War in the Land of Morning Calm

AuthorHouse

Contents

Prologue War.....................................xi1 Bottlecap Inn..................................12 Iwo Jima and Gobblers Knob.....................73 Trumpet Serenade...............................134 Pusan, South Korea.............................205 The Fire Brigade...............................316 First Time at the Naktong......................447 Camp Pendleton, California.....................508 Bean Patch.....................................749 Second Time at the Naktong.....................8810 Destination Inchon............................10511 Inchon Landing................................11612 Road to Seoul.................................12913 Seoul Falls...................................14914 Operation Yo-Yo...............................16915 Enter the Dragon..............................18116 Chosin Reservoir..............................20217 Yudam-ni......................................21918 Toktong Pass..................................24019 Yudam-ni......................................26320 Hagaru-ri and East Hill.......................28421 Hamhung.......................................306

Chapter One

Jack turned toward Bernie and Bobby as they followed him outside through the wide double doors of the Navy and Marine Corps Reserve Training Center. "Carson's Heroes, listen up," he shouted, skipping down the concrete steps. "I want you boot one-stripers to know, it's a time-honored Marine Corps custom. You pay."

They called themselves "Carson's Heroes" because Jack Carson was older by a few months, a college student and, they had reasoned, someone had to be in charge. Until tonight's drill meeting he had been the only private first class, the others slick-sleeve privates. Even though they were now all the same rank, there was no question that Jack was still the senior PFC. Jack was the tallest of the three, with Bobby and Bernie an inch or two shorter. Both Jack and Bernie were slim and wiry, while Bobby was built like the proverbial fire plug, and all muscle.

The Bottlecap Inn on Adams Avenue in Huntington, West Virginia, was a favorite place to meet after Tuesday night drill meetings. Each available inch of wall space in the bar was covered with bottle caps of what they believed was every beer, foreign and domestic, in the world. The caps from beers produced overseas gave the bar an international feel.

They sat in their favorite booth, far from the door so they could see who entered, and ordered. Their conversation immediately turned to the Korean War and the likelihood that they would be sent to fight in Korea. The war had begun only two days earlier, on Sunday. All they knew about what was happening in Korea was what they read in the local newspaper, The Huntington Advertiser, and what their commanding officer, Major Reynolds, had announced less than an hour earlier.

"You heard what the Skipper said?" Bobby asked.

"About being called up?" Jack answered. "Told us we'd better make preparations."

"When he said we should put our personal affairs in order, he got my attention," Bernie said. "Bobby, that means you gotta get guys for all your girlfriends so they won't feel neglected while you're gone." Bobby punched him on the shoulder.

"There's Harry," Jack said, looking toward the door. "Harry, c'mon over. These guys are paying." The boys squeezed together to make room just as their beer arrived. Jack ordered another for Harry as he sat beside them in the booth.

Sergeant Harry Sawyer was another World War II veteran who wanted to keep ties to the Marine Corps after his discharge. So he, along with many other former active duty Marines living in Huntington, joined the 14th Engineer Company, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. These veteran Marines, referred to by the younger reservists as "old salts," could feel the pride of being a Marine again, wear the uniform at two-hour weekly drill sessions, and reminisce. Or, as they called it, tell "sea stories." It seemed to Jack that their sea stories became more elaborate each time he heard them.

Sawyer was always helpful. During breaks he often gave junior men tips on how to make their lives easier, followed by the admonition, "No need to practice being miserable. We'll get enough of that without asking for it." Harry was a good NCO, one who always took care of his troops. One of the good guys, Jack thought.

"By the way, congratulations," Harry said, raising his bottle of Budweiser. "Your first stripe. Who knows, you'll likely outrank me one of these days." Bernie and Bobby grinned, enjoying a compliment from an old salt.

"I heard some Staff NCOs talking." Jack leaned toward Harry. "Said there's no way we'll go to Korea. The Corps is too short-handed."

"Well, they've got a point. We're supposed to have three Marine Divisions. Got two, both way under strength. The third doesn't exist except on paper. President Truman keeps cutting the Corps' budget. Looks to me like he's tryin' to do away with us."

"No. Can't be," Jack said. "Okinawa was just five years ago, and Guadalcanal, Iwo Jima, Tarawa, well, they weren't cake walks. You know how it was. You were on Iwo. It was the Marines who won the war in the Pacific."

"Old Harry S. Truman. Ex-Army officer, right?" said Bernie. He lifted his bottle of West Virginia Pilsner, a local beer that was his favorite, and took a long draw.

"If the Corps is so short handed," Bobby said, "they'll need the Reserves if we go to Korea."

"Hell," Bernie said, putting down his bottle. "Everything we've got is too old. We're still wearing World War Two uniforms, and all our rifles, machine guns and everything else is what's left over from the war."

"They worked well then; they'll be just fine now," Bobby said. "That M-1 Rifle felt good when we fired for record at Camp Lejeune."

"Says Bobby-the-expert-rifleman. I bet it did," Bernie said. "But I sure liked seeing how surprised those regulars were that you, a low-life reservist—who had never been to boot camp, by the way—could shoot high expert. Well, I'll tell you right now. If the Corps needs me, I'm ready."

Jack lifted his Heineken, tried to look older than his years, and added, "No point in getting all excited. If there's no money the Corps can't call us up. And you can bet Truman and the Army will try to keep it that way."

They sat for a moment, staring at the bubbles floating upward in their beer, lost in thought. Bobby looked up and smiled as he stared at the front door. A couple walked in. She was a pretty blonde wearing a short-sleeved fuzzy sweater and a skirt with an outline of a poodle sewed on its front. She was obviously accustomed to being noticed.

Bernie saw what had captured Bobby's attention. "Doggone it Bobby, if there's a pretty girl within ten miles you'll know exactly who she is and where to find her."

"Hey Jack," Bobby said, changing the subject. "Did you notice Bernie in front of the formation tonight? When he saluted Major Reynolds he jiggled. He's gained some weight. Better get in shape if he's going to war."

"Don't you believe it, Jarhead," Bernie retorted. "Step outside. I'll show you who's out of shape!" They all laughed.

Bobby turned to Harry. "What was it like on Iwo? Will it be the same in Korea?"

"Never been to...