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| William Harold Kellum
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| NO. 17975 • 20 October 1926 – 15 June 1951
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| Died 15 June 1951 (Presumed date) at Pyoktong, North Korea. Aged 23 Years.
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COURAGE AND DETERMINATION. These were the words
by which 1st Lieutenant William H. Kellum lived, fought, and died.
Bill Kellum’s dedication to these words constitutes a capsule explanation of
his outstanding athletic achievements,
his extraordinary gallantry on the field of battle, and his uncompromising attitude toward his Chinese captors which
was directly responsible for his untimely, tragic, but highly courageous and exemplary death.
It is clear that Colonel Earl 'Red' Blaik, under
whose tutelage Bill achieved AII‑East
honors at the position of end in addition to three football letters, two of
them with Navv stars, was impressed by these chara cteristics of courage and determination, as he recently recalled
that:
"Bill Kellum ... in
his quiet, rather self‑effacing, but uncompromising way ... had a depth
of determination which would not allow him to play a secondary position even
though to do otherwise he was forced to overcome a limited ... (physique by
college standards). Bill's competitive
urge had a ferocity of purpose which earned him the lasting respect of the
troops both on the field and on the field of battle."
Again, courage and
determination are amply evident in Lieutenant Kellum's combat record as
illustrated by the following excerpts from his Silver Star citation:
"...He was assigned
the mission of maintaining a combat outpost approximately 3,000 yards in front
of the main line of resistance.... At the break of day, he could observe the
enemy almost completely around his position. Realizing the threat to his
security, he immediately began placing his men to meet the new threat... He ran
from position to position, continually exposing himself to enemy fire, in order
to encourage his men and direct the fire fight. When last seen, he was running toward the right flank of his platoon
to direct that group of men who were then heavily engaged with the enemy ....
"
But there was more to
Bill Kellum than athletic and military achievements. More even than courage and
determination. He was a man of many capabilities and interests, a man who is
remembered for his ready grin as well as his courage, a man considerate of and
deeply attached to his family, and a man of strong beliefs in God and
dedication to country and career. An account which does justice to Bill's
achievements and character cannot be told hit and miss: it must have a
chronological foundation.
So let us backtrack to
Eastland, Texas, on 20 October 1926, Bill's date of birth. He was a strong,
healthy baby which gave him a good start towards being the outdoor, athletic
type he turned out to be. Bill received his elementary education in Sulphur
Springs, Texas, and El Dorado, Arkansas. His high school education was at
Haynesville, Louisiana, where in recognition of good grades and citizenship he
was elected a member of the National Honor Society.
In forecast of football
exploits at West Point, Bill was a much respected terror on high school
football fields. He made All‑State two years and All‑Southern one
year playing the position of end. Let us look briefly at excerpts from
newspaper accounts of games in which he played, for courage and determination
were as evident then as thev were to be years later playing for higher stakes
in Korea:
"...Kellum is a
scrapper from whistle to gun...his fine competitive spirit is an inspiration to
his teammates... in spite of the fact that opposing coaches have had their
linemen double up on the lanky wingman. He has been a standout in every game
with his jarring tackles, precision blocking, and fancy pass catching ......
Of course, football was
not Bill's onIy avocation. He was greatly interested in scouting, an interest
which may have been given impetus by the action of a Boy Scout who saved him
from death from gasoline fumes at the age of four by administering artificial
respiration. Bill was also an active member of the First Baptist Church.
Another sporting interest, swimming, he turned to profitable use as he served
as manager and life guard of the Haynesville City Pool during high school days.
Bill was close to his
family in growing up. He and his brother, Herman, now a doctor, were
inseparable. In the one letter he was able to write home from prison camp,
Bill's primary concern was not for his own situation, but rather for news of
Herman's first child. In Bill's words,
"...Have been
thinking about (the family) a lot and have wondered greatly about the new
addition to the family .... Let
the kid know about his Uncle Bill."
Bill's favorite fishing
partner was his father who continually encouraged him in his athletic and
career ambitions.
Bill was close to and always
considerate of his mother, never failing in the years he was away from home to
call her on special occasions. His only and younger sister, Beth, was the
recipient of much advice as well as special concern and protection. An age
difference of 12 years was no barrier between Bill and his younger brother,
Joe, whose active approach to life was so similar to Bill's.
Thus did William H.
Kellum's full boyhood prepare him for the responsibilities of manhood.
Upon finishing high
school, Bill served five months in the US Navy in the closing months of World
War II. While in the Navy, he won a "golden gloves" championship,
evidence of his interest and competence in the "manly art of self‑defense,"
an interest which was to bring further laurels at West Point.
As a recipient of an
appointment to the US Military Academy, Bill left the Navy to attend Louisiana
State University where he found time amidst his West Point preparatory studies
to be first‑string end on the football team and to win a second place
medal in the ROTC boxing matches.
Matriculating to West
Point in July 1946, Bill, by graduation day, 6 June 1950, was able to leave an
enviable record behind him. Bill's football exploits have already been related.
In boxing, he won many more bouts than he lost. Skinny for a heavyweight, Bill
is still remembered at West Point and by classmates around the world for
"cutting down to his size" ring opponents who outweighed him
frequently by as much as 50 pounds. Herb Kroten, one of his boxing coaches,
accounts for Bill's success (he went to the finals of the Eastern
intercollegiate Championships one year and was elected co‑captain of the
boxing team his First Class year) by recalling his willingness "to take on
anything."
Athletics were not
Bill's only interests at West Point. He was a member of the Fishing Club and
Radio Club and ranked relatively high militarily. However. Bill is remembered
by his classmates as much for his personality as for his more objective
achievements. The Howitzer was indeed right in asserting that "Bill’s warm
Southern personality and ready humor will be long remembered by the Class of
'50."
Only a few short months
after graduation, Bill, in company with so many of his classmates, was called
upon to utilize his West Point training on the field of battle sooner than he
or anyone else expected. His country and his Alma Mater did not find him
wanting! As a platoon leader of Company G, 21st Inf., he distinguished himself
on the field of battle being awarded the Bronze Star Medal for valor, the
Silver Star, and the Purple Heart. He had every reason to write home proudly
when he was promoted to 1st Lieutenant only five months after graduation.
Excerpts have already been quoted from his Silver Star citation. Equally
stirring and indicative of his courageous spirit and military leadership are
the following excerpts from his Bronze Star citation:
"During his
regiment's advance his platoon was the leading element .... With complete disregard for his safety Lieutenant
Kellum exposed himself to a hail of withering fire in order to place his men in
positions affording the maximum fire power and control. Moving far forward, he
directed the effective fire of friendly artillery and mortars .... He then led an assault ‑ routing the enemy ... and permitting the continued advance of the
regiment ......
Captured during an
action in which he was heroically leading his platoon in defending a combat
outpost 3,000 yards in front of the main line of resistance, Lieutenant Kellum
was taken to a prison camp in Pyoktong in North Korea. Here he faced his final
and perhaps his most formidable test of courage. A classmate whom Bill assisted
while he himself was weak and sick reports that:
"...under these
difficult conditions Bill was a model soldier. He resisted his captors' every
effort to organize a mass indoctrination program in the officers' compound, and
did more than his share of the work in helping his fellow prisoners to
survive....
In spite of a complete
lack of care and only crackers and rice for food, Bill, by sheer determination. recovered from flu, only to incur the wrath of
the Chinese for organizing the ambulatory soldiers at what was, in name only, the prison camp's
hospital. Thrown into detention in a part of the "hospital" from
which no prisoners ever emerged alive, Bill died a hero’s death staunchly
defending his convictions and the traditions of his Alma Mater and country.
Fellow prisoners report that Bill's death occurred approximately 15 June 1951,
a date which is more accurate than the year end date, 31 December 1951, assumed
in AG official records.
In their tremendous and
irreplaceable loss, Bill's surviving parents and brothers and sister have been
strengthened by a justifiable pride shared bv friends, classmates, and fellow
officers in a man who died as he lived: courageous and determined to be true to
his own high ideals whatever the danger, whatever the personal sacrifice.
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USMA 1950