The Lucifer Patch by Bertram L. Brent

"The Lucifer Patch" is a story from an enlisted man about life in an army cargo helicopter outfit in the early days of helicopters, before Vietnam and the development of gas turbine engines. The 13th and 6th helicopter companies arrived in Korea in early 1953. Their large Sikorsky H-19C helicopters made an immediate impact on the Army's ability to move troops, resupply units on the battlefield, and evacuate casualties.

It covers the end of the shooting war and the beginning of what would become known as the "DMZ War" when any aircraft that strayed too close to the Zone was immediately targeted by the trigger-happy North Koreans and troops near the DMZ had to be on guard for a North Korean or Chinese ambush or mine-laying detail.

It's a story about the day-to-day details of life in the "Lucky 13th" flying Neutral Nations Inspections Teams (NNITS) out of Seoul and the major cities of Pusan, Taegu, Inchon, Kunsan, Chunchon, and Panmunjom to verify that both sides were following the rules set down on July 27, 1953 in the cease-fire agreement. Other missions involved lifting a 1,000 pound bomb from an unmapped minefield, flying for days in blizzard conditions to rescue and resupply ROK troops snowbound in the eastern mountains near the Punchbowl, and a rescue mission into the DMZ to pick up an Air Force pilot shot down by the North Koreans. More pleasant duties involved flying USO personalities such as Marilyn Monroe and Debbie Reynolds to stops along the DMZ to entertain front line troops. Also, from time to time a special passenger was the President of South Korea, Syngman Rhee himself. There was always something exciting happening with the "Lucky 13th" and I had the great good fortune to serve fifteen months in 1955-56 with this unique, elite unit and wear the "Lucifer Patch."

While the story is about the pilots, it is mainly about the enlisted crew chiefs working in sweltering heat on a flight line surrounded by odoriferous, mosquito-infested rice paddies in summer, and trying to make repairs to the helicopters and keep them flying in the knuckle-busting cold of the Siberian winters.

It's also about the wonderful Korean people. From Papa-San, Mama-San, and Boy-San, Musume and Moose, you'll recognize them all. You will also be reminded of the music of the period - from "Sayonara" to "China Nights." If you served in Korea during the war, or the DMZ War during the years that followed, reading this book will be like a trip back home.

Bertram L. Brent

"The Lucifer Patch" contains 206 pages, including unit history and extensive photos of personnel and of the Uijongbu-Camp Stanley area. The cost is $24.00 plus $2.00 for shipping and handling.