The month was September, the year 1950. The location was the reverse (southern) slopes of Hill 570 near Taegu, Korea. G Company, 8th Cavalry Regiment (Inf) was home for Cpl. James Edward Daly. With all loving respect, he was known by his fellow Troopers as "Pappy Daly", a gunslinger that wielded a mean BAR (Browning Automatic Rifle) and knew how to use it!!

During the first five days of September, Pappy's Rifle Company had endured 16 KIAs (Killed In Action) and 26 WIAs (Wounded In Action) while trying to defend a valley just north of Taegu known as "The Bowling Ally". Pappy was slightly wounded on the first day of September, but stayed with the Company. After being overrun at the head of the Bowling Alley, by seven or eight September his Company had relocated to the southern slopes of Hill 570 where they dug in and prepared to carry out the orders of 8th Army Commander to "Stand or Die"!!

From nine to 14 September, Pappy's Company endured another eight KIAs and a staggering 36 WIAs. Their days were never quiet, snipers kept all heads down, along with the occasional incoming mortar round. The nights were never ending. Every night, the enemy tried to run the Troopers from their positions, from one to four times a night, from dark to daylight. It seemed as though the enemy had an ever lasting supply of hand grenades and small arms ammunition while the Troopers ran short of all, especially Carbine and .45 caliber pistol. Artillery rounds were rationed. The Troopers ran completely out of "C" Rations and were issued very old WWII "K" Rations. Pappy and the other Troopers held the line.

Pappy was seriously wounded on 11 Sept and evacuated. The morning of the 12th, a physical head count was made of the G Company Troopers still on the defense line. There were 25 there which included a few South Korean Army troops assigned to us and integrated within our ranks. Authorized strength for a Rifle Company during that period of history was 205 Enlisted men and Officers. Other companies of the 2nd Battalion were in similar shape.

G Company left their fox-holes and moved up Hill 570 in the attack on the morning of 16 September without Pappy. His Battalion received the Presidential Unit Citation Award for their actions on the reverse slopes of Hill 570.

James E. "Pappy" Daly returned to his home in G Company during the latter days of November to continue his duty, and was promoted to SFC E-6 by the time he rotated from Korea in April, 1951. He passed away 22 December, 2006, and was buried in Biloxi National Cemetery, Biloxi, MS.

E.C. Whitey Reese
MSG, US Army Retired
G Co, 8th US Cav Regt (Inf)
Dec '48 to Jul '51

We all have made our very special ties with our comrades in arms as we suffered through the "Dark Days" of the Korean War. One of the ties was made by many with Trooper Ed "Pappy" Daly. The title of "Pappy" has always been deemed a word of respect and endearment bestowed upon an honored one who has visited and experienced those more advanced facets of life. And so it was with Ed "Pappy" Daly born James E. Daly, in South Central Mississippi, not far from Laurel, on 9 November 1919.

At the younger age of 19 years, "Pappy" joined the Mississippi National Guard in 1938. Our country had not recovered from the "Crash of 29" so many of our young men were enticed by the benefits (as meager as they were) of some type of Military Service or the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC's). And so it was with "Pappy".

He was ordered into Federal Service in 1940, thus beginning his service to his country during the "Big One" - World War 2. He served in the Pacific Theater of Operations going to New Guinea on Oro Bay, then to Dutch mandated New Guinea. From there to Morotai Island in the Dutch East Indies and finally, Mindanao in the Southern Philippines. "Pappy" returned home to Mississippi at the end of the war in 1945, but he had an urge that he couldn't fulfill in civilian life so he returned to military service.

The first half-year of 1950 found "Pappy" in Japan assigned to a Quartermaster Company in the 1st Cavalry Division. Occupation duty in Japan, at that time, was considered to be a plush assignment to be coveted and a good time was being had by all. However, come 25 June 1950, the North Korean Army decided to end the peace and tranquility that was permeating the Land of The Morning Calm.

President Truman decisioned very quickly to introduce combat troops into Korea to help stem the tide of the rapidly advancing North Korean Army toward Seoul. The Commanders in Japan experienced an inordinate amount of chaos in filling and deploying their units to Korea. Many Troopers of the 1st Cav Division were reassigned to the 24th Division which was the first ground combat unit to be deployed to Korea.

At this time, "Pappy" was in some Quartermaster outfit, at Camp Zama, packing crates with personal belongings for storage for those Troopers who were about to be sent to Korea. He got all teed off and headed across the camp, walked into the 2d Bn Hq and asked to see the Battalion Commander. He says, "Col, you need another good BAR man?" He was sent directly over to G Company!! This is the way the union of G Company and the worlds best BAR man started!!

"Pappy" toted that BAR his entire tour of combat duty in Korea. He not only was one of the best BAR men in G Co, he also was a great inspiration for the younger Troopers. After all, in the eyes of the majority of the G Co troopers, "Pappy" was an "Old Man". Shucks, he was all the way to being every bit of 31 years old !! Ergo the moniker - "Pappy". He was wounded twice and rotated from Korea on 23 April 1951.

After he rotated out of Korea, he was sent to Germany where he served with the 6th Regiment stationed in Berlin where he just about died of boredom. One day, while brooding about the war in Korea still going on without him, he thought he got a whiff of gun-smoke. He headed for Classification and Assignment, volunteered for Korea, and didn't even stop in the good old US of A on the way through. He was assigned to E Co, 32d Regt, 7th Division where he was able to once again practice the fine art of slingin' the BAR!! He remained with the 7th Division until the signing of the truce. At that time, he was on a high hill overlooking "Pork Chop" saying the final - "Amen".

"Pappy's" next overseas assignment (he was never one for lounging around doing stateside duty for too long) was again back to Germany. He was assigned to the 1st Infantry Division ("Big red One") at that Utopian of Utopia assignment posts - Baumholder !! As your Editor Carl can attest, if you ain't ever served at Baumholder - you ain't... "Pappy" served there during 1956 and 1957 when the "Big Red One" Gyro'd back to Fort Riley, Kansas. "Pappy" retired at Fort Riley after nearly 25 years of service in October 1962.

"Pappy", on behalf of all the Troopers of G Co, past and present, we salute you !!

This is the BAR carried by "Pappy"

Could this be "Pappy" ????????

Carl W. Moreland
CW4, US Army Retired
G Co, 8th US Cav Regt (Inf)
Nov '50 to Nov '51