Voices from the Korean War - Douglas Rice [40]
We could hear him coming, and I thought to myself, “I hope he doesn’t miss.” When he dropped his five-hundred pound bomb, it shook the whole hill. After that, I thought nothing could be alive on the hill—wrong. As soon as we topped the hill, they opened up on us again. So, they dropped a second bomb; this time all the trees were blown to pieces.
It was foggy that morning and I noticed a huge, well built, bunker, but saw no enemy. With grenade ready, I set my sights on the bunker. As I was about to throw it, from inside a voice said, “Don’t shoot. There’s Marines in here.” Inside were four dead Marines, and one that had half of his nose blown off; he was the one yelling. Apparently, the Chinese must have thrown their bodies in there after they overran their position.
Upon reaching the top, there must have been hundreds of dead Chinese lying everywhere. They were the best dressed Chinese I had ever seen. One soldier was wearing a white cap with a red star in the front. He was also wearing shoes with gold spikes on the bottom.
We finally made our fifteen-to twenty mile journey to Hagaru-ri, which was where Chester Puller’s CP was located. Upon our arrival, we were checked by doctors. If your wound or frostbite was severe enough, you were flown out by plane. Due to frostbite, I was flown out on the next to last plane to leave Hagaru-ri.
After staying in Japan for a few days, I was flown to Bethesda Naval Hospital—where I arrived on Christmas Eve.
~~Thirteen~~
Robert “BJ” Johnson
7th Marine Regiment
1st Marine Division
U.S. Marine Corps
After graduating from Lincoln High School, in Tacoma, Washington, in 1948, I joined the Marine Reserves. I had been influenced by their reputation, plus I would have a chance for travel and a little extra cash from weekend drills.
It was 1950; I had a job, fiancée, car, and in general, was enjoying life. So, when my enlistment was up in May, I immediately re-enlisted for another tour. Then came June 25, 1950; the Korean War. I was among the Tacoma reservist unit that was activated in July.
On the morning of August 9, 1950, our train left the Tacoma Union Station heading south—for Camp Pendleton, California. Here we joined units from all across the United States for assignment. Needless to say, I was headed for Korea.
We sailed aboard troopships and due to a typhoon, the voyage was rough. A lot of heavy equipment broke loose, and many men experienced seasickness. After a short stop in Japan, we finally arrived in Korea.
During my tour in Korea, I wrote over three-hundred letters to my fiancée—now wife. These are excerpts from some of those letters.
Tacoma, Washington
August 9, 1950
Though I’m only about ten miles away from Tacoma, I’m writing already. Writing letters on a train is like threading a needle on a roller coaster....
Camp Pendleton, California
August 11, 1950,
We’re finally here. We arrived at 1:00 PM this afternoon...They put us in barracks temporarily, overnight I guess. Then we will be moved to our permanent ones...Gordy [brother-in-law] sleeps underneath me with his head under my feet...
Camp Pendleton, California
August 13, 1950,
...We had to sign up for insurance and get classified. I think I will be in Motor transport. I hope so anyway...Most everyone went to get a beer or two. I’m staying here and packing my sea bag so I’ll be ready to move out when the word comes...
Camp Pendleton, California
August 15, 1950,
Today is payday. Everybody got fifty dollars...Today they separated the guys with over a year and a half of reserve training from the rest. That’s a bad sign. Some of the reserves that arrived before we did already shipped