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Navy Log is an American television drama anthology series created by Samuel Gallu that presented stories from the history of the United States Navy.
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00:00Navy Regulations, Article 1037.
00:27The deck log shall be a complete daily record by watches, in which shall be described
00:34every circumstance and occurrence of importance or interest which concerns the crew and the
00:39operation and safety of the ship, or which may be of historical value.
00:47The Pentagon, Washington, D.C. They tell lots of stories about it, but this story is true.
00:54None of the names have been changed.
01:03Sir, Mrs. Kelch is here.
01:05Oh yes, about her son. Ask her to come in please.
01:08Yes, sir.
01:14Mrs. Kelch, why don't you sit down please?
01:19May I serve you a cup of coffee?
01:21I'd enjoy that very much, thank you.
01:24Black, please.
01:43The Secretary has instructed us to do whatever we can for you, Mrs. Kelch.
01:47The Navy wants to help.
01:49I've been trying for two years to discover exactly what happened to John.
01:58First you see he was reported missing, later presumed dead.
02:02Then when the prisoners began to come back from Korea, I was informed it was definite.
02:07Lieutenant Kelch was on a carrier.
02:09That's what I don't understand, sir.
02:11He was on the Princeton, and I knew just when he was supposed to come home.
02:15On rotation?
02:16Yes.
02:17Then suddenly, somehow, after that date...
02:21Commander, I want to know how.
02:24I want to be told the what and where and the why.
02:28I sent the Navy my son.
02:31And all the Navy sends me is telegrams.
02:34I've come all the way from Los Angeles to ask for more than that.
02:37I realize this is a big and busy place, but where else can I go?
02:42North Korea?
02:44I simply want to know the truth.
02:47Is that asking too much?
02:54You got something, sir?
02:56I don't know, but Kelch certainly had something.
02:59I don't suppose you've ever seen an officer's fitness reports.
03:02Here and there, sir, when I've typed them up for the CO.
03:05You know what they are?
03:06Yes, sir.
03:07Reports on an officer from his superiors, right through his career.
03:10Right.
03:11Everything from how he wears his stripes to how he runs his ship.
03:14Character, loyalty, intelligence, industry, personality, leadership.
03:19The highest notation you can get is outstanding.
03:22And Kelch never got anything less, Chief.
03:25Outstanding.
03:26Outstanding.
03:27Outstanding.
03:28Outstanding.
03:29Outstanding.
03:30Outstanding.
03:31Never seen any of my life.
03:34His mother said the last she heard from him he was supposed to rotate stateside.
03:38That was on the Princeton.
03:40Oh, here we are.
03:43CV-37, Captain Gallery, commanding.
03:46What was he, sir?
03:47A fighter pilot?
03:48Helicopter.
03:49HU-1.
03:50Maybe he got transferred.
03:51Uh-oh.
03:52You're right.
03:53And you're wrong.
03:55Hmm.
03:56Chief, check Bupers for the present status and address of Captain Gallery of the CV-37.
04:12I'll write him a letter and ask him for everything he knows about Kelch.
04:16Yes, sir.
04:17And Chief.
04:18Yes, sir.
04:19This is a priority project.
04:20Yes, sir.
04:21In reference your query concerning Lieutenant John Kelvin Kelch.
04:23That's K-O-E-L-S-C-H.
04:25I was privileged, make that honored.
04:42I was honored to know Kelch during my captaincy of the Princeton.
04:46In my opinion, he was one of the finest young officers in the Navy.
04:51I have reference particularly to the occasion aboard ship during duty off North Korea.
04:58We have received orders to rotate pilots and return to the United States.
05:04Come in.
05:08Afternoon, sir.
05:09Afternoon, Kelch.
05:10How's it going?
05:11Yeah, quite a day, sir.
05:13Heard you picked out three pilots today.
05:15Good going.
05:16Thanks, Captain.
05:17Well, you've got only two days to go.
05:20Sir?
05:26Rotation?
05:30I don't know, sir.
05:31You don't know what?
05:32Well, it doesn't seem right, sir.
05:33I mean, we've worked out this rescue business pretty well and now I have to go back to the States.
05:39Seriously, sir, we've worked out our techniques of helicopter rescue through actual experience.
05:44Is it fair to all the pilots for us to just shove off in the middle of things?
05:48Pilots get rotated too, Kelch.
05:50Well, yes, sir.
05:51But there are lots of pilots and not many copter pilots.
05:53All right, Kelch.
05:54What do you want?
05:55Continuation of tour duty, sir.
05:56Extension, whatever you want to call it.
05:57Negative.
05:58Read that.
05:59The ship's going back to Pearl.
06:00One week, everybody goes.
06:01All right, sir.
06:02I'd like to stay behind.
06:06Will he take an LST?
06:07Captain, I'll take anything that's got a deck I can set my helicopter down.
06:10Maybe that's not grammar, but it's the truth.
06:11I'll take anything that's got a deck I can set my helicopter down on.
06:12Maybe that's not grammar, but it's the truth.
06:13I'll take anything that's got a deck I can set my helicopter down on.
06:17All right, Kelch.
06:18I'll think about it.
06:19Thank you, sir.
06:20I'll take anything that's got a deck I can set my helicopter down on.
06:24Maybe that's not grammar, but it's the truth.
06:26All right, Kelch.
06:27I'll think about it.
06:28Thank you, sir.
06:29John Kelch's request to continue his helicopter duty, knowing full well the danger of the
06:36missions and the high percentage of casualties among rescue personnel, won my undying admiration
06:42for his volunteer work.
06:43I'll take anything that's got a deck I can set my helicopter down on.
06:46Maybe that's not grammar, but it's the truth.
06:47All right, Kelch.
06:48I'll think about it.
06:49Thank you, sir.
06:50John Kelch's request to continue his helicopter duty, knowing full well the danger of the missions
06:53and the high percentage of casualties among rescue personnel, won my undying admiration
06:58for his voluntary act and my reluctant acquiescence.
07:03For further details, I suggest you contact Commander Billet, commander of Helicopter Squadron
07:101, since any information I can add about Lieutenant Kelch would be hearsay.
07:15Commander Billet.
07:16Can do.
07:17In my opinion, he was one of the finest young officers in the Navy.
07:28Your information from Captain Gallery.
07:33This is not the last time Lieutenant Kelch volunteered.
07:38Early in July 1951, aboard the LST 422, to which he was assigned for pilot rescue duty,
07:47Kelch had just completed his day's tour.
07:51It was then that he...
07:52William 3-2 Baker 9.
07:55One of our boys is down in a rough spot.
08:00That, uh...
08:01William 3-2 Baker 9, that's...
08:04About an hour from us, isn't it, Skipper?
08:06Yeah.
08:07Who's got the four to wait tomorrow?
08:10Well, Harris, but he's beat.
08:13Well, so are you, so that's out.
08:15What's out?
08:16Well, you don't take his duty tomorrow.
08:18Well, suppose I wanted to go and pick up the Marine right now.
08:21Would you order me not to?
08:22Well, your chopper hasn't been checked.
08:24My ship's all right.
08:25You're a bush.
08:26No, no, no, I feel perfect, Skipper.
08:27Well, I can't ask for fighter coverage now.
08:29Well, neither would I.
08:30They wouldn't be any help anyway, it's all mountains in there.
08:33Well, what about your crewman?
08:34Mine will volunteer.
08:35Yeah?
08:36If you ask him, he'll go anywhere you do.
08:39He's the best.
08:41Come on, Skipper.
08:42Are you gonna order me not to?
08:44No, John.
08:46Take care of yourself.
08:56You have quite a picture of the man there already, sir,
08:58with Captain Gallery's report.
09:00When a man's superior refers to him
09:02as one of the finest young officers in the Navy,
09:04that means something.
09:06If I may draw your attention, sir,
09:09to Commander Billet's closing paragraph.
09:15Volunteered again?
09:16Yes, sir.
09:17He goes on to say what happened afterwards,
09:19he knows only by hearsay.
09:21Now let's see, who is this Neil?
09:24George Milton Neil, aviation machinist mate third class, sir,
09:27was Lieutenant Kelsch's crewman.
09:29Sir, in view of the way this is shaping up,
09:32and with that closing paragraph from his squadron skipper,
09:36I'm certain it's worth your attention.
09:38Where's Neil now?
09:39Springfield, Ohio, sir.
09:41We've got a telegram out to him.
09:43I'm sure when we get his story,
09:44we'll have a case for a Navy cross for Kelsch.
09:47I see.
09:58With all due respect to a fine officer and a friend,
10:01I must disagree with the opinion of Captain Gallery
10:04in describing John Kelsch
10:06as one of the finest young officers in the Navy.
10:09In my opinion, John Kelsch was the finest young officer
10:13in the United States Navy.
10:15Respectfully yours, Dudley Billet.
10:22Have you informed Mrs. Kelsch of this?
10:24Yes, sir, I have.
10:25We've been three weeks piecing this together.
10:28Of course, there's still a lot we don't know,
10:30but I felt justified in requesting our chief of chaplains
10:33to ask one of our West Coast chaplains
10:35to visit her in Los Angeles.
10:37That's fine.
10:45The Pentagon was kind enough to send me a copy
10:47of Commander Billet's letter.
10:49I'm sure that you will cherish it.
10:55I shall.
10:57Now, at least you know, Mrs. Kelsch,
10:59why John didn't come home when he was supposed to.
11:02Yes.
11:03But there's something else I don't know.
11:07I received this in the mail just the other day.
11:13I'd like to know why.
11:15Mrs. Kelsch, this is the Purple Heart.
11:17I know, Chaplain.
11:19No.
11:21I've received no report that Johnny was wounded,
11:24or how he died.
11:25or how he died.
11:27I know that he did not die of wounds.
11:29I know he died in prison, not in battle.
11:31Please send it back to the Pentagon.
11:33I don't want Johnny to get anything he doesn't deserve.
11:37Well, sir, the Chaplain finally persuaded Mrs. Kelsch to accept the Purple Heart.
11:45Well, what about this new material?
11:47Well, sir, you have there a dispatch from Kelsch's shipmate on the LST, Lieutenant John Blasdell.
11:53He gives the details of the last transmission from Kelsch.
11:57Have sighted downed plane, am proceeding to scene.
12:01He goes on to say Kelsch's helicopter was found abandoned a few days later,
12:05and destroyed to prevent use by the enemy.
12:08But again, any further details he can give are pure hearsay.
12:11Did you learn the name of the downed pilot?
12:15No, sir.
12:16I'm afraid the whole thing hinges on Neil, Kelsch's crewman.
12:20He's moved several times.
12:22O&I's trying to track him down.
12:24I'm on my way over there now to check on the latest dope.
12:26I'm sure they'll be successful.
12:28Yes, sir.
12:33Well, O&I is still trying to...
12:35What's special with you, Chief?
12:37I found him, sir.
12:38The Marine Captain Lieutenant Kelsch went in for.
12:41He's now Major James V. Wilkins.
12:43Flight test.
12:44Naval Air Test Center, Patuxent River, Maryland.
12:46Sir, get a load of this.
12:53I must have been unconscious.
12:55For when I opened my eyes,
12:57there was a young helicopter pilot leaning over me.
13:01He identified himself and rendered first aid to my wounds.
13:06Shortly thereafter, he persuaded me that the best policy was to proceed,
13:11despite my injuries, toward the coast,
13:13where there would be some chance of our being picked up.
13:18How'd you find me?
13:19Well, he came in pretty low when my crewman spotted you.
13:22He's working in your plane now, destroying code books and the like of that.
13:25How's your chopper?
13:27Finished.
13:28We'll have to head toward the sea.
13:30How far is it?
13:32Oh, I figured it'll take us all about a week.
13:34Oh, now, look, Lieutenant.
13:36Now, save your strength.
13:37Hey, Neil!
13:38Let's get going, Neil!
13:40Bring some blankets from the copter.
13:42We'll be all right.
13:44I forget who it was who said,
13:46it's better to die on your feet than live on your knees.
13:49But she was right.
13:50Hey, Neil!
13:51Is there a hand here?
13:56That would be Neil.
13:58Doggone it, where is that sailor?
14:00We certainly could use him.
14:01Hearsay.
14:02Hearsay.
14:03The closest thing we've got to an eye witness,
14:05and he lost him at the village.
14:06But up to then, sir.
14:08Commander Roberts' office.
14:10Just a minute, please.
14:11Intelligence, sir.
14:13Yes, sir.
14:14How's the cloak and dagger department?
14:16Go ahead.
14:19Terrific!
14:21Thank you very much.
14:27Neil's moved.
14:28Chief, get another wire out.
14:29Here's the address in Boston.
14:30Yes, sir.
14:44We would greatly appreciate
14:46all of the information you can supply.
14:51Commander Elsie Roberts,
14:53Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy
14:57for Personnel and Reserve Forces.
15:00Thanks, sir!
15:01We are good, sir.
15:02Here, who is going to be the owner of the Clara's office?
15:04Thank you, sir.
15:05We are very happy.
15:06Thank you, sir, and Rome.
15:07I'm ready, sir.
15:08Thank you, sir.
15:10All right, sir.
15:11What about you?
15:12Hello, Alma?
15:13Let's go.
15:30Dear sir, since you ask about my lieutenant,
15:38I'll try to make my letter concise and to the point.
15:53While I destroyed what I had time to on both planes,
15:57my lieutenant took care of our downed pilot.
16:00My lieutenant said we would head over the hills to the sea
16:04so as to spot planes better.
16:08We're here!
16:13Here!
16:26Look, fellas.
16:28Two's company.
16:29Oh, I don't know, sir.
16:30I always did like crowds.
16:32Easy does it.
16:38For about five days, carrying and dragging, we brought our downed pilot along.
16:52We lived on berries and acorns mostly, and what water we could find.
16:59You fellas better leave me.
17:01You'll never make the sea with me hanging around your necks.
17:02We don't buy that kind of talk.
17:03Now, come on, Jim.
17:04Drink up.
17:05Drink up.
17:06Six days later, July 10th, we reached the coast.
17:09But there was a village between us and the shore.
17:10Our downed pilot was suffering very badly from exposure,
17:12and we were without remedial facilities of any kind.
17:16Mr. Kelch made up his mind to scout the village for help.
17:17He said if he did not come back, to go on just the same, if I could.
17:1820 minutes later, we were all captured from the boat.
17:20Five days later, we were in a boat.
17:21Six days later, July 10th, we reached the coast.
17:24Six days later, July 10th, we reached the coast.
17:26But there was a village between us and the shore.
17:29Our downed pilot was suffering very badly from exposure.
17:33And we were without remedial facilities of any kind.
17:36Mr. Kelch made up his mind to scout the village for help.
17:40He said if he did not come back, to go on just the same, if I could.
17:44Twenty minutes later, we were all captured.
17:48Captain Wilkins, our downed pilot, was removed.
17:52I never saw him again.
17:54We were kept in a cave for two days with no food.
17:58Then at last, our captors came to us.
18:01We were marched under heavy and cruel guard
18:04to prison camp Pyongyang,
18:06mostly United States Army officers and Air Force.
18:10We were kept there.
18:14And in no time, we were in the same condition as the others,
18:18with different diseases and the lack of essentials.
18:22We lived in this indescribable hell for a month
18:26and were moved north.
18:33After the march to another camp,
18:35where I spent the rest of the war, we were partied.
18:44Of his further life and death, there is nothing more I can say,
18:50for I was not present when he died.
18:53Hoping these details will assist you and Mrs. Kelsch.
18:58I remain sincerely yours, G.M. Neal.
19:03Sir, there's a British officer on a mission in the building.
19:07I heard someone say he was in that northern camp.
19:10Get him, Chief.
19:11Yes, sir.
19:15I'm going into the secretary with this.
19:17At least I can put Neal in for an award.
19:27You have no record here of his life in the prison camp?
19:30So far, no, sir.
19:32But my chief tells me he'll have...
19:37Yes?
19:39Oh, ask him to come in, please.
19:46Flight Lieutenant Osmond, sir.
19:49How do you do?
19:50How do you do?
19:52We are concerned here with a young Navy officer
19:54who appears to have been in the same prison camp as yourself
19:57during the Korean War.
19:59Uh, yes, sir.
20:00Lieutenant Kelsch.
20:01You knew him then?
20:02Yes, sir.
20:04Would you be so kind as to draw up a report
20:06for the Board of Decorations and Medals
20:09concerning his behavior and actions while a prisoner?
20:13I should be very proud, sir.
20:15Lieutenant Kelsch was a most inspiring person.
20:18How so?
20:19I would say that no prisoner with whom he came in contact
20:24ever broke under the enemy's brutality.
20:27I would say that I never did
20:29simply because of his inspiration.
20:33Would you care to describe any particular occasion?
20:37There were many, sir.
20:40I remember particularly that we were together
20:43when a concerted effort was being made
20:45to obtain our signatures on certain documents.
20:49I don't want your cigarettes.
21:00Why don't you get us the medicine we need?
21:03You know you can have all your wish
21:05if you will appreciate your precision
21:07and sign a few simple statements.
21:10A few filthy lies.
21:13I can promise you better treatment to your associates.
21:16As well as yourself.
21:17No.
21:18They can speak for themselves.
21:25And I can speak for myself.
21:28Someday the whole world is going to learn
21:31that your new order is based in
21:35inhumanity and lies.
21:38Someday.
21:39Not from you, my dear lieutenant.
21:42Back to sanitary.
21:44Don't sign anything.
21:46Tell them all, hang on.
21:48Tell the fellas, tell the others.
21:49Tell the others.
21:50Ah!
21:51Lager!
21:55Lieutenant Kelch died in the prison camp.
21:57Do you know the cause?
21:59Yes, I do, sir.
22:00It was recorded as dysentery.
22:02The actual cause?
22:04Starvation, sir.
22:08How did John Kelch die?
22:11He gave away his food and such medicines as were available.
22:15Not only did he insistently oppose all cruel treatment to other officers,
22:19but he actually taunted our captors with their savagery.
22:22They never broke his spirit, sir.
22:24But that winter he died.
22:26How exactly?
22:28In solitary, sir.
22:30But as an officer and a man.
22:35Mr. Secretary, I'd like to say, if I may, that I'm as proud
22:39of having found that a man could be like Lieutenant Kelch,
22:43as I am of all these.
22:45And that one
22:47is your nation's highest award,
22:50the Victoria Cross.
22:51Yes, sir.
22:57Time, 3 August, 1955.
23:01Office of the Secretary of the Navy.
23:05Duty, present an award.
23:07Mrs. Kelch,
23:09it was a privilege and an inspiration for me to read your son's record.
23:13That brings us all to the question.
23:16Would you and I, when our country asked the full measure of devotion,
23:19suffer and die as faithfully and nobly as did this young naval officer?
23:25Each of us must answer that question for himself.
23:29I can only express, in the name of the President of the United States and in behalf of its Congress,
23:35a nation's gratitude and tribute for the life your son so gallantly gave in the cause of freedom.
23:41May God keep you, bless you and grant you the knowledge that your son did not die in vain.
23:49The Congressional Medal of Honor.
24:01This is the Pentagon.
24:03This is the Pentagon.
24:06They say it has no heart.
24:08It has.
24:10And it beats with pride in men like Lieutenant John Kelvin Kelch.
24:14His great personal valor and heroic spirit of self-sacrifice sustain and enhance the finest traditions of the United States Naval Services.
24:23And it biraz higher.
24:27Than goodיאe is performing on the line with our allies in the next half or two and three trzein base engineering in the middle
24:41which belonged to those people with a flat spirit of power power.
24:45Since all they were protected, they have non-named technology vamos we oportunidad of taking over a period of time
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