Voices from the Korean War - Douglas Rice [117]
We ran into about 2 storms. The water was pretty rough. More so than Rough Creek...
We are not going to stay here but 2 or 4 days and then we will ship somewhere else. I don’t know just where, but from the way they talk I don’t think I will like it....
Ernest Everett
March 21, ‘51
Dear Mom,
...Well mom my visit in Japan wasn’t very long for I am on a ship headed for Korea. But, I don’t know just what part. But, when you all get this letter I will be in Korea...
Ernest Everett
April 30, ‘51
Hello Pa,
...I wished I was there. But, from the way things looks I don’t guess I will be back for a long time. The Chinese pushed us back about 10 or 15 miles in the last few days. I guess you will hear about it, that’s one time old Edge got on the run...Just at times it’s pretty rough. The other morning I was in 15 feet of them Chinese and I am still here. You probably wouldn’t believe that I was that close. Boy my blood pressure came up to about a 110...
Ernest Everett
May 1, ‘51
Dear Mom,
...I never see anybody but soldiers and hills.
Well I guess you all know that the Chinese are making a big push. Boy I can tell you one thing, they made us high tail it. Well Pop how are you getting along farming? It will soon be time to set tobacco and plant corn.
...I got a letter today from Aunt Varnie saying that Delb was in the 1st Cavalry. Send me his address so I can write to him. It could be that I will see him sometime for I see some of the 1st Cal once and awhile. I saw a boy from back at Ft. Knox in the 1st Cal the other day...
Ernest Everett
May 4, ‘51
Dear Mom,
...Well you all was saying something about my buddy. Well he is from Missouri he looks something like me. His name is Keene. Most of the boys call me Keene, and him Edge.
Well Pop it’s a little early for bird hunting. But, if this rotation keeps I should get home around Xmas for a few days. So, keep in touch with the birds this summer...
Well James...better watch when it gets dry you will sit the roads on fire. It’s pretty easy any how on that kind of gas you use.
Well Emogene you want a picture in my combat uniform. Well I am afraid you won’t get it for awhile...we are out in the old fields...
Hello Den, how are you making it old timer. I guess you have got you some false teeth by now...Irvin is it warm enough for you to go barefooted....Homer you and Jack are probably going fishing by now. So watch those whales down there in the creek, don’t let one pull you in...Mary I’ll write you a letter some of these days when I get time.
Well it’s getting kindly dark now. I have got a candle lit to see by, and it’s raining. I am wet...
Ernest Everett
May 11, ‘51
Dear Mom,
...Mom you all said something about me getting out of here in 6 or 8 months. Well I just don’t know. I think it depends now on how the war is by that time. For some boys have been here 10 months and they haven’t got out yet. So, don’t plan on me being home in 6 or 7 months...It’s really hot over here now. It’s hotter in South Korea than it is in North Korea. We was in North Korea for awhile until they decided they didn’t want us up there. This war is just like tug-of-war. We crawl up and run back, so you can see how the war is going. The last time I was on the line it was about 500 of us out in front on a hill. We had about 20,000 enemy, so you can see why we have to run...Well mom I can’t think of much to write. I got to answer your alls letter, Aunt Ruth’s, Aunt Varnie’s, Robert’s, and Virgil’s...
Ernest Everett
This would be the last letter Ernest wrote home: he was killed in action on May 18, 1951—at Chaun-ni, South Korea.
Newton Duke of Pinston, Alabama was one of the men with Ernest on the day he was killed. He described the following details of that day.
They were in the vicinity of Hangye-ni and the ROK troops to their right had left without telling anyone. Now with their right flank exposed, they were in the fight of their lives. It was pure chaos. They had