All members of the KSVA have unusual stories to tell. After all, we are an organization of former military men. Don McClarren, former crewman on the USS Pueblo in 1968 has an extraordinary tale. Don's tale centers on a day in January of 1968, which would turn his life upside down for the next eleven months, and never again would his life be the same.

 The USS Pueblo was a listening post for the United States in the Far East. Or if you want to use a more popular term, "a spy ship." The Pueblo was an old Army coastal freighter used in the Pacific during World War II. Similar to the ship in the motion picture, "Mr. Roberts." Eighty-three men made up the crew of the Pueblo. Two thirds of these were ship's company (those needed to operate the ship). Twenty-nine more were on board on special assignment. These twenty-nine were trained eavesdroppers. They were part of the U. S. Naval Security Agency, Don McClarren, as a trained Communications Technician, was part of this group.

 It was the job of McClarren and his unit to use their various devices to hone in on radar signals, radio signals, and any other pertinent information they could pick up coming out over the airwaves. This information would be relayed to central locations for updating our intelligence data. This was common practice of the times. The Russians had their trawlers stationed all around the world doing the same thing.

 In 1968 the war in Viet Nam was going full throttle. Therefore, most of our naval forces had been directed into the South China Sea. Thus, naval patrols around Korea were at a near standstill. The days of "Task Force 77" were over. Squadrons of destroyers no longer ploughed the waters off Korea. None of this boded well for the crew of the USS Pueblo.

History now records that the USS Pueblo was sent on a mission off the East Coast of North Korea to glean information from North Korea, and the Soviet Union. January 22, 1968 found the Pueblo just off the coast of Wonton, North Korea. Marines of the U. S. First Marine Division would remember Wonsan well. They landed there in 1950 during the Korean War.

On January 23, 1968, the men of the Pueblo found themselves in a great fix. Two North Korean Sub Chasers, and three PT boats appeared from the shoreline, surrounded the Pueblo and some firing took place. One Pueblo crewman was badly wounded and later died, and others were wounded, including the Captain. The Sub Chasers came up on the stern section of the Pueblo and armed North Koreans boarded the Pueblo. While all of this was going on, two MIGs circled overhead.

Don McClarren was in the communication center sending messages to Japan. He would have been a good person to get off last minute messages. Don was not a rookie. He had served ten years in the Air Force in communications prior to joining the Navy. The Navy signed him up as a Communications Technician Third Class. Towards the end, Captain Bucher came into the Communications room and had the message sent out that because of men being wounded (including himself), and no help available he was going to allow his ship to be taken into Wonsan Harbor.

The armed North Koreans began to move through the ship herding the crewmen towards the crew compartment. Most of the crew was finally corralled in that one location. They were all then blindfolded, and the ship was taken into Wonsan and tied to a dock. In Wonsan, the Pueblo crewmen had their hands tied and then they were bullied off the ship by rifle butts and shoving.

Once they were off the ship, the American sailors were loaded on buses and transported across Korea to a holding area on the West Side of the peninsula. There they were to stay for the next eleven months.

In the meantime, word had now gotten out to the United States and the rest of the world that the Pueblo was being "detained" in North Korea. The United States sent the carrier Enterprise into Korean waters as a show of strength. The Enterprise had been in port at Sasebo, Japan. Demands were made for the immediate release of the Pueblo All to no avail. The story was making page one headlines across the United States and probably in some foreign countries. The story lingered on the front pages for some time.

On the buses, on their way to Pyongyang, the Pueblo crewmen had only the clothes they were wearing the day of the battle that ended their life as free men for nearly a year. They were not permitted to take anything. Not only that, all of the ship's records (less those destroyed during the fight on the 23rd of January) were in the hands of the North Koreans. This included all of the service records of each man on board. Now the men would not be able to cover up what they did on the ship when questioned by their captors.

Brutality was the norm for the North Korean guards. Just as it was for our prisoners during the Korean War. Rings and watches were taken from the men of the Pueblo. The men were subjected to "good cop, bad cop" style inquisitions. The "good cop" would always be saying, "you must be more honest, you must be more sincere." The "bad cop" would take delight in beating the hell out of his victim. Some days the "good cop" would reverse roles and he would be the one to punch, slap, and abuse the victim.

There was little kindness found on the part of the North Korean guards. For the most part, they were sadistic half-wits. Those who spoke English, spoke with an English accent. One bragged that he was trained in schools in London. Perhaps some of them spent time in Hong Kong.

Since the North Koreans were in possession of each man's service jacket, there was little they didn't know about each man they questioned. None-the-less, the questioning went on. The men of the Pueblo held up quite well. They were billeted six men to a compartment. Don McClarren explained that care was taken not to let any man slip into deep depression. They worked very hard at keeping every man's spirits up.

At one point along the way, the Pueblo men were issued civilian type "Nehru" suits. They were, of course, gray. suitable for the drab life style of most North Koreans. Probably a welcome change to the same dungarees the Pueblo men had been wearing since January 23.

Don told me that the Pueblo crew had given up hope for a military rescue after the first week of captivity. It seemed to have been the opinion of the crew that the United States had "written them off." And so it must have seemed as days drifted into weeks and weeks into months. Although Don McClarren points out that there was never a point when any member of the crew was considering defecting, or "taking out North Korean citizenship papers." That speaks well of what each man had learned as he grew up in this country. That way of life they knew back home was near and dear to their hearts and minds.

From time to time, the crew would come in contact with Captain Bucher during the time they were held. The crew of the Pueblo has (to this day) intense loyalty to their captain. They have let him know along the way that they were behind him. Even when the Skipper was called in for a Board of Inquiry following their release. Captain Bucher is still living and must value this loyalty from his Pueblo crew more than anything else. Much like the loyalty shown by the crew of the ill-fated Indianapolis for their Captain during World War II.

The day finally came when guards came in and told the men of the Pueblo that they would be released pending the U.S. Government signing a "letter of apology." The letter was sent and the men released. They were released through Panmunjom. Much like the return of the POWs during the Korean War. It was a glorious day for the men.

The scars of imprisonment will always be there. The memories of January 23, 1968 and the trail of hardships to follow make for heavy baggage. Some of the men do not participate in the annual reunions. Many do. It is good for these men to get together on a frequent basis and talk over their mutual experiences. Don McClarren has been interviewed many times and has spoken many times to groups about the incident. He is pretty much at ease in speaking of the whole adventure. He has his moments of pride, and he has his misgivings. Don is a very interesting person to spend an afternoon with as I did.

You can't talk for any length of time with Don without venturing into the whole range of intelligence gathering by the U.S. Navy. He rattles off the names of various ships that were carrying out the same assignments as the Pueblo. He also points out how Naval Security teams were used on carriers, and on long range aircraft, to garner information.

American intelligence gathering has become more sophisticated since Don's time. Bob Woodward's book, "Veil" reveals many clever new avenues pursued by our country in gathering information. A book well worth reading.

We all had the chance to meet Don at the June meeting of the KSVA. We are pleased to have him as a member.

For more information on this subject check out http://www.USSPueblo.org