Voices from the Korean War - Douglas Rice [132]
During our five day voyage to Hokkaido, Japan, I puked during four and a half of them. It was a good thing I didn’t join the Navy.
Douglas Voss. Photo provided by Douglas Voss
This photo is Tom Enos posing with a statue of Captain Sitter.
Photo was provided by Tom Enos.
Front Row L to R: Charlie Hudson, Joe Barbarese, Bong Cup Chong, ____ Perry
Standing L to R: Tony Faiello, _____ Christopopelus, Joe Ackerman, Lester Hinderman.
This picture was taken at Yungchung, Korea on January 27, 1951. Photo provided by Tony Faiello.
Photo of Joseph Marlett was taken in Osaka, Japan in October 1950, while on R&R. Photo provided by Joseph Marlett.
Ernest Everett Edge. Photo provided by Edge Family.
L to R: Sgt. Marvin Barkley, SFC Delbert Rice, Lt. Norman McLaughlin, Sgt. Lawrence Saunders, SFC Albert Norman, PFC Hugh Hart, and PFC Jesse Adams. Photo provided by Rexford Glass.
Sitting by the mortar tube is Delbert Rice. The other two are unknown. Photo provided by Delbert Rice.
Photo of Howard Camp taken at Camp Haugen, Japan in 1952.
Photo provided by Howard Camp.
L to R: Bill Turner, Ivan D. Brown, and Stanley Grogan. Photo provided by Stanley Grogan.
Raymond Reilley. Photo provided by Raymond Reilley.
Eating his chow is Leroy Rogers. Photo provided by Leroy Rogers.
L to R: George DeSha and John Donohue. Photo provided by George DeSha.
To the far right is Chuck Gibbs. The young girls are from nearby village, looking for food. The temperature was zero when this picture was taken. Photo provided by Chuck Gibbs.
The Marine on the far right, looking at the camera is John Rick Kennedy. Photo provided by John Rick Kennedy.
Posing with his 57mm recoilless rifle is Clyde Corsaro. Photo provided by Clyde Corsaro.
Book II
July 1951 thru June 1952
~~Forty-Four~~
David Lopez
19th Infantry Regiment
24th Infantry Division
U.S. Army
I served in Korea from July 17, 1951 through February of 1952. I was with George Company, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. As a member of the second squad, second platoon, I carried a BAR, which is an automatic rifle that has three speeds. It is also capable of shooting faster than the .30 caliber machine gun. And since it only weighs nineteen pounds, it is easier to maneuver in and out of tight spots.
* * * * * *
There are many stories of my days in Korea, but this is the one I remember the most vividly because I was wounded.
We were located on a mountain that we had fought for, and had been holding for thirty days. On September 11, 1951 we were relieved and moved to the rear area. Here we were able to take hot showers, get a clean change of clothes, but the best of all—we ate hot meals.
On the 14th of September, two tanks moved up close to my position. They began to fire at some bunkers that were located on the hill in front of us. The enemy had moved in a cannon, and after each tank had fired six rounds apiece; the cannon fired back. Suddenly, I heard a bang, but the shell went by me so fast I didn’t have time to yell, “Incoming.” Shortly after this, the tanks pulled back. This was the first time I had seen tanks in action, because my war had been fought from mountain to mountain.
We were told to clean and oil our weapons, because the next morning we would be going back into action. Up by 6:00 AM, breakfast by 7:00 AM, we started crossing a river that was thirty yards wide, and, in spots, chest high. If you looked to the right, then left, you would have thought the entire division was on the move; which was good, because your chance of getting hit in such a large group drops was less. We couldn’t move very fast, and we could see bullets hitting all around us.
Each squad usually had one or two Korean boys they used to wash clothes, carry ammo, or other odd chores. Our Korean boy, who looked to be about twelve years old, was hit. The bullet entered his mouth and came out his left cheek.
Finally, we made it across and then we were at