Korean War Evacuation 1950: Rare U.S. Dependent Passport
“A special note of gratitude goes to John MacConnell, who first appeared to the world as the boy in this newspaper feature. His willingness to revisit his history allowed me to bring this story to life. Thank you, John, for such an incredible account.”
Rest is all an East End woman and her twin six-year-old sons wanted after arriving from Korea, where they escaped from Seoul less than 24 hours after South Korea was invaded.
Mrs. Thomas MacConnell III and her sons, Thomas IV and John of 5312 St. James Terrace, landed at the Allegheny County Airport. Her husband, Major MacConnell was with the Korean Military Advisory Group. Mrs. MacConnell, who witnessed a strafing attack on Seoul airport 12 hours before their evacuation to Japan, said:
“I’m so tired. We’ve been interviewed at every stop. All I have to say is that I am just glad to be home again.”
Mrs. MacConnell and her sons left Seoul with 350 other Americans on June 23, 1950 and sailed to Japan on a Norwegian freighter ship, she said. Upon landing in Japan, she found that all her baggage had been lost en route. Mrs. MacConnell said she had to buy new clothing for herself and her sons before she could continue the journey. Mrs. MacConnell said her husband has been transferred to another unit since the outbreak of fighting but would not divulge the new unit because of military [security].
What was Korean Military Advisory Group (KMAG)?
Established in 1948, KMAG was a specialized U.S. Army unit sent to train the fledgling Republic of Korea (ROK) Army. At the start of the war in June 1950, KMAG consisted of only about 500 officers and men advising a South Korean force of nearly 100,000 and Major Thomas MacConnell III was part of a very small, elite group of officers tasked with an almost impossible mission.
Major MacConnell
When North Korea invaded on June 25, 1950, KMAG advisors were the only Americans on the ground. As the front lines collapsed, these advisors had to:
- Coordinate the Retreat: While their families (like Mrs. MacConnell and the boys) were being evacuated by sea and air, the KMAG officers stayed behind to help ROK units organize a fighting withdrawal.
- The Seoul Evacuation: The “Seoul Pincer” refers to the rapid encirclement of the capital. KMAG officers were among the last to leave the city, often crossing the Han River just before the bridges were blown to slow the North Korean advance.
- A “New Type” of Soldier: Unlike traditional combat units, KMAG officers had to be diplomats, teachers, and tactical experts. They were essentially building an army while fighting a war.
Researching Major Thomas MacConnell III and his role in the Korean Military Advisory Group (KMAG) reveals a career that spanned from the elite social circles of Pittsburgh to the front lines of one of the 20th century’s most chaotic conflicts.
The Man Behind the Uniform
Based on historical records and newspaper clipping:
- Background: Born in 1913, he was a member of a prominent Pittsburgh family. During WWII he was an army captain on General Bradley’s staff and landed on Normandy on D+1. He earned the bronze star for performance during the Battle of the Bulge. By the time of the Korean War, he was Major MacConnell, eventually rising to the rank of Colonel later in his career. His army service spanned 32 years.
- The Family Home: The address in the passport, 5312 St. James Terrace, was located in the prestigious Shadyside neighborhood of Pittsburgh—fitting for a family of his standing.
He was the son of Thomas MacConnell Jr. (1879–1950), a prominent Pittsburgher. Interestingly, his father passed away in June 1950—the very same month the Korean War broke out and his daughter-in-law and grandsons were fleeing Seoul. Major MacConnell III lived until 1989. His career reflects a generation of officers who transitioned from the traditional warfare of WWII to the “Advisory” and “Special Forces” style of warfare that defined the Cold War.
The Passport
A nowadays rare type for American Military Naval or Civilian Personnel passport type – also notable by the Dp before the booklet number.
From 1946 to 1952, the dependent passport was 311/12 x 61/8 inches and contained 16 pages. In April 1952, the size was reduced to 33/8 x 51/4 inches, and the booklet contained 24 pages. The legend was amended to include the phrase “…or a dependent of a civilian employee of the government…” Dependent passports were discontinued in August 1956, and regular passports were issued in their place on a non-fee basis. These passports had a preprinted endorsement at the bottom of page 5, which contained the same language used in the 1952 booklet. The endorsement was placed on page 5 when the regular passport was redesigned in 1961. In 1971, the endorsement was changed to read: passport Military Personnel Dependents
“This passport is valid only for use in connection with the bearer’s residence abroad as a dependent of a member of the American military or naval forces on active duty outside the continental limits of the United States.”
Note: The picture quality was improved by AI without altering any data.
Notable Connection: Captain Viola McConnell
While your Major Thomas MacConnell was in the thick of the advisory mission, another famous “McConnell” in the same theater was Captain Viola McConnell. She was the only Army nurse on duty in Korea when the war broke out and famously escorted over 600 evacuees (likely including families similar to yours) to safety on a Norwegian freighter. While they share a name and a harrowing story, they appear to be distinct figures in the military records of the time.
Navy CDR James Rowney – Pearl Harbor
Tom Topol | Passport History Expert & Author.
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