JMJ

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Special patrol 51

Dear Readers..This was one of my better days of the Korean war,,Phillip
                                                                              JMJ
Kumwah,North Korea 1951
"L" Co.5th RCT 24th Div.
Phillip Meyer S/sgt ret.
                                                                      Special patrol
 There were two patrols that became special in there own particular way..The first one when we came back
we were told we could go off the hill to see a USO show. When we got off the hill a truck took us to another area. We saw Jack Benny and he had a couple of other show people with him.I was lucky to get to sit up front.Jack benny had two other men with him.The show did not last long but we all enjoyed it.then it was back to the front lines.
                                                                         Second special patrol
The next patrol we went on it had rained very hard,,So when we went down the hill we slipped a lot in the mud. The day was sunny as we went on this patrol..We had covered the area we were supposed to go through but on the way back we went through a village that had been burned down.I was passing the burned hut.when I hear some one say. We found some people...I kept on going down the path until I came in a clearing.On my right on the side of the hill was a small shack,Hidden by brush and trees,.I went up by the shack which had an opening in front kind of like a fruit stand.A couple of soldiers were standing there.I looked over the counter and there were three children a Girl and two boys.One soldier was speaking in korean and telling us what the girl was saying.One there parents had been taken or killed by the Chinese.
And they had not eaten any food for over a week.. I saw the radio man in the clearing he was looking at a map on the ground. I said to him lets take the children up the hill.,That kind of made him angry.No we would not do that..I could not accept that,,Then an idea occurred to me..I said..Why don't you call headquarters and see what they say,,To my surprise he got on the radio and he said the magic words..
We have found Civilians in the valley" (he did not give age or sex).Headquarters said "Bring them in for questioning" Now the radioman looked at me and said "Okay you are going to carry one of them up the hill.
So I got the oldest boy who wasn't that tall or heavy.He was about 8 years old. I put him on my shoulders
and we started up the hill.Everytime I slipped in the mud his hands got tight around my neck Part of the way up the hill we stopped for a braccia put the boy by a tree and looked in my pocket I  had this candy I had not eaten that had orange ,lemon ECT flavors square pieces of candy.I gave it to him,It did not take long for him to eat it,,Then back on the trail.I could hear the radioman talking.We would meet a Korean man at the barb wire fence who would take the children.One by one we handed them over,As I handed the boy over the fence I was passing him in the mined area.No room for a mistakes the civilian took them to an orphanage.
That night in my fox hole I felt better that if something did happen.The children were safe,,,
Phillip Meyer S/sgt ret