Well Carl, I will ask my cousin Cecil about it. He is the retired General who lives here in the same state as Joe and I do, NC. He will know.
KEITH
Posts from Hawkswill in thread „Pork Chop Hill and (then) 1st lieutenant Joseph G. Clemens.“
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No probs on getting stills as I found a few sites selling them. My only thing is ill have to wait till April before I can afford to get more but--I have a few picked out.
One of the stills shows George Shibata with Peck (Shibata was portraying Lt. Suki Ohashi--who was Joes XO for "K" Copmpany) and another featuring Rip Torn as his Brother-in-Law 1st Lt Russel) and im hoping both of them are still living so I can get those stills possibly signed.
How much do they cost? Did you see any of Greg and Joe together like Joe showing Greg how to do something correctly? Really like the hand grenade one but would just like to be able to see Joe's face better. Well, back to work, LOL! Cool stuff, KEITH
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My Keith and Carl,
I envy you both.Well, you should, My BILL! I feel that we are most fortunate folks. I think Carl is going to try to hit you up for more pics so he can give some autographed ones away to maybe you and me, LOL! Carl is a giver for sure. He just LOVES to give things to folks who will treasure them as he does. Now, for me, I would like one of those off camera pics as in where Joe is teaching Greg the proper hand grenade procedure..........just would like one that shows Joe's face better. Maybe I can find one somewhere.
Anyway, hope Joe and Cecil, (wife pronounced Sesil), become friends. Sounds as if we may have a lot in common. Funny that my cousin, the General is Cecil, LOL.........Going to ask him about Joe tomorrow. Cecil was in Korea also, but think he was just a Colonel then.
Going to copy this to Joe in a couple of days Bill. So, if you want to say anything personally to him, please post it.......he will get it. YK
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I also talked with Col. Joe today as he couldn't find Carl's phone number and wanted to thank him for the gift certificate that Carl had sent him. I had talked to his wife before to find out the places they like to eat. Found out that she knew my father's hometown very well and knew of the State Park that was founded in honor of my father's best friend, who after numerous successful submarine commands, was all of a sudden lost to the deep....his sub was never recovered. The park is named Bobby Brown State park and is near Elberton, GA.....it is on the map. She and I plan to talk more as we surely must know a lot of the same people. She was also very familiar with Athens, Ga, (near Elberton), where my mother was born and raised and my grandfather, Will Keith Hawks was the Railroad Yard Master for Seaboard RR.
But, today, I told Joe, I finally got a half decent copy of Pork Chop Hill and got to see what really happened in the movie. I knew that he had been there to "oversee" the production, but I was curious if they stuck to the true storyline. He said that there were some technical things that couldn't be recreated but all in all it was pretty much down to the letter. I particularly asked about that bunker they had to retreat to in order to save the Hill for the last little bit. He said the film company had done a fine job of recreating what it was like inside that bunker with the flamethrower hitting them......pretty much controlled pandemonium I think. I asked did they really throw sandbags like crazy to keep the flames out. He said, "Oh, that was a fact". Joe is very easy to talk to, and yet you still feel like you are, in a way, talking to a history book.....but a real LIVE one. We talked of Viet Nam some. He had never met my General cousin, but then, I didn't really think he would have.
Quite a wonderful experience to talk with someone like Colonel Joe, and the wife who waited at home for him. I thank Carl greatly for that opportunity as it never would have happened if not for him and his love of the military men who served our country. I will be sending the link to this for them a while later. If anyone wants to thank him for his service or share some of their own exploits connected with this, please do so soon. Man, what a kick! Of all the many celebrities throughout the years that I have met and known, I consider my chat with Joe and his wife to be among the highlights....certainly the proudest! KEITH
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When Carl asked me to check in NC for him, I thought I was in for the long haul. But, the first thing I put in brought up his city. Then, I got his phone and address and called him to explain about what a fantastic fan Carl was of his. Very modest fellow. I asked, "Do I have the honor of speaking with Colonel Joseph Clemons, the hero of Pork Chop Hill?" He told me I had the right person but he was certainly no hero! He asked me about my family's military history and was able to tell him of my cousin Cecil the retired General here in Raleigh, My LT, JG Mom from WWII, My grandfather a captain in WWI and Colonel in Hollywood promoting the war effort in WWII. Then told him about Dad's Curtis Wright airplanes that we call his medals. He was quite impressed! Then...........called Carl and he apparently won the fellah over. Think we will be seeing some pretty cool original pics for the actual people involved in the battle. WAY TO GO, CARL! KEITH
Thanks for posting this Carl,
and well done to you and Keith
for your research, which has
produced a most satisfying result.
You must be thrilled to have personal contact with this great man
