JMJ

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........