Tony Marino has reached a crossroads in life. With high school commencement just two weeks away, Marino is definitely ready to explore the world that lies outside Cleveland, Ohio. But times are tough in 1949, leaving Marino only one viable option-to join the navy. As he enlists, he has no idea that the Korean War is about to break out.

EPIC IN THE FORGOTTEN WAR

By Ken Filing

Trafford Publishing

Copyright © 2011 Ken Filing
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4269-6820-4

Chapter One

"Well I don't know about you guys, but I'm tired of going to school. There's a whole big world out there to be seen and I want to see it" drawled Tony in his Midwest accent.

The other three teen age high school boys who were sitting with him in the detention room just chuckled and rolled their eyes.

Raymond looked up at him and said "Yeah sure Tony, just go down to your savings account and draw out those thousands of dollars that you've stashed away. Then you can buy a ticket on the next ship out of Cleveland."

The other two boys laughed and Tommy said "Yeah draw it out Tony and maybe you'll have enough to buy a bus ticket to Barberton."

This brought more laughter from the whole group including Tony who said "Yeah, that's part of the problem."

The group of pals were accustomed to that kind of kidding, all being much in the same predicament. They had been a very close knit group all through high school. They all played on any athletic team that was available to them when they weren't working part time jobs to help supplement their family's income. And they all excelled at one sport or another. They had reached a crossroad in the game of life. High school commencement was in two weeks and decisions must be made. Which new road would each take at this intersection?

Times were tough there in 1949. World War II was over and many factories were changing from war work to consumer goods. Hundreds of thousands of veterans had hit the job market and were eager to start a new life. Many were enrolling in college to finish their education. This made for an overload in the schools of higher learning.

The conditions made it tough for a young man just out of high school. Coach said that he could work out an athletic scholarship for Tony and Jay but they'd be required to work some part time jobs at the school like serving tables and that kind of thing. Raymond had been contacted by a scout from a major league baseball team but nothing had been offered as yet and Tommy was thinking about joining the Navy and applying for electronics school to learn to be a technician.

"Ya know this Navy thing sounds like an idea, but I don't feel like going to another school" said Tony.

"I'm sure you could get sea duty and see the world that way, Tony, and I must admit the Navy sounds good to me. I checked into it and there are other opportunities available. Why don't we go into Akron and check it out further?" Tommy said.

Just then the outer door opened and Mr. Sauers, the Dean of Boys yelled into the room "Okay you hooligans. Time's up. You can all leave but you'll find yourselves back in here again if you decide to go swimming on school time again.... even if it is close to graduation."

The four of them unfolded themselves from the hard back chairs and sauntered out.

One of them mumbled "At least we won't have to put up with old sour puss any more."

"I HEARD THAT! WHICH ONE SAID THAT?" yelled Mr. Sauers.

The boys just chuckled and kept on walking without looking back and when they reached the sidewalk, they took off running.

Mr. Sauers stood in the doorway with his hands on his hips and slowly grinned. His lips then parted slightly while a chuckle came from down deep.

He said to himself with a twinkle in his eye "I kind of hate to see them go. The four of them sure made life interesting." He sighed as he slowly turned and closed the door to the detention room.

The next two weeks flew by for the boys with all the preparation for graduation. But it soon was over and they were high school graduates.

They met at Jay's house so they could drive into Akron in his beat up old car to check out the Navy recruiting office. When Tony and Tommy arrived Jay gave them the latest news.

"Raymond won't be going with us. He called and said the New York Yankees want him to play baseball on their Lima, Ohio farm team. He thinks he has a good chance to make the team and who knows how far he'll go. He can really swat the ball and with proper coaching and some experience with his catching skills behind the plate, he just might do it. I told him to go for it."

And with that, the three buddies jumped into Jay's old '34 Ford Sedan and drove into Akron. They parked at the recruiting office parking lot and entered the building through the main entrance which led to a long hall with office doors on each side.

"Okay guys, we're here, now what do we do?" asked Tony.

"Well there's the door marked Navy Recruiting Office so I guess we go on in and ask questions" answered Tommy.

"Wait a minute" interjected Jay. "Right across the hall is the Marine Recruiting Office. They really have some neat uniforms. Let's go in there. Maybe it would be more fun to be a Marine."

"Oh right Jay. Haven't you heard about the training those guys have to go through?"

"Yeah but we've gone through some pretty intense stuff at football practice. Don't forget those scrimmages during those hot, humid August days."

"Not exactly the same" said Tommy.

"He's right Jay. Three months of Navy Boot Camp is all I want of that kind of stuff. Not a steady diet for three years" added Tony.

"I'm for the Navy" Tommy exclaimed.

"Me too" Tony agreed.

"Okay, okay you guys. I was only kidding. Let's go talk to the Navy recruiting guy."

They entered the Navy office and before they left, all three had committed themselves to a three year enlistment. They were to board a train to San Diego for Boot Camp on July 1.

When Tony broke the news to his mom and dad, they weren't overjoyed.

"I'd rather see you go to college Tony" said his dad.

"Gosh Dad, I know you can't afford to pay for my college education what with the orchard not doing well for the past few years and the football scholarships offered are not that secure. What if I don't make the team or get hurt?"

"But you could get hurt in the Navy too, Tony" exclaimed his mom.

"I know Mom, but think of it another way. They still have the G.I. Bill in effect and if I put in three years, I'll only be twenty years old. I can start to college then and the government will pay for it."

"Well, will you promise to go to school when you get out?" asked his dad.

"Sure I will Dad" answered Tony.

"Okay then" Mr. Marino said with a sigh "I guess I'll sign for you, since you're only seventeen. But I'm doing it with a heavy heart."

"Thanks Dad. I won't let you down. And Mom, don't worry, I'll be okay. The war is over so it will be a chance for me to see the world under peacetime conditions."

Those words would eventually come back to haunt Mr. and Mrs. Marino.

Chapter Two

One year later, in June of 1950, found Tony home on a seven day leave. His ship, the USS Columbia, had docked in Norfolk, Virginia en route to New York City where it would set sail to Bremerhaven, Germany.

Tony left the ship in Norfolk and would return to it in New York at the end of his leave. He was fulfilling his dream and traveling to new and different places. He was assigned to the ship after Boot Camp and some additional "Special Forces Training" which involved intense indoctrination on small arms as well as automatic weapons and close combat drills. He had already been to Hawaii, Guam, Panama, San Juan and now would be going to Europe.

On the fifth day of his seven day leave, he received a telegram to report back to his ship in...