Page 18 - Amarillo Senior Link Magazine Fall 2021 - Online Magazine
P. 18
Dan McKinney Surviving the Cold
in Captivity
by Jelaine Workman
Communism. He was very vocal
with his opinion. He was kept
in jail (a small box) for 72 days;
on December 18, he was released
from confinement. At that point,
the Koreans and Americans
exchanged prisoner lists, so they
knew who had been captured.
It was rumored that a group of
Marine prisoners were being
released. Dan called out one day
to see if one of the Marines was
from Texas. A few seconds later,
he got a positive response. Dan
A well-wisher greets Dan upon his Dan judges an athletic asked what part of Texas he was
arrival home following his release competition at the POW camp from. Amarillo was the answer.
Dan asked him if he would call
an McKinney was drafted Dan pretended he was dead by his girlfriend, Joyce Anne Riley
into the United States lying very still. He lay like that from Tulia, and tell her that he
DArmy in 1944 and served all night, but, the next day, he was alive and ok. The Marine
during World War II. When he was captured and became a POW answered, “I know her. And yes,
returned home, he joined the for 28 months. He remembers when I get home, I will contact
Army Reserve for a three-year the date because it was the day her for you.” When Morris Estes
tour, ending in June 1950. He he was supposed to get married. returned to Texas, he did call her,
then re-upped for another three and she called Dan’s family to
years. The Korean War started Dan stayed strong during his share the news. Dan was finally
at the end of June 1950, and in captivity. He saw what the released on August 20, 1953.
October 1950, Dan got the call to Chinese lived on, and he knew he When Dan returned home, he
report to Fort Hood. could survive on it as well. The found Mr. Estes to thank him for
prisoners got one bowl of rice a giving his family some peace of
His company, K Company day, sometimes two. They got mind.
24th Division, was the first to pork about every two to three
go to Korea. They had few fire months, but Dan could not eat Dan was born in Belen, NM. Six
fights until April. The unit was the meat, knowing how they months later, his dad, who was
pushed down to the farthest tip killed the hogs. He said that only a railroader, was transferred
of South Korea. In September, the strongest survived. There to Clovis, NM, where Dan was
they were moved back up to the were times when the temperature raised and eventually graduated
38th parallel at the Yalu River. In dropped to 32 below. They were from high school. He met his
October 1950, the temperatures cold but determined that they future wife in Tulia in 1948,
fell to 70 below zero! were coming home. and she waited for him to come
home; they married on October
On the morning of April 22, 1951, The Chinese and North Koreans 18, 1953. His wife graduated
the Chinese offensive overran were pretty lenient with the from nursing school in 1950 and
their unit. Dan was the squad captives unless they caused worked at several hospitals and
leader and had several new guys trouble. While they were trying doctors’ offices during her career.
join his unit that day; they and to brainwash their prisoners, Dan
several others lost their lives argued strongly with them that After moving several times for a
during that attack. To survive, Capitalism was much better than variety of jobs, Joyce Anne and
18 Amarillo Senior Link
