, North Carolina on 22 August 2001.

Ole Top's family requests that donations in his memory be made in his name to:

The Marine Corps Museum of the Carolinas,
P.O. Box 1046, Jacksonville, NC 28541.

Keeler, William J.

William J. Keeler was born and raised in Cohoes, New York to Irish parents Timothy and Anna Mae Kelley-Keeler.  He was the eldest son and one of eight children.

Bill was only a teenager when, like many of his generation, he voluntarily enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1943.  He was a member of the 1st Marine Division (D/2/5) and served in active combat in the Pacific Theatre from 1943 until the war ended.  He was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps in 1946.  He was trained as a heavy gun AAA crewman.

In 1950, he again voluntarily enlisted in the USMC as a reservist and was called into active duty once again to serve in the Korean War.  He participated in the Inchon landing and fought in the epic Chosin Reservoir battle with the First Marine Division (K/4/11).  He sustained serious injuries in Korea, including severe frostbite and traumatic neck and hip injuries after he was thrown off a cliff from the force of a grenade blast which knocked him unconscious.  While he was trained as a heavy gun crewman, he was reassigned to infantry duty while in Korea due to mass casualties within his unit.

Bill was hospitalized for months after being evacuated from the Chosin Reservoir with severe frostbite.  He was once again honorably discharged from the USMC in August 1952.  He was awarded numerous medals and awards, including a Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Service Medal, United Nations Medal, Korean Service Medal, Purple Heart Medal, a Bronze Star, and a Presidential Unit Citation for extraordinary service along with the First Marine Division against enemy aggressor forces in Korea.

Bill returned home to Cohoes, New York, and completed his GED in 1954.  He was employed at the Watervliet Arsenal for 33 years, and retired as a Police Captain.  He met his wife Peggy there, married, and had four children.  He often worked second jobs to support his family.  He was a proud, humble, hard-working, and generous man who embodied all of the characteristics of the greatest generation.  He especially loved being a father and grandfather.

He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, Northeastern New York Chapter of the Chosin Few, and was a communicant of St. Agnes Church in Cohoes.

He died suddenly at home on February 24, 2001, at the age of 75.  He was buried with full military honors at the Gerald B. Solomon-Saratoga National Cemetery in Schulerville, New York.

He predeceased his late wife Peggy and is survived by his four proud children: sons Brian, Bill and Kevin Keeler, daughter Karen Keeler-Kruszeski, and ten grandchildren: Carolyn, AnnMarie, Billy, Megan, Andrew, Shawn, and Katelyn Keeler, Kenneth and Keith Kruszeski, and Cassie Wood.  "Pop" will always be missed.

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Page, Kenneth E.

The Korean War Educator joins with the rest of the Korean War community in expressing sympathy to the family of Ken Page, Troy, New York. Ken died on February 7, 2002, in Samaritan Hospital, Troy, after being hospitalized for pneumonia.

Born in Potsdam, New York, he was the son of Arthur and Mabel Houle Page, and the loving husband of Margaret Connor Page, his wife of 35 years. The couple was married on May 7, 1966, and Ken and Margaret were residents of Troy for the past 32 years.

Ken was a graduate of Syracuse University in 1959. He graduated in 1962 from the Syracuse University School of Law, where he received his jurist doctorate degree. That same year, he was appointed, through the honors program, as an assistant attorney general for the State of New York. He retired in 1990 as chief of the Litigation Bureau.

He was a U.S. Navy veteran during the Korean War from 1951-1955. He was the chapter director of the Northeast New York chapter of the Korean War Veterans Association, Inc. He also served as the group's attorney for all legal affairs, and was the editor and compiler for the book, Renssalaer County Heroes: Korean War 1950-1953, The Forgotten Remembered. The book was printed in January of 2000 on behalf of the Northeast New York Chapter of the KWVA.

Ken was also a member of the Amphibious Forces Association, and a life member of the Veterans of Lasingburgh (VFW #1019). He was active in genealogy research, and was a communicant of Our Lady of Victory Church, Troy.

He is survived by his wife, Margaret; daughter, Kathryn E. Lane and her husband Flint, Princeton Junction, NJ; a son, Paul K. Page of Malta; three brothers, Stanley Page of Rochester and Ronald and Larry Page of Parishville, NY; two sisters, Evelyn Campbell of Timberville, VA and Beatrice Chappell of Plattsburgh; two granddaughters, Amanda and Kacy Lane; and several nieces and nephews.

The words of Ken's friend and fellow researcher, Martin O'Brien of Augusta, Maine, echo the sentiments of Ken's many other friends and acquaintances: "Although I never met Ken, we worked together via cyberspace for some time now. He was a true friend and I will miss him very much. He has contributed a great deal on behalf of Korean War veterans everywhere."

Ted Barker, one of the founders of the Korean War Project on the Internet, had this to say about Ken's passing: "Mr. Ken Page of Troy, NY and Rensselaer County KWVA member, passed away on February 8th 2002. He battled illness all through January. Ken served in the Navy from April of 1951 through March of 1955 on the USS TACONIC (AGC 17). Ken was a very good friend of mine, a pen pal for several years. I will miss him and so will all of the hundreds of people that he assisted over the years. He was a stalwart for his veteran chapter and his friends and spent considerable time raising funds for the Korean War Project.

For years, Ken researched the HONOR ROLL at the KIOSK on the Mall where the database resides to provide a wonderful link to those young men who did not live through the war. He found information and photographs of these men to send to the American Battle Monuments Commission for inclusion in this KIOSK HONOR ROLL. This work was done on his personal income and all of us doing research on the War will be eternally grateful for his unselfish efforts. We recently featured a news article on Ken, and his other email pen pals, Ed, Ray, Sylvia, Art, and Marty, who, every day work to fill in the blanks for a time and place, long ago.

The work goes on and so will Ken's memory. So long, my friend." - Ted Barker

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Zimmer, Francis Xavier IV

View a tribute to Francis Zimmer and to other Korean War veterans at this South Dakota-based website:

http://koreanwarmemorial.sd.gov/

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Luosey, Mike

Maine has a rich maritime history, and Bangor's native son, Captain Michael J. Luosey's distinguished Korean War record is part of that tradition.  The Bangor High Class of 1929 graduate was Deputy Commander Naval Forces Far East under Admiral Turner Joy.  Mike commanded the Korean Navy, and founded the modern Korean Marine Corps.  He was in command of all allied navies as the war got underway in 1950, and he ran the Inshore Blockade and Escort Force at the age of 38. On August 6, 1951, Korean President Syngman Rhee pinned the Republic of Korea Order of Merit on Commander Michael Joseph Luosey.  Since the beginning of the war in July 1950, Luosey was one of nine officers and men so honored.  On another occasion, he was awarded the Military Order of the Silver Star.

In his 31 years of service, Mike was the commanding officer of five of the nine ships he was onboard during his career.  He sailed on a survey ship, three destroyers, two battleships, two heavy cruisers, a supertanker, and was a Destroyer Squadron 8 Commander (two divisions), and Commander, Military Sea Transportation Service.

Michael J. Luosey was born on April 15, 1912 to his parents, Patrick J. and Delia (Muldoon) Luosey who lived on Larkin Street in Bangor, Maine.  A chronology of Mike's career in the United States Navy (1929-1960) follows:

• 1929 - Graduated 4th in Bangor High School Class of 1929.  Got appointment to US Naval Academy at Annapolis, MD.
• 1933 - Graduated 3rd, and honored as Flag Bearer for the Naval Academy's Class of 1933.  Ensign Luosey was one of half the class of 245 that received commissions, hence a naval career.
• 1933/35 - First assignment on new Cruiser USS Portland CA 33 as a deck officer, then gunnery officer turret #3, then Assistant Navigation Officer.
• 1935-June 1937 - Ordered to destroyer USS Wickes DD75.  Mike was promoted to Lieutenant Jr. Grade.  The ship was mothballed in 1937, and turned over to England in 1940 in World War II.
• 1937/38 - Mike was named Commanding Officer of the survey ship USS Hannibal.  This marked his first time to be solely accountable for a naval ship.  Surveyed new iron ore fields in Trinidad, oil in Venezuela, and Costa Rican harbors.
• 1939/40 - Lt. Luosey was on the Battleship USS California, Flagship of the Fleet, which patrolled the Pacific Far East.  Upon leaving Pearl Harbor and returning to its homeport in California in June 1940, Mike was assigned to post graduate work at the Naval Academy at Annapolis.  He went on leave to Bangor.  All shore duties were cancelled because of trouble brewing in Europe.  The California was ordered to sea while Mike was home, but efforts to reach him failed.  So his orders were changed to report to the Battleship USS Wyoming BB32 AG17.
• 1941 - On December 7 the Pearl Harbor attack found Mike teaching at the Naval Academy and responsible for two companies of Midshipmen, reporting to Vice Admiral Myron S. Tisdale, Commandant until 1942, and then to Vice Admiral Turner Joy.  These key officers later called on Mike's service.  Mike at once requested sea duty, but as he said in a 1980 interview with niece Delia Pooler, "I had brought in the new classes, and I had had success as a company officer because my two companies won the regimental competition my three years I was there.  So I was "in" with the Commandant because, I guess, he thought it was leadership on my part.  So he wouldn't let me go until we brought in the new class in 1943."
• 1943 - On October 14, Lt. Commander Luosey was named Commanding Officer of the six-month-old USS Sproston DD577.  Ready for combat, he piloted Sproston from Casco Bay in Maine through the Panama Canal on November 4 to San Francisco, and with Adm. Ephraim McLean left to liberate the Philippines.  They used the Samar approach, and were part of the Leyte invasion of the Lingyan Gulf of North Luzon.  Sproston was the first ship to enter and open Subic Bay.  Luosey was in charge of a crew of 341.  According to Naval history records, "February 4, 1944, at 0230, Sproston fired her first shots in anger.  She shelled Kurabu Point in the Kurabu-Zaki area of Paramushiro, acting as an anti-aircraft and as submarine screen for the cruisers.  Captain Luosey issued a memo congratulating the crew for their enthusiasm and for a job well done, adding that Paramushiro was believed to be the first Japanese home island to be shelled by an American warship. [Saga II of the USS Sproston DD/DDE 577 by George Ress, 1995, page 17.]
• 1944 - On September 13, Luosey was promoted to a Commander, and while CO, the Sproston shot down nine Japanese planes and sank one submarine.  Mike was the Navy's youngest captain at that time, and served 16 months on this famous fighting ship.  The Sproston supported troop landings by shore bombardment, and escort for major war operations.  The ship was in the Third Fleet until October 1, when it joined the Seventh Fleet.
• 1945 - February 6 Luosey took command of a new destroyer USS Bordelon DD/DDR 881 from Orange Texas shipyard.  This ship was 14 feet longer for extra fuel, and two knots faster than Sproston.  She was designed for the vast Pacific.  After break in, the ship visited Portland, ME where Mike Luosey's sisters, Mary C. (Luosey) Pooler and Anna Luosey enjoyed dinner at the captain's table.  In the Pacific, the picket ship Bordelon was in Destroyer Division 16, and escorted an aircraft carrier into Japan, then past China, and joined the Philippines Liberation celebration.
• 1947 - February 6 Cdr. M.J. Luosey flew to Bremerton, Washington, and after nine days as Chief Executive Officer, became Commanding Officer of the Heavy Cruiser Chicago CA 136.  During a 1980 interview, Mike said, "My goal as a naval officer was to obtain command that ultimately would mean a capital ship which in the old Navy was battleships.  I was interested only in the Line Command of the Navy surface ships.  I had no interest in submarines.  I had no interest in the Naval Aviation.  And, when the time came and I was eligible for so-called "Major command," there were no battleships.  Several options were missile cruisers and the majority were Destroyer Squadron Commanders which I did attain, but of short duration because of my hepatitis."
• 1950 - June of 1950 saw the outbreak of the Korean War.  Mike was flown to Korea and on July 9 he was named Deputy Commander Far East under Admiral Turner Joy.  Considerable confusion had led to Mike's assignment.  Here is the naval history: "Luosey's first days were spent in extemporizing logistic support at Pusan for U.N. ships, in establishing liaison with the Army, and in gaining the confidence of the Koreans.  Inshore sectors were established along both coasts south of the 37th parallel, and a detachment of Korean Marines was sailed for Kusan by LST in an attempt to hold that port.  On the next day the Marines were landed, and a large store of government rice evacuated, but possession of Kusan was brief.  Heavily engaged on the 17th by an entire North Korean regiment, the 600-odd Marines were lifted out two days later to begin a minor epic of landings, forced marches, engagements, and retreats, which by the end of the month had brought the survivors to Cinju.  Mike himself later said that he had to work with so many different groups that he asked for and got direct reporting officers from General MacArthur's command and the Navy.  History continues, "Little by little order emerged from chaos.  By late July coordination with the British west coast element had been established and the Korean Navy was back in effective action."
• 1951 - August 6, Korean President Sygman Rhee awarded Korea's top two decorations: Taeguk Presidential Citation with two laurels, and the Republic of Korea Order of Merit to Cmdr. Michael J. Luosey.  Mike was extremely proud of his accomplishments in Pusan and Inchon.  He told his nephews about the types of small boats the ROK navy used, and they did more damage with the PT boats than with destroyers, etc.
• 1952 - June 1 the Navy reported it "relieved Commander Michael J. Luosey as Commander Republic of Korea Naval Forces (COMROK NAVFOR) and the Chief of the Naval Advisory Group ROKN on this date."  The Korean Marines presented a sword to Mike that is inscribed to him in black lacquer and mother of pearl.  Mike considered himself a good friend of President Rhee, having taught him square dancing, etc.  Mike believed one reason for his excellent rapport, as expressed in the 1980 interview, was because he strongly believed and voiced his high regard for the intelligence, dedication, and loyalty of the Koreans under his leadership.  In the 1970s, Mike was invited to return to Korea and he asked nephew Joel Pooler to join him, but Mike's health didn't permit his travel.  A Korean school is said to be named after him.
• 1953/54 - After hostilities, Mike went to the Naval War College to study military strategy, and as he said, "study how staff people think."  He also taught there in Rhode Island.
• 1955/56 - Captain Michael J. Luosey commanded USS Caloosahachee, a super tanker in the Atlantic Service.
• 1956 - Captain Luosey was given top responsibility as Director of Navy Recruitment where he started a high school program.
• 1958 - Captain M.J. Luosey was placed in command of Destroyer Squadron 8 (two divisions, eight ships) based at Norfolk, VA.  But shortly afterwards he contracted hepatitis, and was laid up for four months.
• 1959 - Unable to continue sea service, Mike was reassigned as Commander of Military Sea Transportation Services (MSTS).
• 1960 - June - after six years as a Captain, he was offered Vice Admiral in retirement.  He declined and as described by daughter Bridget who wrote:  "Dad never recovered from leaving the Navy...part of why he was retired had to do with poor health.  I remember when we lived in Norfolk and I was in the 5th grade (1958) Dad came back from sea and was in bed for months with hepatitis...he was the strangest color yellow and weak as a kitten.  Apparently they offered him the position of Rear Admiral for his retired rank.  Dad, standing on his dashed dreams and Irish pride, let them know that he didn't want to be a "tombstone Admiral" and if he couldn't work at it, he didn't want it.  Mom thought more practically, and since it affected retirement benefits, etc., she thought he should take the title.  Looking back...Admiral Luosey just doesn't sound the same.  Dad's always been 'Captain Luosey,' and it just sounds right.

Back in the State of Maine, Mike Luosey served as executive vice president of the Augusta Chamber of Commerce, Hallowell City Manager, and Director of American Red Cross, Augusta.  Mike lived in Hallowell, Maine, until his death June 29, 1998.  About Mike's funeral, his daughter Bridget wrote, "Did you know that at his funeral, he had insisted on a Maine Pine casket, and then we covered his casket with Navy color flowers and a banner that said, "BEAT ARMY" (which was his favorite saying and the last three words of the Grace before meals, "Amen, Beat Army"), and as his casket was slowly wheeled out of the church, the organ played a slow and stately "Anchors Away."

Awards & Honors

Mike Luosey retired with two Navy Distinguished Service Medals, Legion of Merit with Gold Star, Bronze Star with Gold Star and Combat V, American Defense Service Medal, Fleet clasp, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with four stars, American Area Campaign, World War II Victory Medal, Japanese Occupation, China Service, Korean Campaign with eight stars, United Nations Ribbon, Philippine Liberation with two stars, Korean Presidential Citation with two laurels, and the Navy Occupation (European Clasp).

Contributors to this segment of the KWE: Mike's children, Dennis Luosey of the Augusta area and Bridget Luosey who lives in Nevada with husband Grant Siwinski; Bridget's children, Magen E. Calland who lives in Virginia with husband Paul, and Michael Everhart and his wife Laura who lived in West Gardiner, Maine, and now live in Tennessee with daughters Marguerite and Delia.  Others include nephews Andrew Adam, Joel Pooler, niece Delia and their mother (Mike's youngest sister) Kay Luosey Pooler of Augusta; first cousins Michael and Patrick Lucey from Bucksport; and nephews Ronald of Holden, and Victor Pooler of Syracuse, NY, whose mother Mary C. Luosey Pooler was Mike's oldest sister.  This segment uses excerpts from The Pooler Family [Chapter 13, "The Luoseys and Your Irish Ancestors"] by Victor H. Pooler, copyright 2000, Pooler & Associates, Syracuse, NY.

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