Eyler

George Eyler said the older he gets, the more he's able to talk about his Korean War experiences.

"For years I couldn't even talk about it," said Eyler, 79, of Springettsbury Township. "It would really upset me. I still get emotional."

Eyler, a U.S. Marine veteran, said he was shot in the ankle and thigh while fighting in Korea. He served in A Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division.

Eyler will talk about his war experience at 7 p.m. Saturday at the showing of "Pork Chop Hill," a 1959 Korean War movie staring the late Gregory Peck and Rip Torn.

Besides Saturday, the movie will be shown at the Capitol Theatre -- 50 N. George St., in York City -- at 7 p.m. Friday and 3 p.m. Sunday.

The

Gregory Peck and Norman Fell star in "Pork Chop Hill," a 1959 movie highlighting a single battle in the Korean War. The film will be shown three times at the Capitol Theatrea as part of the movie series linked to York County Heritage Trust's "Front Porch to Front Lines: York County Goes to War" exhibit. (Photo Courtesy of Floyd McCarty/MPTV)
movie is being presented by the York County Heritage Trust and the Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center.

"Pork Chop Hill" is the second of the trust's four-part military movie series highlighting

the historic eras of the trust's exhibit "Front Porch to Front Lines: York County Goes to War."

The exhibit is on display at the trust's Historical Society Museum at 250 E. Market St. in the city.

Eyler said he served on a committee that collected items for the exhibit. He also donated several items, including a bayonet, a field jacket and helmet.

1952 film clip: Before "Pork Chop Hill" is shown each night, the audience will be shown a clip of the 1952 appearance of Eyler's parents on the Kate Smith Show in New York City.

"(The clip) shows my mother and dad talking to me on the phone," he recalled. "I was at Yokosuka Naval Hospital in Japan. I was taken there after I was wounded. They were extremely happy to get to New York to talk to me. It was the highlight of their life."

Today, Eyler is the commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps League in York and an adjutant with the Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 390.

Daniel Roe, the trust's director of education, said he is grateful that Eyler can talk about his Korean War experiences.

Roe said he hopes that Eyler and other military veterans feel that they are appreciated for their service to their country.

Roe said he also hopes the movie attendees will learn new information about the Korean War.

"A lot of topics related to the Korean War are not really known," he said. "We hope (people) will get better understanding of that conflict and of the history and heritage of this area in connection with this war."

-- Reach Eyana Adah McMillan at 505-5438 or emcmillan@yorkdispatch.com.

Seeing the movie

"Pork Chop Hill" will be shown at the Capitol Theatre, 50 N. George St., York City.

Show times are 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday.

Prior to the Saturday showing, U.S. Marines veteran George Eyler will talk about his Korean War experiences.

Tickets are $7 per person. There is a buy-one-get-one-free discount for all veterans and active armed forces members.

For information, call 846-1111.