October 1950

The crisp October morning air invigorated the eager hunters as they entered the dew-laden forests around Rogers City, their boots crunching through a vibrant carpet of crimson and gold leaves heralding autumn's full presence. The woods were alive with anticipation—every squirrel's rustle, each distant branch crack, and every whispered conversation among hunting partners seemed amplified in the cathedral-like silence of the towering oaks and maples. As the day progressed and shadows lengthened across the forest floor, the musty aroma of decomposing leaves mingled with the fresh scent of pine needles, creating nature's own intoxicating fragrance.

Wilbert Radtke, 1950

Hunting Scene, Rogers City Postcard

Howard Soper, 1950

This month, a Lutheran Church Bowling League made its debut at the Lucky Strike Bowling Alley. The newly formed league consists of teams from St. John's in Rogers City, St. Michael's in Belknap, St. Michael's in Hawks, Immanuel Lutheran in Moltke, and the American Lutheran, which includes Moltke, Hagensville, and Metz parishes. This is the first Lutheran Church Bowling League ever organized in Northeastern Michigan.

Lucky Strike Bowling Alley

Congressman Charles Potter delivered a speech at the Rogers City High School auditorium titled "The Jigsaw Puzzle of Korea and Creeping Socialism," sponsored by the Presque Isle County Republican Committee, highlighting the rising tension in Korea. Tensions were indeed escalating. Following the successful Inchon landing and the recapture of Seoul, UN forces crossed the 38th parallel into North Korea on October 1. The advance was rapid, as the North Korean army, having suffered significant losses and a collapse of its supply lines, offered weakened resistance. By October 19, UN forces captured major cities and pushed toward the Yalu River, bordering China. As UN forces neared the border, China issued warnings that it would not tolerate troops near its border. These warnings were largely dismissed.

Charles Potter Korean War Speech Ad, 1950

On October 20, members of the 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team, including Raymond Tatro of Rogers City, parachuted ahead of advancing troops into drop zones in Sukchon and Sunchon, 25 miles north of Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea. Their objective was to cut off retreating North Korean forces withdrawing up the west coast and release American and South Korean prisoners of war. The airborne drop was successful, but the operation was too late to intercept their target. The following day, the team began advancing south to clear the Sukchon to Yongju roads towards Pyongyang. There, the Americans came under heavy attack from the North Korean 239th Regiment. Tatro, who had just arrived in Korea on September 24 was killed by enemy machine gun fire, the first and only casualty from Rogers City.

Raymond Tatro (1925-1950)

Raymond Wayne Tatro (1925-1950)