In Loving Memory Lt. Esper "K" Chandler July 16 1926 - November 16 2008

Born in Dubberly, La., July 1926 to Ivie Odell Chandler and Genny Louise Vice Chandler, Esper Kaylor (“K”) Chandler, lovingly known as "Pop C", lived a very full life. During WWII, at 17, he joined the U.S. Navy and served as an aviation cadet. Later, he joined the U.S. Army and served as a Warrant Officer II during the Korean War (1951-52). He was a member of the 180th Infantry 45th Division in Japan and then as an officer volunteered to transfer to Korea as part of the 27th Infantry (Wolfhounds) Regiment 25th Division – he certainly was an extremely proud Wolfhound and remained active through the recent 2008 reunion. Some of the medals and awards he received for his service are: Purple Heart, Combat Infantry Badge, Korean Campaign Service Medal, 3 stars, UN Medal, American Campaign Service Medal, W.W. II Victory Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal. He received his Bachelor’s degree in 1948 from LSU (very proud Tiger band member) and received his Master’s degree from Texas A&M.“K” Chandler a Professional Agronomist and Soil Scientist owned Texas Plant and Soil Lab and formerly served as a fertilizer executive For American Plant Food. He also enjoyed being a farmer / rancher in Rosebud, TX.  K traveled the country for college and military reunions and doing the work he loved the most – agricultural consulting. A book on his work is only a few weeks from publication – the publisher was so looking forward to presenting this to him at a December conference. Throughout his life, he has touched and positively affected so many people of all professions and all walks of life.

"K" is preceded in death by his parents, his brothers – Odell F. and William S. and his loving wife of over 48 years, Bettie Brownlee Chandler. He is survived by his children, Clyde William and his wife Rosa Chandler of Rosebud, TX., Michael Allen and his wife Susan Chandler of Harker Heights, TX., Jeni Ruth “Cricket” Chandler of Edinburg, TX., five grand-children and two great grand-children. He also had a very extended family including his son of the heart, Alex and his wife Mimi Garcia, the Wolfhounds and his lab family – All who will miss him dearly.

an excerpt from the book RED DRAGON - The SECOND ROUND - FACES OF WAR II

"FOLLOW ME"

"My Military service career began in 1943 at age 17. I volunteered for the Naval Aviation V-5 Cadet program at LSU. My service was diverted to ROTC V-12 program with duty stations at Southwest Louisiana Institute, Tulane, and NAS, Corpus Christi and Iowa U. The war ended de fore flight training began. I returned to LSU in the ROTC program, graduating in 1948 as a 2nd Lt in the US Army Reserve. My ROTC instructors, mostly WW II veterans, taught me three principles that guided my path as an infantry combat officer in the Korean War. "Follow Me", "Lead, don't push", and "Take care of your men, they will take care of you". "Be fair, no pets, no favorites". "In war, casualties occur, be prepared to assume leadership". "Act decisively". "Take heed of the terrain". " Never ask your men to do something you would not do yourself". " If you are self-motivated, men will follow your lead". With these battle tested military maxims in mind, I felt no qualms when I was activated for the Korean War. I reported for duty at Camp Chafee, AR July 1950.

I was serving with the 180th Inf 45th Div in Japan when the Regiment was asked to ship 3 officers to Korea. I volunteered. In Korea I asked for the 25th Division knowing I would probably be allowed to choose my regiment. My assumption was correct. I opted for the 27th Infantry Wolfhounds, a proud regiment whose exploits I had followed while in Japan. The war was on slow bell. Washington politicians micro managing a war had curtailed ammunition supplies, frozen ranks and promotions, and issued orders to halt combat activities that might irritate the Chinese in a sensitive stage of the peace talks. Politicians never understand that peace is obtained when an enemy is beaten. Given a breather, he resupplies, digs in and gets ready to renew the attack. Too bad politicians do not make a study of history, specifically the military history of past wars. Our country would suffer less loss of blood and men.

December 1951, we were on recon patrol 3 miles in front of our sector of the MLR, near Kumwha at the base of the Iron Triangle.We ran into an ambush during this period of "no combat action". I started to jump up from the level of one rice paddy to the next, when something slammed into my right leg. I thought I had tripped a mine. My leg felt as if it had been jerked out of its socket. My jump would have landed me on top of a camouflaged Chinese! I could now see the barrel of his weapon just above my head. Managing to stand on my good leg, and leaning against the wall of the rice paddy, I shot my ambusher who was busy firing at my RTO, Pfc Donald Elm, and messenger, George Lovas, he failed to notice me. George Lovas yelled, "To your left!" Another Red soldier was pointing his burp gun at me. His burp gun lost the argument to my M-2 carbine. George, still standing up in full sight while loosening a jam in his M-1, again yelled, "On your right!", inserting another clip, I swung my carbine toward a third Chinese coming out of a shallow trench. He was camouflaged in rice stubble. American-carbine vs. Russian burp gun, burp gun again lost the match.

Looking again back down that hill, what it meant to be a Wolfhound was vividly apparent. A rescue group was on their way up to help me. With the group, organized by Asst Plat Sgt John Matlock, was a medic and a litter. A hail of small arms fire and incoming mortar rounds did not deter them. As they made their ascent to where I lay, I could not help but recall the words of our Regt'l CO as he welcomed us to the regiment a few weeks past. Wolfhounds leave no one on the field of battle. Your job is to carry out your mission. If you are on a point, wounded and pinned down, have no fear. If a squad can not get you, a platoon will come. If a platoon is not sufficient force, then the company, or the battalion and if need be, the whole damn regiment. WE TAKE CARE OF OUR OWN.

After a 3 month all expense paid vacation at the Tokyo Army General Hospital, I returned to duty. At every level of rank, a wounded man returning to duty was offered a choice of rear echelon or return to his unit. I choose to return to Able Company whose loyalty and dedication to the honored traditions of the regiment had saved me on that hillside. I also wanted to talk to several men and explain their awards for valor I had initiated were in abeyance. Medals still were not being awarded due to ongoing 'peace talks'.

My service was mostly 'bunker duty' in contrast to the brutal battles fought by men that served in Korea before and after me. They have my utmost respect, particularly those Wolfhounds of Able Company, who fought the ferocious battles of Sandbag Castle about six weeks after I rotated home. Today, I am still trying to have the medals for valor initiated so long ago be awarded to those men."

an excerpt from the book

Red Dragon: The Second Round Faces of War II 190 Veterans of the Korean War Recall the Years 1952 Through 1954 of That Forgotten War Their Experiences and thought

Arthur W Wilson & Norman L Strickbine

"The freedom that this nation and the world enjoys today is due to individuals that did their duty in the line of battle when it counted." "To succeed in battle requires many soldiers doing their jobs. Collective accomplishments are as important as those who become the focal point of valor.", "It pains me to see the shame heaped upon veterans that served their country by those that refused to serve. History needs to record each individual's account, no matter how small the contribution. Just being there when called to serve one's country is more than can be said of many in subsequent conflicts"

Esper K Chandler excerpt from 'Wolfhounds of Sandbag Castle - a 96 Day Defense - Korea 1952' '2nd Platoon, Company A - 27th Infantry Regiment' "NEC ASPERA TERRENT"

George W Langdale & contributing members of 2nd Platoon, Company A - 27th Infantry Regiment - 25th Infantry Division

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