Voices from the Korean War - Douglas Rice [45]
As we neared Chipyong-ni, the enemy fire became more intense. I was shot in the knee and for some reason, the tanks stopped. So, I quickly dismounted to seek cover, and return fire. However, due to my wound, I had no mobility—I wasn’t of much use. More men began to dismount seeking cover. Suddenly, the tanks took off, leaving us behind. Several of us were wounded, including Lt. Col. Treacy. Shortly after, we were all captured.
Not having an aid pouch, the colonel gave me his. Being unable to walk, he carried me on his back. The colonel had been shot in the mouth. The Chinese took one of the guys from our little group and we never saw him again.
I had heard that the Chinese thought one was better off dead than insane; so, I pretended to be insane. I would loosen the tourniquet on my leg so gangrene wouldn’t set in. Finally, the Chinese took the other prisoners and left, leaving me behind. I survived by eating snow, and icicles, until the 18th of February when I was picked up by a squad of men from the 1st Cavalry. They offered me a drink of water and some food—a can of franks and beans; which I still like to this day. After placing me on a stretcher they carried me to an ambulance, which was occupied by a wounded enemy soldier.
I was taken to a M.A.S.H. unit where I was taken into surgery. They removed the bullet from my knee; I still have the bullet. From there I was flown to Japan in a C-54, and transported to General Hospital, because they found out that I was a brick—POW.
After a few more hospitals, and surgeries, I re-enlisted. However, on February 28, 1954 I retired from the U.S. Army with a medical discharge.
* * * * * *
In 1988, I found out that of us eight wounded men, at Chipyong-ni, I was the only one to come home alive. Six of the men were beaten in the head until their brains fell out. And Lieutenant Colonel Edgar Treacy, Jr., died on May 31, 1951—while in a POW Camp.
~~Fifteen~~
Joseph Lloyd Wosser, Jr.
VMF-323
U.S. Marine Corps
I was attending U.C. Berkeley when World War II broke out, and immediately became interested in flying. In 1943 I joined the U.S. Navy for flight training, as a Navel Cadet. After a year of training, and being in the top ten percent of my class, I was given the opportunity to join the Marines to finish my training. However, the war ended before I was able to qualify for carrier take-offs and landings. But, I kept on training and flying until war broke out in Korea.
The following excerpts are from letters that I wrote to my wife while I was flying F-4U Corsairs off the deck of the USS Badoeng Strait.
August 2,
Itami, Japan,
We are staying at the Itami Air Base outside Osaka, Japan and it is very hot.
August 3,
Itami, Japan,
I had 2 FCLP hops today. We start flying at dawn and quit when it is too dark to see the LSO. All the men, plus 8 pilots are aboard the carrier, which sailed today. We are to fly our 24 planes out to meet the carrier in the Sea of Japan.
August 4,
Itami, Japan,
Flew one FCLP and got 8 roger OK passes so am all ready to meet the carrier off Pusan in the morning.
August 5,
Iwakuni, Japan,
On the way to the ship my plane had hydraulic, radio, and fuel transfer failure so I had to land here and get the plane fixed.
August 6,
Iwakuni, Japan,
My plane is ready so I called Itami and they notified the ship, which will send a plane in to show me where the ship is. I see in the papers that the boys are in action today.
August 8,
At sea,
Pop Candle finally flew an extra plane down from Itami so we landed aboard at 4:30. Chet Hall came aboard with no hook and flipped over on his back when he hit the barriers. He will be out 2 or 3 months. Capt. Johnson’s hook skipped the wires and he jumped all three barriers and landed on to of Capt. Ferguson’s plane at the tail and chewed the plane right up to the armor plate behind Fergy and