HOT KW Stalcup-Benbow Story

Heart of Texas Veteran Lt Joey Stalcup [tex flag]

An article from The Bulletin and a story written by Gerry Benbow in June 2019 presented here with his permission.

Joey Stalcup Happy To Learn Jet Buddy With POW Returnees

(Copied From A Brownwood Bulletin Article dated Wed. 2 September, 1953, Page 1)

Today’s list of released U.N. Prisoners of War brought good news to a Brownwood veteran of the Korean conflict, Joey Stalcup, formally Lt. Joseph L. Stalcup of the 49th Fighter-Bomber Wing of the Fifth Air Force. He was very happy to learn that a buddy of his, Lt. Vernon R. Huber, was released in last night’s prisoner exchange.

Stalcup and Huber were flying F-84-G Thunderjets on an early morning mission on May 16, 1952. Their unit was jumped by a squadron of MIGs before they reached their target, and Huber’s plane was shot down. Huber bailed out at an altitude of about 32,000 feet. Stalcup and other members of the flight covered Huber’s descent in order to keep the MIGs from firing on him.

The Thunderjets so nearly exhausted their fuel supply that they were required to make an emergency landing on a short landing strip away from their regular base. Stalcup was cut out of the pattern by a cargo craft and was forced to make another leg around the field. His craft ran out of fuel on the trip, forcing him to crash-land.

Stalcup was not injured in the landing, but in attempting to climb out of the ship, a sudden jar set off the automatic pilot ejector, catapulting him about 75 feet into the air. He fell on the plane, sustaining multiple fractures that prevented him from returning to duty.

Since Stalcup and his buddies followed Huber’s descent after he bailed out, no word of Huber’s whereabouts had been learned until today when the release of prisoners was published. Joey was happy to learn that his friend is to be repatriated and plans to visit him as soon as he is returned to the U.S. The official listing of Lt. Huber is: First Lt. Vernon R. Huber, 9th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, 49th Fighter-Bomber Group; Mandan, N.D.

Addendum

By: Gerald D. (Gerry) Benbow - June 20, 2019

Even though I was only sixteen and still in Brownwood High School at the time, I became involved with the Korean Conflict - - in a small way. “Joey”, as Lt. Joseph Stalcup was known locally, (12/7/29 – 2/17/89) was a little more than 6 years my senior and a 1947 graduate of Brownwood High School. His younger sister, Anna Kay, was one of my 1954 BHS classmates. Less than a handful of people know anything about the event which I’m about to share now, including the Stalcup family. However, I was recently urged to put it in writing. Since I am now 83 years old and this event occurred in 1952, some 67 years ago, I thought I had better get that done while I’m able. Maybe someone will find this interesting and worth their time to read:

In early March of 1952, as a 15 year old teen, I passed the required theory and Morse Code test at the Federal Communications Office in Dallas, TX and was issued an Amateur “Ham” Radio Operator’s license under the call sign of “W5VOE”. I have kept my license current. Ham Radio and Citizens Band Radio are two different Government programs. When lawfully operated, CB is very limited in power and requires only a permit (no test) to operate. CB didn’t exist until the 1960s. Ham Radio had its beginnings back in 1912. In the 1950s few people had ever heard of Ham Radio, and those who had didn’t know much about it.

During that first year as a licensed operator, I was transmitting Morse Code on short wave and conversing with another operator when I heard a second faint, but clear station, on our same frequency calling me. After asking my contact to stand-by, I answered the caller. It seems that He had been listening to the two of us - - and “reading our mail”, so to speak. Too many years have come and gone since then and I don’t remember his call letters, but he was located on the Island of Guam. He asked me to confirm that I was in Brownwood, TX. After replying “R”, “R” (for yes), he said he had “traffic” for Brownwood. “Traffic” is Ham lingo for “important message”. He asked if I would accept the message and deliver it. Of course, I told him I would.

Apparently the Air Force was in the process of transferring Lt. Stalcup to a hospital in Japan and the message basically consisted of his new contact information in Japan and was to be received by his wife, Elizabeth Palmer Stalcup, a resident of Brownwood and a 1948 BHS graduate. Since I didn’t have a driver’s license yet, I rode my bike over to where I knew the Stalcups lived and delivered the message to Elizabeth. I shall never forget the look on her face. Of course, she didn’t know me and most likely had never heard of Ham Radio. The look on her face told me she was thinking, “How can this young boy on a bicycle, have this kind of information??!! Should I believe him or not??” So I did the best I could to assure her of who I was, where I got the message, and that it was “official,current, accurate, and effective immediately”. Since that day, I’ve never given it much thought. However, after recently acquiring this Brownwood Bulletin article about Lt. Stalcup’s accident, I now believe the Lord had His hand in the radio portion of this event and allowed me to make a small contribution to our nation’s military efforts during the Korean Conflict some 67 years ago.

Curator's Note:

Gerry Benbow met with Tommy Stalcup (Joey's son) on 2 Jul 2019 downtown Brownwood at the library annex across from the Brown County courthouse. Gerry told the story to Tommy, and I think they were both moved by the experience. Gerry is a WWII Camp Bowie historian and Tommy is also very passionate about WWII veterans, the "Greatest Generation". The photo below was taken of the two in the library as Gerry gave Tommy a printed copy of his story, Gerry on the left.

[Gerry Benbow and Tommy Stalcup]