This is Personal: Purple Heart Finds Its Way Home

These days, retired actor James McEachin (photo below) is anything but retired. With over 150 television and film credits under his belt, six award winning novels and the distinguished honor of being the first African American to star in his own TV show (Tenafly 1973), he has spent the better part of a decade traveling the world as a key-note speaker and performing his one man play, Above the Call; Beyond the Duty. 

His most recent endeavor, the writing of a screenplay, aptly titled The Purple Heart, has been in the offing for the greater part of a year and chronicles his search that began over 60 years ago for the family of his Patrol Leader.  His riveting and powerfully delivered screenplay is catching the eye of many notable actors and he hopes to bring it to the big screen as a remembrance to those who fought, so many years ago, in America’s “forgotten war.” 

It was one year ago, on Veteran’s Day, that McEachin closed the door to a decades long search for the family of his Patrol Leader, First Lieutenant Henry Schenk, who fought so valiantly to free an American soldier from his captors in Korea on August 11, 1951. 

Lt Henry Schenk fought in both World War II and the Korean War, and was listed as “missing” after that ambush in Korea. Schenk’s family never knew what happened to Schenk because his body was never recovered. McEachin was able to recount his last days for them. 

McEachin, who was severely wounded in that battle, was Schenk’s “Point-man” on that patrol. At age 84, he still suffers with “battle fatigue” (now known as PTSD) and can recount with vivid clarity the events of the patrol that ended the lives of his fellow soldiers, including Schenk, but spared his life and the life of one other soldier who pulled McEachin to safety. He never knew the name of the soldier who managed to extract his bleeding body from the cesspool of a creek he had lain in for many hours. 

McEachin says he didn’t know Schenk very well because during that time, enlisted men were not allowed to fraternize with officers. 

The former actor said that he traveled a lot in those days and everywhere he traveled to, he would always open the phone book searching for Schenk’s name. At one point, he chuckled as he realized that he had been spelling the name wrong. 

But to this day, he insists that he had never seen a soldier like Schenk charge into a battle with such wanton fierceness and bravery. 

“He was firing his weapon, and screaming and cussing at the enemy, trying to draw fire so he could see where to shoot back. “He was the bravest man I’ve ever seen, or ever will see,” he recalled. 

The screenplay is in part McEachin’s memorial to a hero he has never forgotten and expounds not only on the horrors of that battle but the heartwarming surprises while searching for Schenk’s family. 

In the spring of 2013, Kimberly Paller (photo below), an eBay enthusiast in Pinehurst, North Carolina, was “garage-saling” with her friend. Paller purchased items from garage sales in hopes of selling the merchandise on eBay. 

On one particular day, Paller purchased a box full of books and old pictures. As she dug through the box, she found a small case with a Purple Heart medal inscribed with the name “Henry A. Schenk” inside it.  Paller said her first thought was to sell the medal on eBay but instead, searched Schenk’s name on Google. She came across an article written by McEachin for mybestyears.com regarding Lt Henry Schenk. Paller wanted to call McEachin but had no idea how to reach him. 

{module [862]}
{module [662]}

Her sister suggested she search Facebook (FB) for McEachin. She found his FB page and left him a private message with her phone number. McEachin called her while she was out walking her dog.

Paller said, “I called him back and it seems like he (McEachin) just didn’t believe me. He hung up a few times saying, ‘This is too much.’ He’d hang up and call me back and we’d talk for a couple more minutes. And finally, I guess it just sunk in.” 

At the behest of McEachin, Colonel John Bircher, of Purple Hearts Reunited, volunteered to aid in finding Schenk’s family. Bircher said of Schenk, “1st Lt. Henry A. Schenk was born 11 February 1922 in Vienna, Austria, and became a naturalized American citizen at the age of six. Schenk served in WWII and received an ROTC commission at Lafayette College in Easton, PA. During the Korean War, 1st Lt. Schenk served as the Executive Officer of Company K, 3rd Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. On 14 August 1952, while on a mission to rescue a missing American soldier as an aftermath of Operation San Quentin, 1st Lt. Schenk lost his life in a fierce battle with the enemy, as his patrol was ambushed. 1st Lt. Schenk attempted to save each of his men, putting their lives before his own; his body has never been recovered.” 

Captain Zachariah Fike of Purple Hearts Reunited said the organization sifted through thousands of military documents over the course of three months in its attempts to find the family. He said he was able to pinpoint through maps, within a 100 meter distance, where Schenk last was. 

The organization found Schenk’s widow, since remarried, living in Connecticut. Schenk’s niece, Andrea Flagg, lives in Pinehurst, where Paller found the medal. Schenk’s nephew, Peter Schenk, Jr. lives in Washington DC. 

Peter spoke of his uncle’s medal. He told ABC7 news, "It got away from us by accident, and through an amazing set of circumstances, has made its way back.” 

Hilma Carter was Schenk’s wife for a short period before Schenk deployed to Korea. Many years after Schenk was declared legally dead, she moved to Los Angeles and married Benny Carter, the world renowned saxophonist and arranger who helped steer the course of big band jazz. Benny Carter passed away in 2003. McEachin was surprised to learn that he and Carter knew many of the same people and traveled in the same social circles. Carter was unable to attend the Washington, DC events because of an illness. 

The Memorial ceremony to re-honor Schenk was held in DC at the Korean War Memorial by Purple Hearts United in conjunction with Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH). 

Walter Coleman, of the MOPH of Alabama, presented Paller with a plaque honoring her actions in searching for the medal’s proper home. Coleman said, using the ancient phrase. “The Military Order of the Purple Heart is proud to present the American Patriotism Award to Kimberly Paller for her determination and perseverance in locating the appropriate next of kin and returning the Purple Heart medal for Lt. Henry Alexander Schenk, killed in action in the Korean War to Mr. James McEachin, a compatriot soldier of the 9th Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division.” 

The Gary Sinise Foundation generously contributed to Purple Hearts Reunited to defray expenses for the return ceremony. That money facilitated travel expenses and a reception at the Army Navy Club where dinner was served as well. There were 150 people in attendance including Generals and several members of Congress. Schenk’s medals are currently on display in Washington, DC, and within a year or so, will find a permanent home at Lafayette College, Schenk’s alma mater and a place that he dearly loved. 

McEachin, once, so succinctly described his self made mission. He said simply, “In many ways, what I have done through so much of my life since then, has been an attempt to honor those two young man and so many others with whom I served who gave their lives so we can continue to enjoy our freedom.” 

Thank you Ambassador McEachin and all the many extraordinary people who opened their hearts (and their wallets) to support your quest to honor an American hero. Thank you to all our heroes who served, selflessly, to protect this great country.

(Katharine Russ is an investigative reporter. She is a regular contributor to CityWatch. Katharine Russ can be reached at [email protected]) Photo credit: McEachin/Paller picture Courtesy of Kim Paller

-cw

CityWatch

Vol 12 Issue 91

Pub: Nov 11, 2014