December 23rd, 1950, 10:30 am, the jeep which the General Walker got in was heading to the north on the road of Dobong-ri 3-gu and it was overturned after having a broadside collision to the 3/4 ton truck of the ROK the 6th division, which was heading to the south. At that time, four out of the five cars pulled over left side of the road were all trucks and the last one was a jeep. The truck pulled over in the fourth did not see the jeep running in front but came out in the center of the road so that it hit the left side of the jeep with its left bumper. The jeep was turned over several times in the accident and the General Walker was struck out from the car and had a serious injury in his head. A severe bleeding led him to death.
【疑似】现场照片
为什么说是“疑似”呢?因为原照片文字注释为“1941-01-21, Gen. Ted Walker killed in accident.” 但是很明显,1941年1月美军还没参战;1941年没有这样的吉普;Gen. Ted Walker也查无此人。所以美国的吉普迷认为:这是矮胖子沃克将军的翻车现场。作为对比,下图为1950年9月18日沃克将军向北越过锦湖江(Kumho River)时的英姿。
还有啊,看了这份剪报,解决了我很久以来的一个疑惑,就是为什么老有人说巴顿将军死于(不系)安全带,原来啊,是对这么一个英语习惯用语“died in harness”的误解。 Harness的确有“安全带”的意思,但不是汽车安全带seat belt,而是“五花大绑”的那种安全绳,比如库房高空作业那种的,这个词原意是指套在牛马身上的绳索/挽具,died in harness,就是在工作中死去,没熬到退休,因公殉职,这么个意思,就和安全带无关了。