SUMMARY OF EVENTS
From about 15th July – 15th November 1950
Note from Steph !!!
This report was written by Fr Harold Henry. Fr Henry left Mokpo on the 24th July 1950. Monsignor Pat Brennan, Tommie and Fr Jack O’Brien decided to stay.
While Father Henry's report suggests that Monsignor Brennan planned on leaving in advance of the invasion, other accounts from this period contradict this, and are included elsewhere on the site.
Indeeed the Monsignor himself said "it goes with the job"
In "Swords and Plowshares" Fr Frank Herlihy also puts it differently on page 138.
In an article from “ The Mantle” Fr Dan Conneely says about Tommie Cusack.
"We have his final message to his family, entrusted verbally around midnight to one of the young priests as they were about to take the ship with Fr Henry for Pusan. 'Fr Tom was free to leave with us who were studying the language there but he told me to tell you he would never again be happy if he left his parish when his people needed him most. It breaks his heart to cause you such worry, but he was very happy and I leaving him. He knows that deep down in your heart you are happy with him and proud of him'"
Fr Henry assumed the duties of Monsignor Brennan when it was safe to return to Mokpo and later became the First Archbishop of Kwangju
SUMMARY OF EVENTS FROM ABOUT
July 15th to November 15th, 1950
When the Reds threatened this area, it was decided to evacuate but Monsignor Brennan, Fathers Cusack and John O’Brien elected to remain. Accordingly, I approached the Korean Naval Commander in Mokpo to get 8 young priests on a Korean Naval vessel. They were to board at midnight and leave the next day which they did after being joined by four U.S. airmen who had been shot down and picked up at sea. When I returned at 8.p.m. the U.S. Vice-Consul was here and requested that we send out our jeep with him. Father Patrick Cleary, M.M. has his jeep; a Presbyterian Missionary jeep and our own set out with the Vice-Consul’s jeep; a convoy of four jeeps. I was to pick up Father Mangan in Songtjengru by taking a circuitous route and then try to join up with the rest by making extra speed; but en route we met Fathers Mangan, Woods and Conneely on their way to Mokpo in the Kwangju jeep. We took them in our convoy and later picked up Fathers Carroll and Oliver Kennedy in Sunchon. The trip to Pusan took three days; it was approximately 220 miles. Fathers Patrick Brandon and Lohan were in Seoul when the war broke out and were evacuated by air immediately with the Americans there. Father Seán Savage followed in the Kwangju jeep with some Koreans who would be blacklisted by the Reds. Father Patrick Monaghan was to follow by motorcycle. Word was received that he wanted to be picked up at Sunchon as the motorcycle was no good. Father Seán Savage and I set out in our faithful red jeep we procured from Bishop Byrne last year and arrived in Chinju at midnight where the Korean police refused to let us proceed before dawn. On arriving at Sunchon, we found it completely deserted, the Reds being just ten miles north of it with no opposition; no sign of Father Monaghan but his motorcycle was there. We returned to Pusan via Hadong where we picked up a French priest who had walked just 100 miles. Just after we left Hadong, the Reds entered it. On arrival at Pusan, we found that Father Monaghan had gone to Yosu and got a boat there for Pusan. This was about July 21st. A couple of North-Korean POW’s were met in Pusan who had been in our Mokpo house but we could not get any news from them of the three in Mokpo, except that they had been there. Since our return we have gathered the following information:
Monsignor Brennan kept repeating that the Reds would never come to Mokpo; he may have done this to encourage others. He had told me that if perchance they did come he would go to an island. However, he had no chance even though he intended to do so. The Reds entered Kwangju at 11 p.m. on July 24th and were here within 3 hours after; no one in Mokpo expected them. A truck arrived at the front of this house and shouted; Dominic, the cook, told Monsignor Brennan who came downstairs and knelt down to say the Rosary. However, the Reds being told this was a Church, went away saying that they gave religious freedom. The next morning they came and when Father O’Brien was going up to the Church to consume the Blessed Sacrament, he was not allowed to go but later Father Cusack was. When he consumed the Blessed Sacrament, he was marched around the whole town and also Father O’Brien. Father Cusack returned first and was told by the Reds that there was religious freedom. This was a ruse to put the Catholics at ease so that later they could find out easily who the Catholics were. The three were then brought to one police box and returned here and then brought to another police box and returned home and told to carry on
One of the boys in the house was beaten and Monsignor apologised to him for it. The following Sunday Mass was held as usual but shortly after the Reds came here and asked Father Cusack for a list of Catholics. Then some days later – cannot get a definite date – the three disappeared from this house but it is known they were put in a cell in the Mokpo police station. Around this time a US plane set fire to a gasoline dump and from the blaze it appeared that Mokpo, though the tanks were on the other side of the harbour.
Father Cusack was quite worried that the Catholics could not receive the Sacraments. While the priests were in the police cell, hundreds were killed. The Catholics searched among the bodies but could find no trace of the three. They never knew they were sent to Kwangju until the BOK troops arrived and Father Lucius Chang was released and said he interpreted for Monsignor in Kwangju. The investigation there was only accusing them of spying and asking why they did not marry and that they didn’t work but just lived off the people. They were told that if they were military personnel they would be killed on the spot.
The next piece of information was from the Catholic wife of a judge who was imprisoned with them in the Franciscan monastery in Taejon. She says there were the three priests from Mokpo and her description seems to fit, according to a Father C, whom I have met. She was released on September 24th and that night the big massacre took place. However, neither Fr. George Carroll, M.M. nor Father Beaudevin, M.M.P., could recognise anyone of the three among the thousand some hundred bodies piled up there. They were so swollen and de-composed, recognition was difficult; they scarcely recognised one of their own priests, Fr. Pollet.
I have no confirmation of this, but heard that Father Cecars, who was also in the monastery, was later seen in Seoul. From any information I have, they do not seem to have been in that march from Seoul to Pyong Ynag with Bishop Byrne, Monsignor Quinlan and others. Father Brian Geraghty may have been able to track down more news up there. We have no communication with Seoul or any other place except Pusan by occasional boat. If Monsignor Brennan, Fathers Cusack and O’Brien returned we would give them a welcome fit for a king.
The Catholics are very concerned about their safety and are having Mass after Mass offered for them. They still come to me with tears in their eyes asking if there is any news.
The staff here in Mokpo were marvellous, especially the three young lads. They were asked to give up their faith but steadfastly refused. They and 1,500 Catholics were on the list to be killed, but in God’s providence, the Korean Marines entered this town just in time; a day’s delay would have meant that many would be killed.
When the Red Army left the town, the Local Reds with masks and knives went about killing and looting. The unfortunate part is that these are now getting away scot free by bribing police officials and even the MOK soldiers. Four Reds were here making preparations to burn down this big house when two So. Koreans arrived on the spot and killed one and the other got away. Forty-nine people were locked in our garage and were saved also; they were going to be shot;
One of these was also a Mokpo catechist.
There were also some miraculous escapes; one catechist, Paul Kim was taken to a hillside near here to be shot; he was told that this would be the day his children would offer sacrifice to him, i.e. the day of his death. While preparations were being made, a US plane came along and strafed the area, killing the would-be executioner. Paul dryly remarked to me; it turned out to be the sacrifice day for my executioner. Paul kept visiting the Catholic houses and encouraging them. The young men formed a “martyrdom society” and kept encouraging weak. One joined the party and found out those to be killed and passed on the information and the martyr society members would warn these. The Reds found out about this society but the liaison, Isidor, was able to warn them in time to hide in
In the whole prefecture there was not more than two or three. At present knowledge, twenty Catholics were killed; there likely are more but we have no communication with some areas yet as there are estimated 40,000 guerillas active in this Province. Trains run once a day between here and Kwangju under heavy guard; only 100 passengers; road travel is impossible. From Kwangju there is no travel to other parts.
Among our Catholics, there are many who have the qualities of martyrs; two in Mokpo deserve special mention; Kim Paul the Catechist referred to before and Ri John who works in this house. In order to save the requisites for Mass, he was willing to give up his life; he was actually made to dig his grave in front of this house but for some reason or other, he was not shot. He was beaten several times by the Reds.
Father Lucius Chang was a real hero; he looks like a youngster of sixteen but has the courage of a lion. On Sunday morning July 23rd, he heard the Reds were coming, so he called the Catholics and offered Mass at 3.a.m. Later in the morning, he hopped on his bike and went to Kwangju just ahead of the Reds. He stayed with father Pak in the Dam Dong parish; there both priests were told to write their history and nearly daily were called to the Secret Police Headquarters. Finally, Father Michael Pak’s investigation was over and let alone but Father Chang’s kept on. Finally, he was to be given the indoctrination lecture but it was put off until August 9th. As they appeared friendly, he asked if he could go to the Puk Dong parish for Mass; he had the idea if permission were given by the Secret Police, the soldiers living in the Church would be expelled as they feared the secret police. On hearing this request, the Chief became very angry and ordered Father Chang to be locked in the City Police Station. It was during these investigations at the Secret Police that he met our three from Mokpo. Also, this request of Father Chang was made on August 7th after he saw Monsignor and the two.
When he arrived at the Police Station, he noticed the three were in cell number1. He was never taken out for investigation and was finally told he was to be killed and was sent to Kwangju where Fathers Dawson, Ryan and Sweeney spent time during March 2nd. From prisoners coming to the jail from the police station, he knew he knew that our three were in the police station cell until August 26th with two US airmen. Father Chang states that our three never were in the jail but he asked the prisoner who gave rice to all the cells whether he had seen any foreigners.
On September 28th, the Red soldiers left the town but had prepared dynamite with a time fuse to blow and burn up the jail. At 7 p.m. some hundreds of Koreans went to the jail and broke down the cell doors; an hour later the time fuse went off and the jail was razed to the ground. He hid in a Catholic house until October 1st and then hid in the Catholic hospital, no one knowing he was there, not even the Catholics. The reason for this is that all over this Province after September 28th when the Red army left, the local Communists were going around with knives and guns killing people. This was the most dreadful time; it was these who had 1,500 names of Catholics to kill in Mokpo and they were looking for all who had escaped from the jail.
On October 3rd, the ROK troops entered Kwangju and with them Father Monaghan. There was a little fighting for a few days and Father Monaghan slept with some troops of the 24th Infantry Regiment of the 25th Division who came shortly after and remained for a few days. This was a negro regiment
While in the jail, Father Chang kept telling his cell mates of the faith and baptized one doctor who begged to be baptized before being shot. Father Chang was also able to give the sacrament of penance to a Choi Gabriel just before he was shot. He was a boy I had baptized in Maju; one of the first three in my school there who was baptized; his whole family were killed, R.I.P. Also, even though a handful of rice was given daily, Father Chang used to give half his food away. He said he was going to be shot anyway; so others who had a chance to live should have it. He is also swollen up now as a result of malnutrition and is going to the dentist to get his teeth fixed as they are badly decayed as a result of starvation for fifty days. Most of Father Chang’s parish is still under the control of guerrillas. We expect many Catholics died in that parish, but have no definite news of them or of the Church. It is 17 miles north of Kwangju.
On August 7th while Father Chang was being investigated in Secret Police headquarters – this was the highest authority in any place - a motorcycle with side car arrived with Monsignor and the two priests. They entered the same room where Father Chang was but did not look up or around so they did not see him. He called quietly “O’Brien” but could get no recognition. Fr Chang said: “ Jack O’Brien looked quite thin but the others not too bad”. Fr Chang was brought into Chief’s Office when the investigator was asked by Fr. Chang if he could speak to the three; the investigator said he couldn’t give permission but asked the Chief to have Fr. Chang as interpreter as he spoke latin. The three were then brought into the Chief’s room and graciously received. Chang was then asked about the distinction made between Koreans and Foreigners. Chang said “ we belong to a Mission Society and did not know what we got but that he got a decent living”. Chang was then told to apostacize but refused. Then Chang was told to tell the three that they were brought there for protection against the people who might kill them; that during the war there could be no freedom of religion, but after it, the three would be released if they wished. At this Monsignor got up and said “Thank you”. Then they were told that under Communism, all ate as well as they did but that at present on account of circumstances the three would have to eat as the Koreans.
Father Cusack then asked if they could get some sleep as they had none for nights. They were taken away in a motorbike side car. A few days later, Fr Chang was put in a cell in the police station and noticed the three in cell No. 1 with two American airmen but could establish no contact. After a few days, Fr. Chang was sent to the jail in Kwangju but from others transferred from the police station to the jail, it is certain our three were there until August 26th. Fr Cusack was heard to remark “ unless you give us some bread or more food we cannot live long”. An inmate in the police station said, he saw the three still in cell No.1 on September 1st. No further news of them in Kwangju after that date. Chang went to the jail from the police station cell on August 12th.
(Note: Rumours are many and I am trying to sift, to give only what is reliable – no doubt I shall pick up other odds and ends; someone else with more time can co-ordinate – HWH )