Voices from the Korean War - Douglas Rice [124]
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On the 3rd of October, we, the 1st Cavalry Division, along with several other units, launched the offensive—Operation Commando. At the end of the first day of fighting we could turn around, look down and see where we started from. The fighting was so brutal; we probably didn’t even advance a quarter of a mile. By the end of the operation, thirteen days later, we had pushed the Chinese farther north across the 38th parallel.
At the end of the thirteenth day, less than seventy men from the 1st Battalion walked off the hills. As a jeep was going along one of the roads, it was stopped by two soldiers; as they got in, they said that was all the transportation Charlie Company needed.
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I believe it was around Thanksgiving when we, the 1st Cavalry Division, received word that we would be leaving Korea; we were going to Japan.
Around the middle of December, the 7th Cavalry left Inchon headed for Camp Crawford, which was located on the northern island of Hokkaido, Japan. The 5th Cavalry Regiment had already left, the 8th Regiment being the last to leave Korea.
The camp was above the 38th parallel and it was bitterly cold with lots of snow. While at Camp Crawford we trained in the snow wearing white camouflaged uniforms. We also skied behind Weasels, which were a tracked vehicle, and we even played softball on two feet of snow.
In early February, I received orders to rotate home. When time came, I boarded the troopship Marine Adder bound for Seattle, Washington. After arriving, all soldiers going to bases east of the Mississippi River were flown home; those going west, went home via train.
I arrived at Fort Knox on Washington’s Birthday, which happened to be a Friday. After checking in, I was informed that everyone was confined to the base for the weekend. I in turn, informed the clerk that I had just returned from Korea, and I was going home; either through the gate or over it, and it didn’t matter to me which way. Needless to say, I was granted a weekend pass.
When I returned to the base, I was walking between two barracks when I heard someone yell, “Hey, Rice.”
I thought to myself, “Who knows me here.” I turned around, and there stood Ed Tabler. Needless to say, we didn’t sleep much that night. We stayed up talking about our last ten months.
One time while on leave, I went riding around with my cousin James Edge—brother of Ernest Edge. We saw two young ladies, around seventeen, playing in the front yard of one of their homes. Of course I had James stop, and I got out and introduced myself to one of the ladies—Shirlene Fuchs. We began to date. However, I would be transferred to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.
As luck would have it, Shirlene had a brother—Maurice—attending medical school in Kirksville, Missouri. After graduating from high school, she came to stay with her brother and his family. Many a weekend I burned up the road between Fort Wood and Kirksville.
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While at Fort Wood, I was in charge of one of the barracks. I told the guys that I was easy going, but if they got my butt in a sling I would return the favor.
One morning during inspection, I was calling roll. When I came to “Smith” two guys said, “Here.” I told everyone to fallout to the barracks, and when I called their name for them to come outside. This time when I called “Smith” no one came out. He had apparently gone home and was late getting back—he spent some time in the brig for being AWOL.
Another sergeant and I were going to take a couple of the guys to St. Louis to watch a Cardinals baseball game. However, that weekend everyone was confined to base, so the guys said they wouldn’t be able to go. I told them since they were not confined to their barracks, to be ready to leave when we came by.
Going into the clerk’s office, I asked to see all weekend