Voices from the Korean War - Douglas Rice [120]
We were told during basic training never pick up any live ammo from the practice fields, but you always had a few who wanted a souvenir. There was one guy who bunked on the second floor of our barracks that picked up a rifle grenade and kept it in his foot locker.
As some of the guys were scurrying around and getting ready to go home for Christmas—I believe. However, the guy took the grenade from his locker and yelled, “Catch,” to a guy walking up the steps. Realizing what it was, the guy moved over and let the grenade go by. Unfortunately, it hit one of the landings and detonated—sending the guy through the air. Needless to say, we had locker inspections and all souvenirs were confiscated.
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After graduating from basic training we were given furloughs. I usually hitch-hiked home, because it was faster than riding a bus and making all the stops. So, I had been waiting for some time when a gentleman stopped—I believe this was around Richmond, Virginia. He told me if he had not come along I would have been standing there for a long time. After getting in, he drove me around the courthouse square. There in the yard was a sign that read, “Dogs and Soldiers Keep off the Grass.” Finally, I made it home.
I can’t remember how long it was, but after spending New Years furlough at home, it was time to head back to Camp Pickett. My brother, Bob, was taking me to the bus station in Hardinsburg. As he backed down the drive, I can still remember seeing mom running down the drive and out into the dirt road waving bye as we turned the corner and out of sight. When we arrived back at camp, we gathered our belongings—it was time to head to the train station. We draftees were headed to Korea; and the 43rd National Guard was headed to Germany.
As we boarded the troop train bound for Fort Ord, California, I shared a bunk section in our car with Ed Tabler, who I had met and became friends with during basic training. We traveled through the southern part of the states going through Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. I remember going through some areas and never seeing a building the entire day. At night, off in the far distance, you could see the faint flicker of a light.
We boarded our ship in San Francisco and sailed under the Golden Gate Bridge as we headed for the open sea. While aboard, Ed and I were in the same bunk section. During our voyage I never got seasick; however, a lot of the younger guys “fed the fish.” It was late March, or early April, when we finally docked in Japan.
We were taken to Camp Drake, were we stayed for several days; getting familiar with all the weapons. While on the rifle range I was squeezing off some bulls-eyes, when the guy next to me asked if we could swap weapons. He was shooting all over the target, and wanted me to zero in his rifle; he wanted to be sure he was going to the front line with a reliable weapon. So, after a few adjustments, I was soon squeezing off another bull’s-eye.
This is an excerpt from a letter I wrote to Uncle Ernest Edge:
Japan,
Monday, April 9
Hello, Uncle Ernest and all,
I am now at Camp Drake, Japan. But we move out tomorrow for where I don’t know. But I got a good idea...
From Deb
Ed and I had gone through basic, traveled across southern America, and journeyed across the Pacific together, but when we landed in Korea—we were split up. Ed went to the 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, and I went to Company D, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. Company D was a heavy weapons company that was divided into three sections: machine gun, recoilless rifle, and mortars. I was assigned to the mortar section.
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After being assigned to my unit, and getting settled in, I wrote home asking mom to get me my cousins—Ernest Everett Edge—address. He was assigned to the 23rd Infantry Regiment of the 2nd Infantry Division. When I received his address, I send him a letter only to have it returned—it was stamped “Deceased.”
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The first patrol I went on was a contact patrol; this meant you made contact with