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John,
I referred to a "supposed" deuce and a half because I cannot conceive
of Marines using a truck in front of the MLR to recover dead. It just doesn't
jive. Perhaps after the cease fire, but certainly not during the war.
Searching the "Marine Operations in Korea Vol.5" I could find no reference
to Marine casualties in that sector in such proportion to require a truck
to recover them.
There were Korean Marines also in that sector, but still no mention
of such an occurrence. If you knew the hill # or name, or the month I might
be able to help. If you happen to remember I'd be pleased to help you put
it together.
John C Cheek wrote:
Robert: First, why do you refer
to a "supposed" deuce and an half? I know what a deuce and a half
looked like. We had one in my ASA Detachment along with two jeeps and a
3/4 ton. Second, I don't recall
specifically which month but it was probably June or July. I do not have
a clear memory of my time on the MLR. I only remember bits and pieces.
I was only on line long enough to get 12 rotation points at 4 points per
month (May, June & July 1953). As I recall the bodies being picked
up were Marines and the men picking them up were Koreans. Was there a 1st
Bn 7th or could the Hqs area I remember have been associated with the artillery
unit? That Marine Hq area was about 300 yards to the east of the ASA base
camp. There was a mess tent there, a portable shower unit, and sleeping
tents. Maybe it was a rest area?
Third, I though I remembered a balloon being flown over Panmunjon during
daylight hours but I wouldn't swear to it.
Fourth, I am nearly certain that the ASA bunker was located just outside
the east boundary of the safe corridor, or no-fire corridor, or whatever
they called the corridor to Panmunjon.
Finally, if you were a Marine enlisted man and drank hard liquor it probably
was obtained from someone in my outfit. I think we were the only enlisted
men (ASA) in Korea who could obtain hard liquor.We brought a large supply
to our Detachment every two weeks then traded and sold it to the Marines.
John On Wed, 23 Jul 2003 16:34:22 -0500 robert guertin <wanaki@infionline.net>
writes:
John,
My name is Robert, not Bob.
I recall vividly the searchlight over the Panmunjong neutral corridor,
but never saw a ballon.
There was no 5th Bn. of the 7th Marine Regt.
I have no idea where you might have been, but if you will name the
month when this supposed duece and a half drove out in front of the line
to recover dead, I may be able to identify both the Marine unit and the
position, also, were the bodies Chinese they were picking up ?Widowmaker
John C Cheek wrote:
Bob:I don't recall the hill identification
but it was near the western flank of the 1st Marine Division if not right
on the western flank. I could clearly see the balloon and spotlight at
Panmunjon. I was in the Army Security Agency and attached to the 1st Marines.
My outfit monitored the front line radio communications of the enemy. I
pulled a 24 hour shift in the bunker then went back to a Detachment area
for a couple of days before returning for another shift. Our Detachment
camp consisted of a couple of squad tents near the headquarters of a Marine
outfit. I am not certain but it may have been the 1st Batallion, 7th Regiment
or the 5th Bat 7th. There was an artillery battery not to far south of
our Detachment. Is any of this familiar to you?John On Wed, 23 Jul 2003
10:36:58 -0500 robert guertin <wanaki@infionline.net>
writes:
J.
Charles,
I was also there in 1953, 1st Mar. Div. Do you recall which hill that
was ?
John C Cheek wrote:
During one night in the early summer of 1953
the UN and Chinese exchanged artillery fire for hours. The next morning
I watched a Marine deuce and a half truck drive slowly along the base of
my hill. Four men were picking up bodies and putting them on the truck.
I don't know how long they were down there picking up bodies because I
quit watching and went back inside the bunker (It was not a pleasant sight).
However, the Chinese did not fire upon our position. All was quiet for
the rest of the day. Stay safe,
buddy.
J. Charles Cheek
Author of "Stay Safe, Buddy"
A Novel about Humor &
Horror during the Korean War
www.authorsden.com/jcharlescheek
On Tue, 22 Jul 2003 21:24:32 -0500 robert guertin <wanaki@infionline.net>
writes:
What
I posted was an action involving the Chinese. Although there were actions
involving combined forces, they fought as seperate units. (N. Korean or
Chinese)
The Chinese were not averse to killing prisoners, nor am I aware of
any instance when they allowed us to recover our wounded, and there were
times they used our dead as bait to ambush recovery efforts. (Not my unit
but others of record)Love Shack wrote:
OK. were they the Chinese doing it or the Koreans?
Did the Koreans fight with the Chinese or did they fight as seperate
unit?
I am not trying to create and argument. I am sure they could have this.
I am following up on a comment from an earlier posting of a person in
combat
against the Chinese. After the battle the Chinese allowed the Americans
to pick
up and treat the wounded and care for the dead.
He followed up that this would not have happened with the NK and that
the
Chinese were a more disciplined army.
Dan Fahey
robert guertin wrote:
Regarding Chinese treatment of prisoners;
After the 2nd Inf. tragic loss at Hoengsong in February 1951, when
the ROK fled south exposing ellements of that division to the onslaught
of the Chinese 4th offensive, these fiqures answer the question.
15th FA Bn 208 Casualties (106 KIA
102 died in captivity)
503rd FA Bn 56 Casua;ties ( 27
KIA 29 in captivity)
38th Inf Regt 462 Casua;ties (328 KIA
134 perished in captivity)
Two GIs, their hands tied behind them, had been shot in the back of
the head. There were powder burns on the back of the caps they wore.
[Gary Turbak, "Massacre at Hoengsong", VFW Mag. Feb. 2001)
Widowmaker
Love Shack wrote:
I thought the Chinese were more respectful of captured
UN/USA
pilots and infantry then the Koreans.
OR were the Chinese just as cruel to their prisoners.
Did the Russians interogate with the Chinese?
Dan
AMPSOne@aol.com wrote:
In a message dated
7/20/2003 7:28:23 AM Eastern Daylight Time, Home@DanSources.com writes:
I
wonder if the Russians employed that level of Trap for the US Pilots in
Korea?
No, there is no evidence whatsoever of
that. They usually note they didn't know who was who until they were shot
down. Once he was shot down, they were highly respectful of Walker "Bud"
Mahurin as that was a Ukrainian name, but that deference also wound up
having him accused of collaboration with the Soviets after the war.
George Davis' shootdown was a bonus
for them, but to this day both the Chinese and Soviets claim they shot
him down so the real victor is unknown.
At least one ace was not announced
until after his return, as the USAF was afraid if the Chinese knew he was
an ace his treatment would be much worse.
Cookie Sewell
AMPS
Stay safe, buddy.
J. Charles Cheek
Author of "Stay Safe, Buddy"
A Novel about Humor &
Horror during the Korean War
www.authorsden.com/jcharlescheek
Stay safe, buddy.
J. Charles Cheek
Author of "Stay Safe, Buddy"
A Novel about Humor &
Horror during the Korean War
www.authorsden.com/jcharlescheek
Stay safe, buddy.
J. Charles Cheek
Author of "Stay Safe, Buddy"
A Novel about Humor &
Horror during the Korean War
www.authorsden.com/jcharlescheek
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