Page 83 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2018- Online Magazine
P. 83
korean war
received the Combat Infantry Badge and the Korean
Service Medal with 3 Bronze Service Stars.
Booth met his wife Helen Smith in Melrose, New
Mexico. They were married on August 1, 1952 and have
been married for 65 years. They had two children,
Alan and Tammy. After a short stint as a cattleman
in Missouri, Booth returned to West Texas where he
worked as a carpenter and in construction. His father
and his son, Alan, also worked with him.
Mr. Dyess, 87, suffered a stroke in 2009, but he learned
to talk and walk again. He was able to go on the 2017
Texas South Plains Honor Flight with his son as his
guardian. Alan noted that his dad “walked all the time
on the trip and would not let anything or anyone slow
After spending two years in Germany, Booth him down. I had a hard time keeping up with him!”
was ready to leave the Army. However, he While visiting the Marine Museum in Quantico, Booth
received word that a conflict had broken out entered the Chosin Reservoir Exhibit. It was cold and
in Korea, and he would be sent there. After had sounds like a battle, and he told his son, “I need to
enjoying a 60-day furlough at home, he shipped get out of here.” The cold room had brought back too
out to Korea. Landing in Korea December 1950, many memories for Booth. He also enjoyed the Korean
his unit (Co. L, 31st Infantry Regiment) was War Memorial because “I was there.” When asked about
located near the 38th parallel. He noted that his military career now 66 years behind him, he simply
he “went three months before I would take off said, “The Army was good for me.” He had left home as
my clothing. It was -40 degrees, and the men an adolescent, “saw the world”, and returned from war
didn’t have cold weather clothes.” He spent as a contributing member of The Greatest Generation.
part of his time as a jeep/truck driver and as a
cook. He had to scrounge for food for 500 men,
once killing a cow for meat and even shooting
squirrels (for which he got reprimanded by
a captain who said he might give away their
position.) He also “cooked up a bunch of eggs
on his little Bunsen burner, and one of the men
ate 27 eggs!” One night, Booth was ordered to
“go retrieve a wounded soldier up the mountain
behind them. Under heavy enemy fire, the
Sergeant leading the group disappeared,” and
Booth had to take over. “We carried blankets
and tied a knot on each end, put the wounded
man in it and carried him down to safety while
bullets were flying.” Booth was discharged in
El Paso and returned home to West Texas. He
Lubbock Senior Link 83
