A friend telephoned me after seeing names of Cayuga County Korean War Veterans that were to be on a monument for future display.

He asked me why my name wasn't on it and I should contact John Barwinczok to have it added as there was only a few more days to do so.

I had heard something about this a while back, but felt I never did anything to warrant my name being there.

The Korean War had just started when I graduated from Navy Radar School on a Friday in June 1950.

Most of us were immediately whisked away via commercial airline, and the following Monday I was on the heavy cruiser, USS Helena, enroute to patrol the coast of Formosa.

There was a strong fear the Chinese might try to invade that island, which would have plunged us into a major world war.

The Helena had just returned from a nine-month cruise to the Orient and half its crew were on annual leave.

They were ordered back, much to their displeasure.

Many went AWOL and eventually were given Bad Conduct Discharges.

So it was easy for me to see my situation was far better than theirs.

The danger in Formosa of course never materialized, and we were soon patrolling and bombarding the Korean east coast.

We spent more than two months at sea before visiting a Japanese port. Following some R&R, we returned to Korea for another two months of duty, but this time it was broken up with additional Japanese shore leave.

On returning to the states, we were all given leave and a few months later headed back to Korea for another six months.

The Helena was hit twice by small caliber guns, with minor damage and injuries.

Am I bragging? Hardly!

We had it pretty easy. At night I used to go on deck and see tracer shells being fired back and forth. Was almost like a movie.

The weather might be bone-chilling, but I was able to go below, get an ice cream and nestle in a warm berth.

We had three square meals a day and Navy bakers made great bread and pies. I thanked God many times I had decided to follow my father and joined the Navy, instead of the Marines as I almost did.

If anyone has ever talked with a soldier or marine who did the actual fighting, you would understand why I didn't do a damn thing.

They told me stories on hordes of Koreans and Chinese, many hopped up on drugs, attacking, blowing bugles and screaming.

Machine gunners said the barrels would get red hot and they would have to push bodies out of the way to continue firing.

They also admitted to literally losing body excretions in their pants. Hard to imagine how scared they must have been.

Hating cold weather, I also could never visualize myself lying in the snow or mud, unable to change into dry clothes.

I asked Mr. Barwinczok if any distinction was to be made on the monument of military as to who did the fighting and those like myself who did nothing.

He advised none, but the ones killed would be listed separately.

To take it another step, I find it deplorable to think that those serving stateside or even overseas in a vacation atmosphere like Germany will have no distinction as to the ground forces who endured all sorts of misery and who actually faced death.

You will not see my name on the monument.

I did nothing. Give honors to the ones who earned it!

Griffin writes from Auburn