Letters from North Korea: How Milwaukee County Historical Society preserves stories from war veterans

EXPLORING KOREA: Stories from Milwaukee to the DMZ and across a divided Peninsula. This special series explores historical sites and cultural traditions from across the Korean Peninsula, building a bridge back to the search for identity in Milwaukee. From the occupation of Korea at the end of World War II, to Korean War veterans in Milwaukee, veterans from Milwaukee who served in later years at the DMZ, adopted South Korean children who grew up in Milwaukee, different waves of the South Korean diaspora who moved to Milwaukee to raise their families, and even a defector from North Korea, their stories share generations of Korean and American experiences. https://mkeind.com/koreanstories

One of the missions of the Milwaukee County Historical Society (MCHS) is to serve as a repository of local memories, by preserving documents and artifacts. Included in the vast historical collection are the personal stories from Korean War veterans.

The correspondences of John S. Murlaschitz and photos of Bruce J. Kremer offer two very different glimpses into the lives of soldiers during and just after “The Forgotten War.”

FROM MILWAUKEE TO KOREA

Murlaschitz and Kremer were both young men from Milwaukee, but were drawn into the Korean War under different circumstances. Murlaschitz, an infantryman, found himself in the thick of the conflict, while Kremer, drafted in 1954, arrived in Korea after the armistice.

Murlaschitz’s service was marked by intense combat. He was wounded in action in September 1950 and returned to duty shortly after, only to be declared missing in action by November. His family endured a year of uncertainty until a telegram informed them he was a prisoner of war in North Korea.

In contrast, Kremer’s journey began with basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, followed by a 21-day voyage across the Pacific, ending in his assignment to the United States Military Advisory Group to the Republic of Korea Army (KMAG).

CAPTIVITY AND COURAGE

Murlaschitz’s letters from Camp 3 in Ch’ang-Song, under Chinese control, revealed a soldier’s resilience in the face of adversity. Despite the harsh conditions, what he wrote to his family was filled with concern for their well-being and mundane queries about home life, such as whether they had purchased a television set. The letters, written under the watchful eyes of his captors, often reassured his mother of his good spirits, though it was unclear how much of his condition was genuine and how much was coerced.

His correspondences painted a picture of the psychological toll of captivity, where prisoners were subjected to indoctrination sessions that many considered brainwashing. Yet, Murlaschitz’s enduring hope and connection to his family provided a lifeline, evident in his repeated reminders for his mother not to send money as there was no use for it in captivity. His letters from Camp 3, often stamped with postmarks in Hangul and addressed via the “Chinese Committee of World Peace in Peking,” showed the surreal mix of personal connection and geopolitical conflict.

In one letter dated May 26, 1953, Murlaschitz wrote:

Dear Mother and Frank,

Just got your letter you wrote on the 20th of March and was very happy to get it. It was the first one I got from home. As for me I’m getting along fine and hope you are doing the same. And Frank, tell Mother that I’ll be home as soon as I can get out of this mess. And whatever you do don’t send me any money. Because in a place like this I have no need for it and anyway there is no place to spend it. I’ve written more than one letter home and to Emma in fact it was about 5 or 6. Well if I ever do get home I don’t want any rice to eat we get our full here. Well if you see Emma said hello for me and Tony too. Said hi to Bob and the rest of them. Said I got the card Bob sent and I wish you would tell him to write one. Well, tell Mother not to worry about me, and let’s hope this gets over with in a hurry.

As always,

Johnny, North Korea P.O.W. Camp #3

POST-WAR REFLECTIONS

While Murlaschitz’s letters documented the war’s immediate impact, Kremer’s color slides provided a visual record of the war’s aftermath. Upon arrival in South Korea, Kremer was assigned to KMAG in Daegu, later moving to Seoul where he served as a secretary to a general.

Kremer documented a landscape scarred by war but slowly recovering. His photographs of Seoul depicted a landscape still struggling to recover, juxtaposed with moments of everyday life and glimpses of beauty.

“Seoul and the rest of the country was in ruins. In Seoul, there were only two buildings left standing undamaged by the war. One was an old temple and the other was a downtown hotel. The capital building itself and everything else was in ruins.”

Kremer’s narrative, preserved in his personal reflections written from 1985 and 1986, detailed his experiences in Korea as a witness of the rebuilding efforts, and the fortitude of the Korean people. He spent part of 1954, all of 1955, and part of 1956 in South Korea, getting back home during the summer of 1956.

HISTORICAL NARRATIVES

The intertwining stories of Murlaschitz and Kremer provide a unique view of the Korean War experience with Milwaukee roots. Murlaschitz’s letters offered an intimate look at a soldier’s psychological endurance, while Kremer’s photographs documented the broader context of recovery and consequences of war.

MCHS Archivist Steve Schaffer underscored the importance of such first-hand documents for filling the gaps in the public’s memory about the Korean War. He talked about often feeling dismayed at how the Korean War had been forgotten in the American consciousness. That was why he wanted MCHS to acquire and display more materials that represented the time. Personal artifacts offer a richer insight into history.

“We have next to nothing on the Korean conflict in our collection, and it has always been a personal interest of mine,” said Schaffer. “Kremer’s slides are slice-of-life shots of Seoul in 1954-55, and then some that are related to the military. They are stunning and beautiful, and those types of images in color are very rare.”

ENDURING LEGACIES

Murlaschitz’s story concluded with his release in August 1953, after thirty-two months as a POW. His final letter, joyfully announcing his freedom, marked the end of a harrowing chapter in his life. Attempts to trace his later life revealed that he lived between Waupaca and Milwaukee, but little else was known. His letters remain as a witness to his hope during a very dark time.

Kremer’s legacy, captured in his photographs, offered a visual reference to the enduring spirit of those who lived through the war. His images have allowed future generations to share a glimpse into a pivotal period in history, ensuring that the sacrifices and experiences of soldiers like Murlaschitz and Kremer were not forgotten.