Kumwah,North Korea
"L" Co.5th RCT 24th Div.
Nov/Dec 1951
Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret
Chinese Snipers
It was during the time it had snowed a little, It was causing a problem on a part of the hill .Keep in mind
This path was right in line with the enemy positions.It took a long way before you were out of sight.So one day the Platoon Lt. Say to a couple of us that we were to dig steps on the ridge line to make it easier for soldiers to go back and forth,So the three of us got out our shovels and went to that part of the hill.We were
about to start digging when we heard the bullets fly by our heads.It made a buzzing sound.We shouted to the Lt. A sniper is shooting at us" He says "Keep on digging the steps"..In that moment I and the rest made a decision.We took our shovels put them back on our belt as we moved down the hill..The Lt tried one more time to tell us to stay there but we kept on walking back to our positions..We did not get punished for disobeying him,,,
On the other hand ,,I watch as a soldier would build a small fire on the side of the hill.Then he would tell us to get away from it and wait for a sniper to fire at it,,
Thanksgiving
That bunker where the mortars fell all night.Thats where I was thanksgiving day,It was around noon and I was sitting on some sand bags,,A soldier stop by my bunker and he handed me a sandwich.A turkey sandwich,The cooks had baked bread and cooked turkey,I drank water with my sandwich,It was the most delicious meal I had eaten in a long time..
I heard later that a soldier volunteered to help bring up sandwiches but as he came out of his bunker a mortar came in and killed him,,...However I cannot verify this story ,,,,I heard it from a good source,,
Later we got off the hill and got a regular thanksgiving dinner..
The Airplane
One time when we were off the hill.I was in on e of those deep holes we dug.It was getting late when I heard an airplane flying over our positions.As I listened to it I sensed some thing was wrong.It just did not sound like on of ours.Soon the sound of the airplane was gone and I went to sleep.Thenext morning I found out that a Chinese airplane had flown over our positions but did not see us and hit the company in the next area. After that incident we carried along with us a 50 caliber machine gun..
Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret.
