Collection Guide
Collection Title:
Collection Number:
Get Items:
Drake (George F.) papers
3312
View entire collection guide
Search this collection
Table of contents
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
USC Libraries East Asian Library
Title: George F. Drake papers
creator:
Drake, George F., 1930-
Identifier/Call Number: 3312
Physical Description:
1.5 Linear Feet
2 boxes
Date (inclusive): 1950-2017
Abstract: George F. Drake is an American Korean War veteran and activist. This collection comprises primarily DVDs, CDs, and CD-Rs created
and collected by Drake and pertaining to orphans during the Korean War. It also contains correspondence, clippings, and documents
relating to Korean War Children's Memorial and the Kiddy Car Airlift rescue operation, as well as news clippings, articles
and a few books.
The George F. Drake papers have been organized into the following series: 1. DVDs and CD-Rs; 2. Korean War Children's Memorial;
3. Kiddy Car Airlift; 4. General correspondence and notes; 5. Books, articles, and clippings. Arrangement within each series
is alphabetical.
The George F. Drake papers, 1950-2017, consist of audiovisual materials, correspondence, clippings, articles, research documents,
notes, and books created and collected by George F. Drake. The majority of the material is comprised of DVDs, CDs, and CD-Rs
featuring audiovisual content, photos, and articles pertaining to orphans during the Korean War and Drake's efforts to bring
awareness of this matter through the erecting of the Korean War Children's Memorial and his website. The collection also includes
correspondence, clippings, and publicity of the Korean War Children's Memorial and articles, notes and research documents
on Russell Blaisdell, Dean Hess, and the Kiddy Car Airlift rescue operation that took place in 1950 during the Korean War
and was dramatized in the 1957 film entitled "Battle Hymn" starring Rock Hudson. Included within the Kiddy Car Airlift series
is Drake's photo exhibit and published booklet regarding this event, entitled "GIs and the Kids: A Love Story", as well as
his research diaries and documents in attempt to uncover the truth of this event.
The remainder of the collection comprises general correspondence with Korean War Veterans, articles and clippings (included
collected clippings and biographical information on Drake after his being named an honorary citizen of Gwangju City), and
the books "Korean 65: the forgotten war remembered" and the Korean language version of "Father of a thousand: kids of the
Korean War".
George F. Drake is an American Korean War veteran and activist. He was assigned to the 326th Communications Reconnaissance
Company, an Army Security Agency radio intelligence company. A large part of his job was communication with the company orphanage
committee. In Drake's first six months in Korea, he noted having sent over 1,000 letters soliciting help for the orphans of
the war, in addition to his regular shifts in the operations tent and guard duty. Upon returning to the U.S. after the war,
Drake enrolled in Monterey Peninsula College where he organized campaigns to collect material for the orphans in Korea.
Drake continued his studies at University of California Berkeley, earning a B.A. in history and a M.A. in sociology. Thereafter
he taught high school for three years before joining the U.S. Foreign Service. Drake moved to Colombia where he was appointed
Director of the Centro Colombo-Americano. Drake's community interest was renewed there, and he began to develop programs to
help aid the poor. The literary program developed by Drake in the U.S. cultural center earned him the title of honorary citizen
of the city of Gwangju.
Over the next twenty-plus years, Drake was involved in a number of community action projects while living in Bellingham, WA
as well as chairing the city park department sculpture committee, where the construction of the Korean War Children's Memorial
pavilion took place. Drake has dedicated himself to the Korean War Children's Memorial, bringing awareness for this topic
through his book and photo exhibit entitled "GIs and the Kids – A Love Story: American Armed Forces and the Children of Korea
1950-1954" and his Korean War Children's Memorial website.
Drake has also focused on bringing renewed awareness to the Kiddy Car Airlift rescue operation from December 20, 1950, which
for years was solely credited to Colonel Dean E. Hess and was the subject of the film dramatization "Battle Hymn." Drake has
put together documentation and research to reveal that Chaplain Russell L. Blaisdell was the true hero of that operation.
Advance notice required for access.
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Curator of the Korean
Heritage Library. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Korean Heritage Library as the owner of the physical
items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
[Box/Folder# or Item name]. George F. Drake papers, Collection no. 3312, Korean Heritage Library, USC Libraries, University
of Southern California.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of George F. Drake, October 2017.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Korean War, 1950-1953 -- Archival resources
Korean War, 1950-1953 -- Personal narratives -- Archival resources
Orphans -- Korea -- Archival resources
War memorials -- Washington (State) -- Archival resources
War stories, Korean -- Archival resources
Books
Clippings
Correspondence
Compact discs
DVDs
Blaisdell, Russell Lloyd, 1910-2007 -- Archives
Drake, George F., 1930- -- Archives
Hess, Dean E. (Dean Elmer), 1917-2015 -- Archives