Rest Area Part One

Kumwah, North Korea
July 1951 ..5th Rct 24th div
Phillip Meyer S.sgt ret,

USO Show

Im back to the first hill we occupied..and the many patrols we went on..It was some where in the middle of July we had just come off a patrol going over the barb wire fence with the mines and we were told we could go off the hill and see a USO show,Again we walk of the hill and a truck took us down the road.There were a lot of soldiers waiting to see the show,On a small stage was Jack Benny and two other actors,.Its amazing he would come this close to enemy lines. So we enjoyed the show that did not last that long and went back to the front lines..

Rear Area Aug 1951

After the seven day patrol we got a break,For a couple of days, Trucks took us to this area and we set up our tents At the bottom of the hill was the Mess tent.then just short of the woods were our tents,Two things I remember about living in the small tents.One down the middle we dug a small ditch so when it rained a stream of water would go down the middle..The second at night we wanted a little light, We did no have flashlights or candles so what do you do,? Simple you take an empty c-ration can and put a little gasoline in it. You light it and well not much light but it gave some.

In those first couple of days some one got an idea.Lets raid the mess hall.So I went crawling down the hill on my stomach.(We did not have to go far).The cans of food were passed to each of us and back to our tents,Cans of peaches ect ahh, The next day were called into formation. The order there will be no more raiding of the mess tent,.we complied.

About the same day we went in formation out on the road and there was Lt.James Lee the officer I had put 2 boxes of ammo on his shoulders while going on the front lines. This was his introduction to us,Along the line in his speech he said "I wont make you do anything I would not do" and he did it very well whatever he did (After that speech he got wounded six times).

We were in a rear area but for a reason..Not just to rest but get in shape,,We were going to climb a very high hill.The next day we got in trucks and went down the road at one point we stopped by a village,When we got out of the trucks for a break. The children all came out so we took out candy that we had. There was a line of sand bags the children on the other side, I took a Hershey bar and was bringing it down when some children grab for it,before I could open my fingers the candy was gone except a small piece still in my fingers,Then we got back on the trucks and headed toward the hill we would climb.

More next time.