JMJ

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

The Flochets

Dear readers....Some memories of the Flochets..Have any of you ate a pigeon..not much meat but good..My eye getting better but need to wear something for five more weeks and eye drops..Phillip
                                                                           JMJ
The Flochets 1953
Chatelerault,France
Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret.
                                                                       Fishing..
  
One of the first real family thing I did with the Flochets was to go fishing, The day came we walk to the river (seine),Which I estimate was in the middle of town.On one side of the river was the predominate Communist.The town was separated by a bridge,In the middle of the river was a small Island, across the river you could see a church on the left and houses,,We had simple poles with just string and a hook,,The family chose spots to fish.I found one close to the shore.I got a bite then another and I gave a tug.I shouted and they all came near me as I pulled in a big fish,As I remember it was the only one we caught,So the Flochets ate a big fish that night,,
                                                                     Movie
There was a lot of excitement the movie in town had "Fernadel" a famous comedian and actor.He was staring in "La petite monde de Don Camillo" (Roughly translated "the little world of father Camillo:
It was the story of a priest who battles it out with the Communist Mayor of a town" I went with Guy to see the movie.there was a very long line.This did not stop "Guy" who got down crawled in between peoples feet and some how got him self to te head of the line.Fernadel was a good actor and I saw other movies with him in it.
                                                                     Paris
Guys father said he had been writing to his relatives in Paris and I was invited to stay with them for a couple of days.I got a three day pass and took a train from town to Paris.The Flochet relative met me.It was a different Flochet.He was well educated.fairly rich,He took me to his apartment..The first thing he did was have his small daughters move to a different room and I got there room.It was a small apartment.The table we ate on was by a window,As I look to my right I could see the Eiffel tower.The next day he took me around Paris..The first place was a plain building and inside was a collection of all type dishes cups every type of dinner ware.We went to the Louvre..and other places in Paris..

                                                                    Guy accident
   One day I went to the Flochet house and they said that guy had hurt his arm (sprain? Broken)He had his arm in a cast..Why mention this because I was learning something about my self (20 years old).In as much as I wanted to share in good times I also wanted to be there when things went wrong.I was at camp..I was not family...So as such I was not able to participate whenj it happened..However when his Mother got sick I went with him and saw her at the hospital..
Next the Monastery......Phillip Meyer S/sgt ret

Monday, August 30, 2010

The Flochet's - France - 1953

The Flochet's 1953
Chatelerault, France

The Flochet's

As I got to know the Flochets it was Guy and Allen that I knew the best. Allen the oldest and Guy around 8 years old. The few times I got to town the bus would stop right next to there house..There I would meet the whole family. I ate dinner with them a couple of times. They were very simple meals, vegetables from there garden and a pigeon. While it was still cold they gave me wine that was heated up.

Allen was studying to be a fixer of watches. Guy as we went along was picking up all the information he could and eventually got a good job with the American military (years later).One day of the year May 1st was the big day for the Communist in town. So we could go to town if we went to the local American club. The bus driver knew where I wanted to get off and I went to the Flochets. When the bus returned I was ready to get back on. One day I was restricted to post..So I did not have a pass. What did you do? I went to the back of the bus and hid behind the last seat. The Guard would go down the seats but never check behind the last one. A lot of soldiers did this One day the Communist citizens had a parade..It was very peaceful.

A favorite memory. One day Guy went to a summer camp. I had a bicycle (and old one) but it worked. I got the directions and headed out to see him. The road going there went along a forest..At one point I saw the sign "La Rond du Chen"..The small road I went down had trees on both sides,Then just like that I was in the camp. In the middle of the forest a large circle in the Forest on the edge a couple of small houses,,,It was beautiful..As I drove around the circle I found a road and there was Guy with other teenagers..On the edge of the road the remains of an old church..They were playing a game with small hoops. They would throw it and the boy would put out his hand to let it go on his arm,,I only stayed a short time and I had to get back to camp. I got back on the road and I took another route. As I went down a small hill I found they had just put fresh tar on the road and I got some on my khaki uniform.

More Later....Phillip Meyer

Monday, August 23, 2010

532nd QM company France 53

Dear Readers,,not much to say about the post but Ill talk about the Flochets..Phillip
                                                                         JMJ
532nd QM Company
Jan 53 to Nov 53
Ingrandes France
Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret.
                                                                   532nd QM Co,
..Life in a way was simple on this Army post..The main area was very muddy so it was difficult to even have a platoon formation. As It was we got up early ate breakfast then we walk down the boardwalk to  the warehouses to go to work, In these warehouses were all type can foods,,Huge bags coffee, Just behind each warehouse was the railroad tracks...The main job loading up the cars. They had fork lifts and we had french civilians who work to load the cars.As my French got better I could tell them the number of the car to load, but they did not like a 19 year old telling them what to do...Ill never forget as I went along learning the size of the cans,,A number 10 usually had juice in it..A number 303...each can had a number and you would associate what was in the can with the number..How could you tell the food was bad by the bulge on the top of the can then a whole box would be thrown away..One day I decided to drive a fork lift. I went through the huge door by the train cars but I put it up to high so when I backed up it hit the drain on the building. I lowered the lift and put it away.One day it rained and there was two places were water was coming out of the broken drain,,One day we had the "Red Ball express" on maneuver..it was a Beach to shore operation.
(Like world war 2)..Another day they said there would be a small USO show so we went out on the muddy field where they had a small wooden stage around a foot high near the main road,A big black car came and out came "Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis" they did a little show and they were on there way..
Like I said life was very simple..After work an Army bus made its one trip to town and its one trip back,,
In those days I was receiving letters from Virginia Grossi who lived in Providence Rhode Island,.....
Any time I had free time I went to town..It was a simple post..No movie a EM club I never went in once.The Chapel..a small PX...
Next story the Flochets..Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret..

Friday, August 20, 2010

The Flochets

Dear Readers,The Flochets were the first family I knew in France,,,Many years later Allen named his son after me (Phillip)
Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret.
                                                            JMJ
Ingrandes ,France
566th Quartermaster Co.
Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret
Jan 53..Nov53
                                                             Ingrandes/566th QM Company
,,,,The first place I went to when I arrived in Chatellerault was to go to Ingrandes to the little Army post.
How little? just one short street, On the right side a chapel, the Orderly room 566th QM co. and barracks.the latrine and shower rooms.
The other side a small EM club Mess hall..Supply room,, a couple of other small buildings...On each side a boardwalk..The road was dirt and got very muddy..Down the road huge warehousers,,,and a railroad track that ran behind them,.....A short road led to the main road and the main gate was at the end of the road.So standing on the boardwalk on your left the main gate on your right further away the warehousers..
 I got a pass my first days there and went to town.The Army bus left from the main gate.The guard on duty would go up and down the bus and check our passes.In town it was the last day of the Christmas carnival.
You could smell the candy they sold as you went by,,at the end of the carnival were rides...I went on one of the rides and also tried to talk to some of the young people..Keep in mind I was 19 years old,,,Among the group of people I met the "Flochets"Allen the oldest and Guy his younger brother around 8?? I had to get back to the base for that magic hour of midnight.Guy seemed to know where I should go so he motion to follow him,Not far away the local Catholic Church.He took me there and I got the idea that was the bus stop.
As we waited a boy pass the Church and blessed himself..I never forgot that. Then Guy who was waiting with me motioned with his finger for me to bend down.I bent down to see what he wanted and he kissed me on the cheeks three times...and with that he left,,The bus came and I return to camp......
 The next day I had the day off and went to town early.It was not a long drive,I got off at the edge of town
and started walking.On the right I saw a store with a lot of books in it.I went in and got the owner to understand I wanted a English/French dictionary purchased a small dictionary and thats when I started to learn a little French..I went around asking people Ou ai (where is) until I found the Flochet house which was right at the end of town and one of the first stops for the Army bus..The Flochet house was surrounded a tall brick wall.In side on the right was a garden to the front his house on the bottom two floors were the Flochets on the top the head of the Communist party in Chatellerault..What a combination....So I met the Flochet family..The father a heavy smoker,,When I had a pass that would be my first stop..
Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Chatellerault France 53

Dear Readers....This story goes in many directions one my military dutys and how that went..and my trips to town....to visit the Flochets..Rond du Che,,,,,(Ill correct that name later).the Monastery,,to Paris....It was an interesting tour,.,,,,Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret
                                                                             JMJ
Chatellerault,Seine et Marne France
Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret Jan 1953
                                                                    The town Chatellerault,France
   In time I got to know the town very well.I wish I could have stayed longer,I give the French credit the way certain towns were built.Oh yes in time I became a lover of France and all that was french,,Not that I ever lost my love for the USA.But that was a time a special time in my life.,Chatellerault where do I start.If you knew where the church was then everything was built around it..Chatellerault was one of those perfect examples.In the middle of the town a park with a gazebo....in this park was held the carnivals and other celebrations..Standing in the middle of the park as you looked around.There was the Church,,a street  with stores and cafes.Across the street a movie theater.On the edge of town a bookstore,,The grocery stores the bakery. In the middle of town down a road the train station.It was one of those if you know where one thing is you know the rest..ahhh but this town was a little unusall a river cut through the other side of town.,On the other side of the bridge another church and all the rest,However this side of town was different.The side I was on was considered what we would call democrat on the other side was Communist..The communist leader lived in the top of my friends house with his son...Now the road leading out of one side of town went to Ingrandes where the Army camp was..How do I describe Ingrandes..How small 'blink you eye you passed the Village"..So this is where I spent around 11 months on my first tour,.....I would turn 20 years old,,the Korean war come to an end...and other things,,,
Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret.....

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

France 53

Dear Readers..Actually this started a very interesting time in my life..It is now I have to get in the garage and take out all the documents..I have for those four years plus...Oh the Rosary more on that later,,,Phillip
                                                                          JMJ
Fort Meade Md. 1952
2053rd Supply Co,,
Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret.
                                                                 Overseas
 One night I said to myself I had not said the Rosary (a prayer) in a long time..That night among other things I started to thinking about going overseas again,,A lot of soldiers were going to Germany.So I put in to go to Europe...I had been state side 8 months aproxitmatly, Some of that spent in the hospital,,So In Dec I was given orders to go to Europe...On the 24th dec we were on a ship in New York harbor.It was a very windy day so much that the ship was being pushed from one side to the other. Starboard to port...but before the day was over we left the harbor and on Christmas day we were headed for a harbor in St.-John's Newfoundland..We went through an opening with ice on both sides then we were in a harbor with water calm no waves..Little houses all around in a circle,That is where we spent Christmas..for a couple of hours.
then it was back to the open sea.One day down in the compartments as we called them I was talking to a soldier laying on a bunk,.He told me about his niece in Rhode Island and gave me her address.He told me a little bit about her and I put the address away,Her Name was Virginia Grossi..........One day I was on the stern (back) of the ship where the heads were (bathroom).Not to far away a door that led to the back of the ship.I open the door and stepped on the deck,I was amazed,,In front of me a wall of water from a wave I looked up and it was difficult to see the top of the wave.then the ship went down and momentarily the propellers came out of the water,...As we got closer to Germany we were in a fog.I was on deck on the bow of the ship (front). On the starboard side I heard a ships horn the the horn from our ship as a ship got to close and near most hit us,...For a few seconds I could see the ship passing us by.On the ship as the days were passing by I got a little booklet on how to learn German.So I learned numbers how to greet people..I thought I was learning very well.Then we got to Bremerhaven...(spelling??) We got on buses and the first thing I observed was a building that had been bombed but never rebuilt,So we went to Zweibrucken where we were proccesed.and get our first beer after waiting in a very long line,Then the interview with the officer and he said'you are going to France" Here I had been learning German so now I would have to start all over again,
Then we got on a train that would take us to france.It was an old Army type.It was night as we traveled
the next day were in France,Where I caught a train to Chatellerault for my assignment in Ingrandes France.
Jan 1953......Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret.

Friday, August 6, 2010

Fort Meade Md. 52

Dear Readers,,,Very tired tonight,,,Interesting week at TCC Tues wear a sherrifs badge and bandanna,,,wed red white and blue day,,,thurs wear a shirt with TCC on it and today Hawaian theme I wore a shirt with palm trees ect and I got a plastic pineapple mug to drink out of plus that thing they put over your head??  next week back to regular clothing,,and friday is wear red for the troops in Iraq and afganistan...Phillip Meyer S/sgt ret
                                                                            JMJ
Fort Meade Md.
Army Hospital
Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret.
                                                                 Hospital June /July 52
 My first days in the Army hospital were filled with days where first I was hot then I would get cold,
I was in a ward all filled with Malaria patients, One day a nurse made fun of me..Her remarks not very nice..But when she left it was she who was mocked by the patients....A period of the time in the hospital was spent getting rid of the worms had to take pills we nick name football and basketballs.They were big
and if you look closely they did resemble a football or a basketball.....At one point I was able to get out of bed and go to the hospital mess hall.I was in for a shock,As I passed a container of food I found my sense of smell was much stronger. I could not take the smell so I went outside the mess hall and ate on the steps
As time went on my sense of smell went back to normal,Now I was offered a job to show movies to patients.They put me in a class to learn how to operate the movie projector,.So a couple of times I showed movies also learn to play pinochle with other patients....Then when they thought I was better I went back to my company.I found items from my footlocker had been stolen while I was in the hospital,,
                                                                 2053rd Supply Co.
I got my first chance to go on pass.It turn out to be an adventure.There was three of us hitch hiking.A car came to a stop it look like it took a long time to stop.We got in the sun was going down,..As we took ff the driver a young man said he has problems with the brakes so "Please tell him a few blocks ahead of time where we wanted to get off..Then as he put on the lights the radio came on..when he played with the radio
the lights came on..The car made all type noises..We were driving in a nightmare,We reached town there was a street that seem empty we said stop here.A couple of blocks later the car stopped and we got out..
My next pass I called a relative of my Foster parents, The first ones I had.She sounded sweet on the phone.So all spruced up I went to her house.As she open the door her little dog bit me..And for her nothing came of my date,,
One night I thought I had not said the rosary in a long time..( A prayer),Once I started I thought about going over seas again so I put in my paper work,,,I would be going to Europe,,,
Phillip Meyer S/Sgt Ret..

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Back from Korea 52

Dear Readers,as i hitch hike around to go places.The driver of a car looked at my Honored CIB and said your CIB and a dime will get you a cup of coffee..so much for CIBs (Combat Infantry Badge)...The stay in the hospital was interesting,,Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret..
                                                                                JJ
Gainesville/Cedar keys Florida
May 1952,,,Phillip Meyer S/sat ret
                                                                      May 52
After the dinner we were free to go home.I got paid and caught a train to Gainesville florida,,While I was in Korea they never sent me a letter or a card,...But I went back,,They lived in a trailer park,..When I arrived I slept on a couch.Then I went to Cedar keys to see the girl I liked,Her name :Joyce Frank" Her father lone  me a jacket so we could go on a date,What a disaster.She told me to get in a car the back seat..Up front two other boys as they drove around the Island she was kissing the boy in the front seat..When we got back to her house,I went back to Gainesville.Then my Foster Mother told mer she had spent all the money I had been sending home in an allotment,So all I had was what I had been paid,,I told my Foster father I was going to New Jersey,,The way I said it I think he knew I would never come back again..
In New jersey I got united with my sisters Mary and Flora..The first time I saw Nelson he was sitting at desk
with a book he was studying ,,Nelson took me fishing by a bridge..We were close to the bridge and I heard a car back fire,I near most fainted,The sound brought back memories..So I got united with my Mother ,sisters and brother.After a couple of days I reported to Fort Meade Maryland to the 2053rd Supply Company

                                                                     Fort Meade
   I was a PFC and I had been assigned to a warehouse where new soldiers came to get the cloths issued to them,,I worked in the shoe dept...Most of the time a soldier new the size of his shoe and the boots would fit him,,In the mean time on the company street I met soldiers from the 5th RCT coming back and they told me how lucky I was,,They had gone on a hill called "Heartbreak ridge" They said each day a American soldier was wounded or killed.it was a very bad place,All was going well when one night I had a strange nightmare
object in my dream were to big or to small,,A small string felt like a rope..nothing was the true size it was supposed to be,Then I reported for work.I started to feel sick.I lay down on a large bag of clothes.The Sat came by me and ask what was wrong.I told him how I felt ..Then he said//"get this soldier to the hospital he has malaria guess he must have seen it many times, The ambulance came and took me to the hospital.
After I had been checked the conclusion..I had Malaria,tapeworm,round worm,and hookworm all at the same time...I was sick,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Phillip Meyer S/sat ret.  

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Last days Korea

Dear Readers..now its one of those what did I not write..but now I will be writing what i have never wrote before in my narratives
So I HOPE it will be interesting.........................Phillip Meyer S/sgt...I will be writing about Christmas 51 when I get in the garage..
                                                                            JMJ
Ok Bung Village,South Korea
"L" Co 5th Rct 24th Division
Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret
                                                                     Ok Bung Village
 This is the last place I stayed in Korea. I remember double timing on the road to the village the road very muddy.On the left an officer demonstrating how to fire a 2,3 rocket luncher he fired at an empty 50 gallon drum and hit it, Some soldiers complainer as my boot went down in the mud I was splashing some on them..
In back of our little hut was a large barb wire fence to keep the people from the village from getting in our area,A boy came to the fence looking for food.I had eaten my meal but I went back for seconds and gave him my mess kit telling him just clean it when he was finished.,He was happy but I was told not to do that again. The radio I brought back from Japan was used very little because I was assigned to an out post at the end of the road.There was a tent on the other side of a stream,We walked over a log to get to the tent.As time went on we pulled patrols on the hills near the tent.We would walk down the road to buy a "toddy" a small chocolate drink from the PX..a very small one..One day I was on guard in the tent,the rifle between my legs.In front of me an Army radio.I turned it on and went around the dial and I found "Armed forces radio Japan"The announcer said.."And now for a song from a new comer on the scene" Nat King Cole" who was Nat King Cole??and they played "They try to tell us were to young"In the mean time soldiers were getting drunk in the village and as they cross the log ice formed on it at night and they would slip off,,..back at the compound it was announced that Lt.James Lee our company commander was leaving.It was late at night but I remember soldiers crying
high and low rank..It was a sad night.Then one day I was told to guard a deserter (American).I put my bayonet in my M! Rifle and stood by him/If he escaped I would get his punishment so I was ready to shoot him.....One day I was on a long patrol and as we came down the hill to our camp there was a tiny shack
(for the radio man) I open the door and said."Has my name come in for rotation back to the states..(The new company commander wanted me to stay but I said no and he was not happy)The radioman said wait and the morse code continue.he said your name just came over the morse code.So I packed with items I had bought in the village,I had received one more letter from the medic I met on a train going to training..We got in a 3/4 ton truck and headed towards the train station.On top a hill we got a flat,,The driver could not find a jack to lift it,So we all got out of the truck found a log and we lifted the truck to change the tire.So we got to the train station and went to Puson then to Koje do Island where the Prisoners of war were kept As I walk by the compounds I came to an opening saw Lt.Lee He was sitting on a box.Ill never for get how he looked a 21 old man who looked 40,,,he was very tired,,Paper work finished to Puson and on a ship.My last memory we passed a Hospital ship there on the stern was a soldier from our company who had gotten wounded.,,,So two weeks later we were in Seattle Washington. As the bus drove us to a mess hall people line the streets.Then we went to a Mess hall for a delicious steak dinner..........Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret.

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Ok Bung Village 51

Dear readers,,,,,I still have to get in the garage to find my papers for Christmas,,but I shall continue and finish the Korea,,story..then on to the good old US and A,,,Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret...Yes I did drink a few beers,,,
                                                                         JMJ
Village Ok Bung,South Korea?
"L" Co.5th RCT 24th Div,,
Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret
                                                                   April 51
   We arrived at the Village of Ok Bung just as the snows were starting to melt.Now we lived in little shacks but still not able to take showers,On our left the medics set up a little place across the little road
the Mess hall.A little PX our favorite drink called a "toddy" a chocolate drink..Our duty guard the tungsten ore and go on patrols to find any enemy infiltration...I went on RR (rest and recuperation) to Japan.The train took us to Puson.On the southern tip of Korea..as we waited to go we went to the service club and saw the soldiers who had performed in Fort Jackson SC.Then the joke they told ..Can you believe I remember it all these years,The Joke,,,,,,A soldier had a friend in the biology dept in college.So he sent him some tobacco from a Korean cigaret He just told his friend to analyze it..A couple of weeks later.he received the letter His friend said I hope you are safe and come home soon and Oh yes..Your cow is very healthy"I flew in my first airplane....We sat facing each other.We went to Osaka Japan..
.I drank milk first time in months...bought a radio which needed a special voltage regulator,,I went to the same bar saw a magic show the magician took out a small fishing pole let the hook fall in the audience and on it a small fish..Yes I had a few,,(many) beers,At the end I ran out of money and those cute Geisha girls
said we will buy you the beer and they did,,On the airplane back I was recovering,,,when we arrived in Korea we were told to take a fatigue jacket to keep us warm.I took one with Cpl stripes but I was back to PFC which I was when I reach the company..,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,More later,,Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret

Monday, August 2, 2010

Memories 51

Dear Readers,,Keep in mind I was 18 .not to long after boardng school....Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret
                                                                           JMJ
Kumwah,North Korea 51
"L" Co.5th RCT 24th Div.
Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret.
                                                                   Memories 51
    One day we were going across a ridge line while some fighting was going on for another hill,,,We came into an opening where it seems there had been an artillery emplacement. I look to my front and there stacked up around 8 high were bodies on strechers.two stacks..I turned and said to the soldier.in back of me "Are these Chinese??"Ill never for get the way he said it.."Do Chinese soldiers wear boots"??,,,Then I looked closer they were wearing American boots......I did not have time to ponder what I was looking at ..Dead American soldiers............................................The wounded we would see being carried down the ridge line and give them a cigaret..Our Company Commander got wounded six times..A Sgt who had his armed wounded was with him one time and Lt,Lee said go to the medics..but the Sgt said No Ill stay with you....
Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret....

The last Hill 52

Dear Readers..Getting near the end,,and remembering other incidents....Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret.
                                                                            JMJ
Kumwah/Kumson North Korea 52
"L' co. 5th RCT 24th Div
Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret.
                                                                    The last Hill
 We stayed on the hill we had been on for Christmas for a long time.I witnessed something very unusall.
There was fog on top of the enemy hill and artillery was being fired on it,,Then if you can put it that way I saw sound.How can I put it..its what I saw.After the round exploded I saw rings in the fog from the shock waves.,,,,One time the big shells (ours) were hitting the hill to our front,it was :White Phosphorous" a big cloud of white smoke,,but it was the shock waves from the explosion that came across the hill and it was like being hit in the face.....................So one day we moved out.
                                                                  The last hill
   When we got to the top of the hill I looked down the ridge line there was a whole line of bunkers.But I was told with two other soldiers to go down the ridge line to be on an out post.We would be out as far as you could go.So down we went (in the snow),We found a small abandoned Chinese bunkers and.............a dead Chinese frozen in the snow,First problem the bunker very small, We took turns sleeping in it I kept my head at the entrance.The first night we built a fire inside and the smoke got to me I got sick and walk up to the bunkers as I got to the top I slipped in the ice and my carbine broke.So I got an M1 Rifle again.I slept in a bunker that had been abandoned,the next day I felt better and went down to the out post.Now the dead body was on our nerves.As we pulled guard we look down and there was this dead face staring at you.Out to our front was a ring of bodies which I examined would look at there teeth (if you could see them and guess how old they were.Plus down in the valley were the bodies of the Chinese killed at Christmas (across the valley was the previous hill we occupied) As for the Chinese body as I ate I would think..(as I looked on him,)What village did he come from,,did he have a family ect and I nickname him :The Mongolian" he was big.I look at his eyes it look like he was staring at the sky when he died.Finnaly we took out bayonets chop the ice around him gave a push and down the hill he went.I could hear the body hit trees and brush as it went down,Then the day came to leave the hill.I got to top of the ridge line I was the last squad to leave the hill.I heard soldiers saying "Watch out for the,,,,,,,,.I did not get the last word. I sat down and started to slide off the hill as we did in the winter I picked up speed and turn a corner and flew into space and went into many strands of como wire.Here I was tangled in wire and around 3 feet of space under me.As a soldier passed me they tugged to try and get me lose.When I hit the wires my helmet flew off and went down the hill.Our company commander had said he would court martial anyone who lost his helmet.A couple of tugs later I got lose and down in the dark I went down the path.When I reach the bottom of the hill my foot hit something..It was my helmet..So we went south to a village called "Ok bung"..........
Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Winter Valley 52

Dear Readers.....Tommorow the 2 Aug ,,the day we attacvked the "million dollar hill"...We had a few wounded but it wasnt until later that I heard about the men who had died on the other side of the hill..We had cover they did not..A black soldier threw a grenade in a chinese bunker that made it possible for the rest of that company to get up the hill......Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret.
                                                                        JMJ

Kumwah Valley North Korea
"L" Co. 5th RCT 24th Div
Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret
                                                                  The Valley winter 51
   We did spend some winter days in the valley even after Christmas (looking for some special papers on that)..Our small tents had been set up and the deep hole under them so the cold wind could pass on top..and not through our tents..The mess tent was close by...out in the rice paddies was the 555 Artillery or as it was called the "triple nickle" by now I was used to the shells being fired off.When we ate it was so cold the food would start to stick to the metal mess kit before we reach the end of the line. One night (Jan 52) I decided I wanted to sleep out side not in a hole.So I got my sleeping bag and put it next to the tent. I zippered the bag
and I could just see a little out of it,In the morning I noticed snow in front of my face.I zippered  the sleeping bag open and I was covered with snow that had fallen during the night....back in the hole again.Max off a hill was just a couple of days,,
                                                                      The Award
 It was a cold sunny day as we stood at attention in the frozen rice paddies.One by one were called up to receive the highest award an Infantry man can receive.(Note not a medal just an award).I received the
Combat Infantryman badge.....Only an Infantryman can receive it and he has to have been in combat.
It is one of the proudest award a soldier can receive,

                                                                      Note
Ten months in Korea.....one letter..........one shower,,,,(I was a lucky one).........Listen radio once..a bout three minutes
No haircut....
Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret

The Saddle

Dear Readers,,Apologies to those I have already sent this narrative
                                                                      JMJ
Kumwah,North Korea (1951)
"L" Co, 5th RCT 24th Div.
Phillip Meyer S/Sgt Ret.

                                                              The Saddle Autumn 1951
   It was still autumn and for some reason we were going off the hill being relieved by another company.
As we left our fox holes they were filled up by the new troops.It was a long walk down the ridge line and at one point the Sgt said "Take a break" I saw a boulder by the path about four feet high, I sat down with my back on the boulder looking up in the sky.Then I heard a noise I did not recognize going over my head.,,Then "Time stood still" That is the only way I can explain it.,,My mind saying "What is it?"It did not take long.We had stopped because a large saddle in the hill which meant we would go down then up a steep climb.So the sgt had thought it be better we were rested. The explosion came from the saddle.The Chinese were firing the big mortars at us. Not the small ones which made a whistling sound.The explosion sent pieces of rock flying.Then another explosion.One soldier and I got on our knees and started praying before another explosion hit,As I looked in the saddle  a mortar hit I saw small pine trees fall as the were hit by shrapnel.
We waited then he Sgt said "We have to move out" So he told us one by one we would run through the saddle. On the path above the saddle was a bunker with a soldier in it.Then we ran through the saddle.I bless myself as I got to the bottom,Later we had got far away from the saddle when we hear multiple explosions coming from the saddle area,.............If we had not stopped for a break,,,,,,,,,,,,,someone would have not made it...................Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret........