Washington State Korean War Memorial Ceremony

[GreenBeret1631]

Today (7/23/05) at 11AM at the Korean War Memorial, on the Capitol grounds of Washington State. Veterans of the (Forgotten War) attended a ceremony at the monument dedicated to those who served in the Korean War and especially those who were KIA, MIA or Are unaccounted for POWs.

The event was sponsered by the Chosin Few, veterans of both the Marine Corps and the U. S. Army 7th ID. Of course, the ceremony is for all Korean War Veterans to include those from other Countries and Korean (Nationals) Veterans as well. We honor the signing of the truce on 07/27/53.

This Ceremony is done every year at this time, on the closest Saturday before the actual event.

I had the honor as Chapter President along with other members of the 1st Cavalry Division Association's NW Chapter, of presenting a floral wreath for the Ceremony and placing it at the monument. The wreath is for all that served, especially those members of the 1st Cavalry Division who gave their lives for the freedom of the South Korean people.

[RENEA]

;?

[GreenBeret1631]

Here is a picture of the 1st Cavalry Division floral wreath on the monument.

[reconvic]

I remember the Frozen Chosen they were called in the Corps. More men died bringing in these prisioners then came back alive I saulte my bothers.

[reconvic]

As this is close to Christmas I will try to tell what sticks in my mind About the Chosin Resevoir!
I don't remember the dates, as each day ran into another. We had come into Hagaru. I believe it was about dusk. I saw a Corsair crash land in a rice paddy. The plane bounced over each dike, and the pilot finally brought it to a stop. He climbed out and was okay.
We gathered at some huts that were warm and quickly fell asleep. After what seemed like a few minutes, we were back on the road to Koto-ri and it was pitch black. The column moved at a snail's pace and it was stop and go. When daylight came, we were still quite a ways from Koto-ri and about noon we met a road block. The road followed a riverand had high banks along the side of it. As we came to the bend in the road, the call came out for How Co. Sitting in the corner of the bend was a Marine with the thousand yard stare, just shaking in a crouched position, I don't believe he was with How Co.
We crawled over the banks to a hail of small arms fire. Our gun was set up between some small huts, and I believe Crockerwas on the gun and he still had his leggings on. He let out a yell, because a bullet had hit the buckle on his legging.
To his right behind the huts was the C.O. Captain Williamson, and Lt. Preston (60mmMortars) To our left in front of a small hut, a group of Chinese Prisoners. Some had bare feet that were frozen solid. Lt. preston kept hollering for me to fire my M-1. I could not see a target, and for fear of hitting our guys in front, I fired a clip into the hills in front of us.
When we had them on the run, we picked up and ran to the front. Peter Coraci was next to me, and we uncovered a cave that had a straw mat over it. We pulled the mat back, and there were 3 Chinese in the hole. Peter hollered, E T WA! and they pulled the pin on a grenade and killed themselves rather than surrender. We again went back to the main column on the road. In the early afternoon we walked thru Hell Fire Valley. No one said a word--we didn't have to. It was a sight that must be burned in the minds of all who saw it. Dead Marines were everywhere., in trucks and on the road, frozen like statues where they died. The word went out not to touch them for fear they were booby trapped. There was a jeep in the ditch with a poncho es gone.
They say we brought out our dead. I have often wondered about the ones in Hell Fire Valley. I never knew what happened there until I read the book "Chosin." No one ever talked about this. We reached Koto-ri at dusk. We went into a secure area and set up camp. We found some parachutes from air dropsand made tents out of them. I believe that Watts, Watson and I were in a tent. We crawled into our sleeping bags with all the clothes we had on, and shivered until we fell asleep.
We were awakened at daybreak. It had snowed during the night, and there were a couple of inches of the snow on the tents, which were also full of bullet holes. I don't know if they were from the air drop or during the bnight, but we slept too soundly to know the difference. Fires were built and we tried to heat some V-Rations. Fires were also built under the crank cases of the jeeps and 6x6 trucks to get them started. (They were filled with our dead). This had to be one of the coldest nights so far.
Once again the column of men and equipment started out toward Hungnam. When we reached the spot where the bridge had been blown and they had installed a tread bridge that had been air dropped, we were in a ditch by the road and were receiving incoming fire on the road. Off to our right about a thousand yards, a tank was firing into the hills at the Chinese. We had to climb up to the road and hi-tail it to the bridge. Small arms fire was kicking into our feet on the road. When we reached the bridge, there was a Col Tapplet waving us on. What an uplift that was.
Now it was walk, walk, walk with the straps from the ammo cans cutting into our necks. I think it was 55 miles from Koto-ri to Hungnam. We did this in a day wearing shoe packs. Our feet turned into a solid mass of blisters. As we got closer to Hungnam you could smell the salt air. It felt so much warmer. A flare came sailing out of the hills, and we had a two minute fire fight with the US Army that was guarding the road. It was in the middle of the night.
When we reached Hungnamand the division headquarters had tents set up for us. e slept till dawn, and someone came in with a razor and a helmet full of water. We all had to shave because we were joined by the British Royal Marines, who were always clean shaven and sharp looking. We loaded up into a landing carft and went out to the harbour to the Navy ships waiting for us. We crawled up the rope ladders with the assistance of the sailors, as we were totallyexhausted. We were each assigned a place to bunk, however most stayed on deck.
When we reached Pusan, we disembarked to the 'Bean Patch' where they had tents for us. We got hot food for the first time in weeks, and everyone got sick. You would take a few bites and run to the head. We kept the Corpsmen busy handing out anti-diarrhea medicine. we set up a makeshift Christmas tree and decorated it with cans and whatever we could find.
I went to different areas to try and find out about friends in other units. We were saddened to learn of those that did not make it out. As I recall there were about 35 Marines from How Co that walked out of the Chosin Resevoir. In the book "Chosin" they say we rode trucks back from the rail head. I know I walked every inch of th way. After seeing what was left of hell Fire Valley, I didn't wish to ride in a truck again.
At the 'Bean Patch' we got replacements, and some of the ones who had been wounded came back to the Company. We received gear to replace what had been destroyed at the Resevoir

[fnfalman]

Ah yes, the Forgotten War.

;?

[RENEA]

I have wondered: With the plethora of WW2 films in recent years why has the Korean War been forgotten by American filmmakers? I'm sure if Steven Spielberg made a "Saving Private Ryan" type film about the Korean War it would attract great attention to this conflict. Yes, I've seen the Korean film "Tae Guk Gi" and thought it was excellent.

[GreenBeret1631]

Originally posted by RENEA
I have wondered: With the plethora of WW2 films in recent years why has the Korean War been forgotten by American filmmakers? I'm sure if Steven Spielberg made a "Saving Private Ryan" type film about the Korean War it would attract great attention to this conflict. Yes, I've seen the Korean film "Tae Guk Gi" and thought it was excellent.

I always thought that "Pork Chop Hill" was one of the best Korean War films.

[fnfalman]

Tae Guk Gi was an awesome movie. Very raw and visceral just like Saving Private Ryan. And Pork Chop Hill was/is also an excellent movie about the battles of Pork Chop Hill.